[Image] F-16 Ejection

Squeeky · 2004-02-05, 01:31 PM

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...0102042024&e=2

Seen in a photo released Friday, Jan. 30, 2004 by the U.S. Air Force, Capt. Christopher Stricklin 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, Idaho, Sept. 14, 2003. 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. Nobody was injured in the crash. The Air Force blamed the incident on pilot error. The Thunderbirds are based at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/ Bennie J. Davis III/U.S. Air Force)

Fragmatic · 2004-02-05, 01:32 PM

woah

Firefly · 2004-02-05, 01:35 PM

The Air Force blamed the incident on pilot error

Tough decision. Bail out, and shoot your career in the foot, or ride the bird home and allow your next of kin and surviving relatives easy living.

Happy lil Elf · 2004-02-05, 01:36 PM

That man has balls.

Squeeky · 2004-02-05, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by Happy lil' Elf

That man has balls.

For flying as a part of an Aviation demonstration team? Or for ejecting.

Happy lil Elf · 2004-02-05, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Squeeky

For flying as a part of an Aviation demonstration team? Or for ejecting.

For both of those and for having the coolness and presence of mind to get the aircraft away from the crowd before bailing.

Squeeky · 2004-02-05, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by Happy lil' Elf

For both of those and for having the coolness and presence of mind to get the aircraft away from the crowd before bailing.

It would have been eleventy times cooler if he landed in the audience.

Happy lil Elf · 2004-02-05, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Squeeky

It would have been eleventy times cooler if he landed in the audience.

Does anyone else wonder if Squeeky sometimes decides to write posts with an open can of wood stain in his lap while sitting in a poorly ventilated room?

Fragmatic · 2004-02-05, 01:53 PM

Both

Rbstr · 2004-02-05, 02:15 PM

Only 2 accidents in the last 22 years? Not bad

l3lizz4rd · 2004-02-05, 02:32 PM

I've got both the in-cockpit video as well as the one taken from the crowd perspective. Hit me up on AIM or IRC if someone wants to host them.

Dharkbayne · 2004-02-05, 02:15 PM

Ejecting that low would be kinda, bad, chutes don't work unless you use them at atleast 600 feet up I think,

martyr · 2004-02-05, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Dharkbayne

Ejecting that low would be kinda, bad, chutes don't work unless you use them at atleast 600 feet up I think,

600 feet in any direction. he still went a lot more than 600 feet horizontal, allowing plenty of time for the chute to deploy.

Peacemaker · 2004-02-05, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by martyr

600 feet in any direction. he still went a lot more than 600 feet horizontal, allowing plenty of time for the chute to deploy.

Modern ejection seats are zero zeros. You can be at zero speed and at ground level and the chute will save you if you eject. The only way he coulda bit the big one was if he had it upside down and ejected.

Strygun · 2004-02-05, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Peacemaker

Modern ejection seats are zero zeros. You can be at zero speed and at ground level and the chute will save you if you eject.

If I remember correctly, modern ejection-seat parachutes are jet powered, AKA, they are fired away (and open) from the seat with small jets, which open the parachutes no matter how fast or how far you've gone.