Free Republic

A Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed in California on Tuesday morning during a routine training flight. The pilot ejected safely and is being examined at a local medical facility, said Lt. Cmdr. Lydia Bock, a spokeswoman for Strike Fighter Wing Pacific. The crash occurred at about 10:10 a.m. local time near Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, about 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The Super Hornet, assigned to Naval Air Station Lemoore, was on a routine training flight when it experienced a mishap, Bock said. No additional details were provided about the cause of the crash. "The U.S. Navy...

Crews are searching for the pilot of a U.S. Navy fighter jet that crashed in Death Valley National Park, injuring seven people who were at a scenic overlook where aviation enthusiasts routinely watch military aircraft speeding low through a chasm dubbed Star Wars Canyon, officials said. A search was underway for the pilot of the single-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet that was on a routine training mission... The lookout point about 160 miles (257 kilometers) north of Los Angeles is popular with photographers and aviation buffs who gawk at jets flying in the steep, narrow canyon. Officials closed the area after...