Sad day for a Tbird pilot

[RoadDawg]

A file photo from September 14, 2003 showing United States Air Force Captain Christopher Stricklin as he ejects from the USAF Thunderbirds number six aircraft less than a second before it impacted the ground, at an air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. Stricklin, who was not injured, ejected after both guiding the jet away from the crowd of more than 60,000 people and ensuring he couldn't save the aircraft. This was only the second crash since the Air Force began using F-16 Falcons for its demonstration team in 1982. The ACES II ejection seat performed flawlessly. NO SALES REUTERS/U.S. Air Force/Bennie J. Davis III/Handout


Now what do you think he was thinking of at this moment in time. Just sad to see a wonderful team loose a plane.

[Barfly]

yeah that does suck. Thunderbird pilots are only allowed to do it for like 2 years. This is because people don't want the pilots to get complacent when they are doing it all the time and need them to be on their toes when you fly in tight formations and perform killer manouvers.

[Miscue]

Re: Sad day for a Tbird pilot

Originally posted by RoadDawg


Now what do you think he was thinking of at this moment in time.

"My wife is gonna kill me when she sees the bill."

[RoadDawg]

I was thinking more along the lines of "OH *insert random curse words here* *and here* *and here*!

[the_next_guy_]

"Stupid camera-man, get out of the way!"

[Koosh]

Check out the video for it too

http://www.flight-level.com/dogfight/thunderbird_crash.mpeg

I also don't see whats so sad about it. Everyone lived, he made a mistake, everyone learned from it... So what, the plane was destroyed, but it isn't like they won't ever get a new one to replace it...

[RoadDawg]

What's sad is that they lost one. Ya it can be replaced but it's a shame to see one crashing/crashed. That video by the way was pretty cool. Which it had audio with it.

[logamus]

that video is wild. i wish you could see what else was happening to cause the ejection.

[impostal22]

what's with all the reposting this week?

[bleachit]

there is another video of it somewhere.. I just saw it a few days ago. It shows the incident from the outside. from what I saw, it appeared as though he came out of a loop too fast and too low, so he couldnt pull out of the maneuver.


actually, here it is. http://www.thecia.net/users/stewarte/tbirdeject2.wmv

[RoadDawg]

Originally posted by impostal22
what's with all the reposting this week?

What's with people coming in and complaining about reposting? Had no idea it was already posted. Either way it's posted. Bleachit that video is pretty wild.

[Mr.mike]

"i hope my insurance covers this"

[Restola]

Originally posted by logamus
that video is wild. i wish you could see what else was happening to cause the ejection.

He started the manuever too low.

More info at:

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/190-full.html#186582

[Lopy]

I'm pretty sure their other crash was in lake ontario a cupple of years ago, though it might have been the canadian equivilant of them, (ie, the canadian air force's demo team)

Thoes vids are crazy, and from the looks of it, the piolet looked remarkibly calm on the vid, though you can't see his face. I guess they train them well.

[p8ntball1016]

"its ok, i had subway."