Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Ozark on January 27, 2004, 10:27:02 AM

Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: 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
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Spitter 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
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Furball on January 27, 2004, 10:44:49 AM
is that another member of the Martin-Baker club?
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Mathman on January 27, 2004, 10:54:30 AM
This article (http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-other/2004/jan/21/516213157.html) has some good information on the final report on the accident.
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: ra on January 27, 2004, 11:14:18 AM
Someone posted an inside-the-cockpit  film of this a while back.
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Vermillion 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.
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Ozark on January 27, 2004, 11:37:39 AM
Video Link:
http://www.avweb.com/newspics/tbirdcrash.mpg
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: LePaul on January 27, 2004, 11:45:20 AM
..reassigned to the Pentagon

Doing ?  janitorial services?
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Gunslinger 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.
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: qts 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.
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Furball 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
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Pfunk on January 27, 2004, 04:39:52 PM
spectator view



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

right click and save as
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: mjolnir 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.
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Ping on January 27, 2004, 04:44:54 PM
So.... as a janitor, how long til he pays off that one?
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Hawklore on January 27, 2004, 05:03:53 PM
Does Knockin off mean there getting out of tight formation?

And stopping the show?
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Gunslinger on January 27, 2004, 07:28:54 PM
Quote
Originally posted by mjolnir
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.


sorry I got the inside skinny on this but here's a link

http://www.af.mil/stories/story.asp?storyID=123006413 (http://www.af.mil/stories/story.asp?storyID=123006413)

Quote
Does Knockin off mean there getting out of tight formation?
And stopping the show?


I know knock it off is the call pilots use when practicing to stop an unsafe condition and return to normal flight.  I'm pretty sure an air show would be cancled or at least delayed after a crash.  In fact I'm more than sure there would be no more flying cause that might hinder the crash investigation

Yes I was wrong the T6 does not use an ACESII.  Neither does the T-38/37 B-52 F-5 and the soon to be most recent edition to the AF inventory the L-39

dont get me wrong though the Martin Baker is a great tried and true seat design.  It has a very successful ejection rate
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: hawker238 on January 27, 2004, 07:33:16 PM
L-39?
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Gunslinger on January 27, 2004, 07:34:21 PM
Quote
Originally posted by qts
And the Harriers are British anyway.



Not sure about the Harrier Is but the Harrier IIs were actually a design effort of Boeing and BAE using brit roles royce engines.

most harriers crash because of engine failure BTW....But at least the brits make a good ejection seat.... ;)  JK
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Maniac on January 27, 2004, 07:35:14 PM
Quote
spectator view


Amazing, he wasnt even close to making the manuver...

:confused:
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Gunslinger on January 27, 2004, 07:36:33 PM
Quote
Originally posted by hawker238
L-39?


The L39 is a chezk plane that the air force is testing right now to possibly replace one of its trainer varients.....i think the T-37...but not sure Great little plane though...TRUE STORY the guages up close still say C.C.C.P.
Title: F-16 Ejection Photos
Post by: Dinger on January 27, 2004, 08:20:42 PM
Dang they called 1-5 knocking off really quickly.  I can only imagine the feeling in those cockpits when they didn't hear 6.