prepheckt 0 #51 January 29, 2004 QuoteThe audience does not know the difference in many airshow maneuvers, so why do the really dangerous ones? They like noise and smoke. Proof: Got to an airshow. The thing that gets EVERYONE on Yeah, but I am fairly sure they can't fly below a certain AGL (500?). We have flyovers all the time here, every plane in the AF inventory. I've seen an F-16 fly so low over the AFA stadium, it almost hit a light pole."Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #52 January 29, 2004 QuoteI've seen an F-16 fly so low over the AFA stadium, it almost hit a light pole. no video means it didn't happen..........and if it didn't happen then that means your lieing................we don't like liers here.........I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prepheckt 0 #53 January 29, 2004 We do have the honor code...I think that should count for something."Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #54 January 29, 2004 Quote I've seen an F-16 fly so low over the AFA stadium, it almost hit a light pole. A light pole? Those things are HUGE. Call me back when you ask for an "Ordinance Check" and look down into the canopy from a 25Ft range tower as he goes by. That's what you get when you put a former A-10 Pilot in an F-16. Sorry.....No video....I was busy with a mike in my hand. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prepheckt 0 #55 January 29, 2004 He had to roll right 90 degrees to miss the damn thing."Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prepheckt 0 #56 January 29, 2004 Here's an excerpt from the AF Times, reposted from another message board. Apparently, I've heard that he's now at the Pentagon, still has his wings (he may fly again, yeah right) and has a line number for major. Beletic said Stricklin had a momentary lapse when he lost track of his altitude. Training at Nellis, the Thunderbirds’ home, had made Stricklin accustomed to starting flights at 2,000 feet above sea level. Investigators concluded that although the Thunderbird pilots were aware that Mountain Home was 3,000 feet above sea level, as Stricklin began his flight he subconsciously assumed he was starting out at 2,000 feet. The accident occurred on the first maneuver Stricklin performed, the report said. As the pilot of Thunderbird 6, Stricklin was the last Thunderbird to take off. As he had done about 200 times before, Stricklin began by flying a maximum climb at 55 degrees. He rolled the plane over so he was flying upside down and began the split-S maneuver. When the maneuver is performed correctly, the jet reaches an altitude of 3,500 feet before rocketing downward. Because Stricklin miscalculated his altitude, he topped out at about 2,760 feet. A safe descent would require 3,000 feet. As Stricklin started his descent, he was short 240 feet. Stricklin ejected at about 140 feet above the ground and less than a second before the jet hit the midfield of Mountain Home’s runway complex at about 250 mph. The $20.4 million jet skidded several hundred feet while burning fuel billowed behind it. When the Thunderbirds debut their 2004 season March 22 at Nellis for Air Force leaders, the opening split-S maneuver will be in the show, McSpadden said. However, the descent won’t begin until the plane is 4,500 feet above the ground, the commander said. That decision was made after investigators determined the maneuver’s 500-foot margin of error, accepted for the past 20 years, was too small, McSpadden said. Beletic and McSpadden said that before September, there was never an accident during the maneuver. Beletic’s report also found that the Thunderbirds’ high operations tempo might have led in part to Stricklin’s distraction. The Sept. 14 performance was the team’s sixth sortie in four days. A waiver was required to fly that often in such a short time, the report said. McSpadden countered that Stricklin had 10 hours of sleep the night before the performance."Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bshl 0 #57 January 29, 2004 QuoteI think it would stink to have 1 mistake mess up your career dreams. Welcome to the zero defect military. I've seen bad situations where our officer corps was unwilling to do anything for fear those above them would frown on the decision. Talk about flushing effectiveness and morale... Blue skies and happy landings! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bshl 0 #58 January 29, 2004 QuoteRemember this one? The ultimate hop 'n pop! Blue skies and happy landings! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FunBobby 0 #59 January 29, 2004 Quote Welcome to the zero defect military. I've seen bad situations where our officer corps was unwilling to do anything for fear those above them would frown on the decision. Talk about flushing effectiveness and morale... Easy, there. I've seen the same. But I also know officers who have ardently stood up for their troops and sailors in bad situations, knowing full well that their actions would jeopardize their standings with their superiors, and in some cases, their careers. I've done that. Talk about boosting morale. Bobby Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
