Author Topic: F-16 Ejection Photos (Read 730 times)

Ozark · « **on:** January 27, 2004, 10:27:02 AM »

A friend sent me a 2.8 Meg photo of the Thunderbirds F-16C to crash shortly after takeoff during a September airshow at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The pilot ejected 0.8 second before the aircraft impacted the ground.

I edited the photo and made 2 shots of the ejection.
http://www.arff.info/photos/T-Bird-eject-1.JPG
http://www.arff.info/photos/T-Bird-eject-2.JPG

Spitter · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2004, 10:32:43 AM »

Looks like he was pulling a bit too hard out of a loop and high speed stalled? Good reflexes if he ejected that close. He was otherwise unhurt, I hope?

I've a friend who rode out a ejection from the back seat of an F-15E. She was laid up for a couple weeks from the back strain....

Cheers,
Spitter

Furball · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2004, 10:44:49 AM »

is that another member of the Martin-Baker club?

Mathman · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2004, 10:54:30 AM »

This article has some good information on the final report on the accident.

ra · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2004, 11:14:18 AM »

Someone posted an inside-the-cockpit film of this a while back.

Vermillion · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2004, 11:18:28 AM »

There is a link to the video of the crash and the cockpit video in a thread over on AGW, that Dobs started.

Ozark · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2004, 11:37:39 AM »

Video Link:
http://www.avweb.com/newspics/tbirdcrash.mpg

LePaul · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2004, 11:45:20 AM »

..reassigned to the Pentagon

Doing ? janitorial services?

Gunslinger · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2004, 02:30:30 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Furball
is that another member of the Martin-Baker club?

actually no. Air Force planes use the ACES II wich is made by BF Goodwrench (beleive it or not) through contract of lockheed martin. The only AF plane that is gonna use the Martin Baker will be the JSF. Navy/Marine Corps birds use MB because they have a more successful rate of ejection under water.

and yep it appears this was pilot error. He didnt compute enough altitude for the manuver. Pretty strange for a thunderbird, they are usually top notch.

not trying to be a know it all here but this is what I do for a living, Ejection seats.

When a pilot punches out of an AC he/she experiences upwards to 14Gs and depending on the type (low speed/low alt ect) will be in a fully deployed parachute in about 1.8 to 2.5 seconds. most pilots only remember pulling the handle and waking up in a parachute.

qts · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2004, 02:38:13 PM »

Quote

Navy/Marine Corps birds use MB because they have a more successful rate of ejection under water.

And the Harriers are British anyway.

Furball · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2004, 03:03:17 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Gunslinger
actually no. Air Force planes use the ACES II wich is made by BF Goodwrench (beleive it or not) through contract of lockheed martin. The only AF plane that is gonna use the Martin Baker will be the JSF. Navy/Marine Corps birds use MB because they have a more successful rate of ejection under water.

Thanks for the info.

After i posted i read a bit about the ejection seats at the martin baker web site.

T-6a is an air force plane that uses martin baker, didnt read about the other seats so i do not know if other USAF planes use em.

Think the blackhawk helicopter uses martin baker survival seats too.

http://www.martin-baker.co.uk

Pfunk · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2004, 04:39:52 PM »

spectator view

http://members.cox.net/klkmail/tbird.wmv

right click and save as

mjolnir · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2004, 04:42:34 PM »

Actually Gunslinger, if I remember right, I think he had an engine problem in the middle of the maneuver and was trying to fix it until the last possible second. Had everything been working correctly, he had plenty of room for the maneuver.

Ping · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2004, 04:44:54 PM »

So.... as a janitor, how long til he pays off that one?

Hawklore · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2004, 05:03:53 PM »

Does Knockin off mean there getting out of tight formation?

And stopping the show?