At about 9 PM last evening a Wisconsin based ANG F-16 crashed in N/E Delta Co. near the Schoolcraft Co. line. This is in the Hiawatha National Forest. It is believed that the pilot ejected but so far he is unaccounted for. Full on search is underway.
www.wluctv.com
www.mlive.com

Prayers for his safe return

Bet it gets cold in the UP at night. Yeah, I hope he's OK. But keep in mind that a parachute makes a darn good sleeping bag. If he can get it out of the tree..

Hope he survived the ejection and is found soon, and without injuries.

Hopes for the survival of the pilot.

Prayers for the pilot.

So what do you suppose the radio is for military aircraft, these days?

1000 flights per crash ?
3000 flights per crash ?

They fly a lot more than you think. Currency standards, particularly for fighters are fairly high. I'm guessing most of these guys are flying a couple or few times a month. If you read military accident investigation board findings, you'll find the last 30/60/90 for the mishap pilots in both flight hours and sorties.

https://www.afjag.af.mil/AIB-Reports/

It's been a long time since I have been in the UP. Is it still really sparsely populated?

One thing, it is a fairly skinny peninsula, between two of the Great Lakes, which can be very cold this time of year. I sure hope he came down on dry land.

It is pretty remote and in the middle of a national forest. It has a handful of residents.
Temps are in the 30s.
For those of you with Google Earth:
General area of crash: 46 07.653 86 33.938
Early report of ejection seat location: 46 03.377 86 38.822
This will give you a view of the area and terrain.

Prayers out.

Prayers out for his safe recovery. I’ve been through that area several times and it sure can seem desolate.

I was listening to them take off last night. Love the sound of Freedom.

Praying for some good news in the morning.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:
Bet it gets cold in the UP at night. Yeah, I hope he's OK. But keep in mind that a parachute makes a darn good sleeping bag. If he can get it out of the tree..

And, he's been to SEER school. So, survival is a learned skill. praying for one of our heroes.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:

For those of you with Google Earth:
General area of crash: 46 07.653-86 33.938
Early report of ejection seat location: 46 03.377-86 38.822
This will give you a view of the area and terrain.

Yooper I put a dash between co ordinance for a copy and paste link

Thanks!

Does anyone know if the pilots carry an EPIRB on their survival vest?

quote:

Originally posted by Sailor1911:

And, he's been to SEER school. So, survival is a learned skill. praying for one of our heroes.

Scott O’Grady had been through SEER, too who then managed to forget everything his SEER instructors had taught, when he was shot down. I hate to say this however if the SAR forces haven’t heard anything from the pilot by this time this all may not conclude happily. I pray that I am in error.

I hope & pray for a good outcome. At this point I think they found what they’re gonna find. Yes, somewhat remote, not AK remote though.

At this point, I speculate that he is down in one of the numerous lakes in the area.
As the crow flies, it is about 20 miles to Lake Michigan, so that may be a possibility too.
Some of our SF aircrews may have more info on ejections.
FYI: A plane missing since 1997 was found in 2018 in the Hiawatha National Forest. It was closer to St. Ignace.