Inclusion Suggestion From Ken Rivard
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Subject: FW: This has to be the photo of the decade....
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Photo obviously taken from the base
> > >control tower
> > >due to the elevation and being in the proximity of the crash.
> > >
> > >Here's the story:
> > >Thunderbirds accident report released
> > >Air Combat Command Public Affairs
> > >
> > >LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- Pilot error caused a
> > >U.S. Air Force
> > >Thunderbirds F-16 aircraft to crash shortly after takeoff at an
airshow
> > >Sept. 14 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The pilot ejected
just
> > >before the aircraft impacted the ground.
> > >According to the accident investigation board report released
> > >today, the
> > >pilot misinterpreted the altitude required to complete the "Split S"
> > >maneuver. He made his calculation based on an incorrect mean-sea-level
> > >altitude of the airfield. The pilot incorrectly climbed to
> > >1,670 feet above
> > >ground level instead of 2,500 feet before initiating the pull
> > >down to the
> > >Split S maneuver.
> > >When he realized something was wrong, the pilot put maximum back stick
> > >pressure and rolled slightly left to ensure the aircraft would
> > >impact away
> > >from the crowd should he have to eject. He ejected when the
> > >aircraft was 140
> > >feet above ground - just eight-tenths of a second prior to impact. He
> > >sustained only minor injuries from the ejection. There was no
> > >other damage
> > >to military or civilian property.
> > >The aircraft, valued at about $20.4 million, was destroyed.
> > >Also, the board determined other factors substantially contributed to
> > >creating the opportunity for the error including the requirement for
> > >demonstration pilots to convert mean sea level and above ground level
> > >altitudes and performing a maneuver with a limited margin of error.
> > >

Inclusion Suggestion From Ken Rivard

Inclusion Suggestion From Dave Boden
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Inclusion Suggestion From Bobbi Lasher

Click on Photo to Enlarge

*NORFOLK -- One of the military's largest transports was stuck on a
runway atop the I-564 overpass for more than 16 hours today, unable to
turn around at the west end of Chambers Field at the Norfolk Naval
Station. The incident, starting about 1 a.m., forced the closing of the
field for most of the day to all but helicopter traffic and made for a
dramatic sight to hundreds of motorists passing beneath it during the
morning rush hour.

"That thing's like a big building sitting there.'' said some motorists.

The aircraft's nose was so far over the end of the ramp, the crew was
unable to see the runway where it was supposed to turn around. The
pilot stopped the aircraft and prevented it from running off the ramp.
They also stated that it was too tight of a turn to turn the aircraft
around.

The Air Force C-5 Galaxy, largest airplane in the U.S. inventory, is
almost as long as a football field and as high as a six-story building.
At 420 tons with a full load, it uses a system of 28 wheels to
distribute its weight. The aircraft spent most of the day waiting for a
specially made tow bar to be trucked to the base from Dover, Del. The
tow bar arrived about noon and was used to hook the C-5 to a tractor so
the aircraft could be turned around. The plane was moved off the runway
by 4:30 p.m., No one was hurt, and the plane was not damaged.*