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Mid-air collision at Gunfighter Skies Airshow Login/Join 
Run Silent
Run Deep

Picture of Patriot
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Looks like the two worst blind spots came into perfect alignment. Directly below for the top plane and in between the tail of the bottom plane.


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Posts: 7431 | Location: South East, Pa | Registered: July 04, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Now and Zen
Picture of clubleaf206
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quote:

So, the top/rear jet was supposed to “rejoin” the other one from below instead of from above, the position from which he’s blind of the forward jet. Question now is, why did he do what he wasn’t supposed to do. Guess we will find out in the coming days/weeks.


Exactly, the wingman rejoined incorrectly. But, as Patriot points out, the two worst blind spots for the respective aircraft come into play.


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Posts: 12447 | Location: The untamed wilds of Kansas | Registered: August 25, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Freethinker
Picture of sigfreund
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The question of why aircrews don’t have steerable parachutes was raised and discussed at some length in another thread. I guess we can expect it to be asked every time there is an incident like this. Roll Eyes

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...540091025#3540091025




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Posts: 49513 | Location: 10,150 Feet Above Sea Level in Commirado | Registered: April 04, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Alienator
Picture of SIG4EVA
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Its miraculous that they were all able to eject while the jets were attached.


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Posts: 7499 | Location: NC | Registered: March 16, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
אַרְיֵה
Picture of V-Tail
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quote:
Originally posted by sigfreund:

How about if we just don’t have military aircraft trying to impress the crowds at airshows?
Good point. I do not see any value in this type of flying. What is gained by this high risk activity?



הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
 
Posts: 33390 | Location: Central Florida, Orlando area | Registered: January 03, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Legalize the Constitution
Picture of TMats
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This from a site called, Aviation Circle

quote:
Yesterday, two US Navy EA-18G Growlers collided mid-air during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. All four crew members survived. Today, we know exactly what saved them.

In a statement posted on social media, Martin-Baker, the British company that manufactures ejection seats for the US Navy and most of the world's air forces, confirmed that all four crew members ejected safely using the Martin-Baker US14A ejection seat, known to the US Navy as NACES (Navy Aircrew Common Ejection Seat).

With yesterday's four ejections, Martin-Baker has now saved 7,820 lives since the company's first successful ejection back in 1946.

The two aircraft involved were from the US Navy's VAQ-129 "Vikings," the training squadron based at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington State that trains all US Navy Growler aircrews. Because the EA-18G is a two-seat aircraft, each plane carried a pilot and an electronic warfare officer.

The Martin-Baker US14A NACES has been in service since 1992 and is fitted to the F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and T-45 Goshawk trainer. Approximately 2,400 seats are currently in active service. According to Martin-Baker and the US Navy, the NACES has a 100% success rate for ejections within the ejection envelope.


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despite them
 
Posts: 14736 | Location: Wyoming | Registered: January 10, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
A Grateful American
Picture of sigmonkey
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Welcome to the Club, boys!





"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא עוד
 
Posts: 46415 | Location: Box 1663 Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: December 20, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Something wild
is loose
Picture of Doc H.
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As a former Gunfighter, glad to see all ejected safely. It's a small and close-knit community. Some of the F-111A CEM bailouts didn't have such a happy ending. There are worse (or more complex) systems than a simple parachute, although the CEM working as advertised undoubtedly saved lives.



"And gentlemen in England now abed, shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's Day"
 
Posts: 2784 | Location: The Shire | Registered: October 22, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of FiveFiveSixFan
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^^^^

That seems to be a pretty big club.

quote:
With yesterday's four ejections, Martin-Baker has now saved 7,820 lives since the company's first successful ejection back in 1946.
 
Posts: 7521 | Registered: January 10, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of abnmacv
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We need our military aircraft to deal with the hostile world. Air shows should be phased out.


U.S. Army 11F4P Vietnam 69-70 NRA Life Member
 
Posts: 1939 | Registered: June 11, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of sourdough44
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quote:
Originally posted by abnmacv:
We need our military aircraft to deal with the hostile world. Air shows should be phased out.


I think phased out is a little extreme, but I can see restrictions on the type of maneuvers performed. Think of the profiles done by the blue angels & Thunderbirds, with months & months of detailed training. Even with that, things happen.

I wonder in adrenaline contributed, over decades we’ve had military & civilian aircraft auger in at airshows, even flying over a buddy’s house or an audience on departure.

Very simply put, -2’s main priority is to keep sight of & not hit the lead.
 
Posts: 7386 | Location: WI | Registered: February 29, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Lawyers, Guns
and Money
Picture of chellim1
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by sourdough44:
quote:
Originally posted by abnmacv:
We need our military aircraft to deal with the hostile world. Air shows should be phased out.

I think phased out is a little extreme, but I can see restrictions on the type of maneuvers performed. Think of the profiles done by the blue angels & Thunderbirds, with months & months of detailed training. Even with that, things happen.

+1
Do what it takes to improve safety, as much as possible.
The Blue Angels & Thunderbirds should not be phased out. They inspire young kids to join the military.



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-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

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Posts: 26937 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Ammoholic
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:
quote:
Originally posted by sigfreund:

How about if we just don’t have military aircraft trying to impress the crowds at airshows?
Good point. I do not see any value in this type of flying. What is gained by this high risk activity?
Well, when done properly (crashing likely doesn’t help), it may serve as a recruitment tool.
 
Posts: 7777 | Location: Lost, but making time. | Registered: February 23, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Like a party
in your pants
Picture of armored
posted Hide Post
When I attend a air show I look forward to witnessing the raw power of the screaming jet engines and a fast climb and tight turn. I don't need to see the dangerous close flying formations. A row of single planes roaring by at a low altitude does it for me.
I don't like our solders lives being put in unnecessary danger for my enjoyment.
 
Posts: 5247 | Location: Chicago, IL, USA: | Registered: November 17, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
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This incident reminds me of the tragic collision of the B-17 and P-63 Kingcobra at the Wings over Dallas show back in '22, where one plane drifted into the pathway of another, and the pilots didn't have visual of each other.

Mooch & Hooser give some perspective when comparing with a similar performance.

 
Posts: 16085 | Location: Wine Country | Registered: September 20, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of 71 TRUCK
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quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Welcome to the Club, boys!



Bremont Watch Company used to make a watch only available to air crews who were ejected from an aircraft using a Martin-Baker seat. I think the watch may have been retired, I am not sure.

I have a friend who was ejected from a Naval aircraft using a Martin Baker seat. I told him about the watch, he contacted them and provided the required info and was able to purchase a watch.

The watch was called the Bremont MB1




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As ratified by the States and authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State



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Posts: 2837 | Location: Central Florida, south of the mouse | Registered: March 08, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Happiness is
Vectored Thrust
Picture of mojojojo
posted Hide Post
As was mentioned, the round military parachutes do have limited steering capability. Also, being round they are able to open almost immediately (if certain interlocks are satisfied) by using a ballistic spreader which fires to deploy the canopy fully.



Icarus flew too close to the sun, but at least he flew.
 
Posts: 6992 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: April 30, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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