VF-213 was not the squadron known for the best record.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018...t-official-says.html

quote:

Navy F/A-18 jet crashes off Key West, official says

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet jet crashed off the coast of Key West, Florida, on Wednesday, an official told Fox News.



One pilot and one weapons systems officer ejected from the twin-engine jet, and search and rescue efforts are under way.

A marina owner in the Florida Keys told WPLG that the Hornet jet caught fire mid-air, then crashed roughly one mile from the runway of Naval Air Station Key West.

Officials said the crew is based out of Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

President Trump during a roundtable at Boeing on Wednesday called the F/A-18 a work of "art," and said that he's working with Congress to fund 24 new jets.

The jet was from the VFA-213 Blacklions squadron. Last year, the same squadron deployed aboard USS George H.W. Bush to conduct ISIS strikes in Iraq and Syria.

Earlier this month, an F/A-18 from the squadron performed a rare nighttime flyover in Annapolis, Maryland, ahead of a Capitals versus Maple Leafs outdoor NHL hockey game played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

In November, the head of Naval Aviation told Congress that only half the Navy’s 542 F-18 Super Hornet jets can fly right now and only 31 percent are fully mission capable and ready to “fight tonight.”

I didnt see any update about the aircrew.

I hope station SAR was on their game but its not looking good

Fox News reporting both the Pilot and WSO died.

This really sucks. Prayers for the families involved and their squadron mates.

31% OR rate?

Fuck me. We used to have 89% OR with the F-4. (and were embarrassed it was not better...)

Killing aircrew for no good reason!

damn...a mile from the runway

whatever it was it must have been pretty bad and pretty fast

Pilot and WSO died.

RIP.

Two Aviators Killed After Super Hornet Crash off Key West

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
VF-213 was not the squadron known for the best record.

Yeah, like 20 years ago.

Completely different group these days.

Yes. It happens too fast. (and too often)

And both maintaining, and flying, you learn and know more than you might want.
The older you get, the clearer some things are, and the fuzzier other things.

F-4E 69-7589 30 Sep 1987.

Early evening, return to base from out and back, shooting touch and goes. After the third approach, and go around, aircraft departed south of Eglin 19 to approx 3 miles and began 4 minute turn to re-enter pattern for intended approach and full stop.

Aircraft descended while in right bank and impacted water.

Post recovery and investigation revealed following (not exhaustive nor complete)...

Aircraft was near wings level with full aft stick input from front cockpit.

Egress was initiated but out of envelope and too late to clear aircraft prior to impact.

Both canopies had jettisoned, (rear cockpit initiated ejection, command ejection selector was set for dual ejection sequence).

WSO was clear of aircraft, but impacted water prior to man/seat separation.

Pilot did had not cleared the aircraft prior to impact.



That was my last of more than 30 aircraft I was involved in that were lost, and multiple recovery efforts.

And one of the incidents that stayed with me.

We worked several days working with divers, dredging equipment to recover wreckage from the gulf, just south of Destin and staging the recovered components to a hanger to piece together for the investigation.

It is believed that during the last go around, the aircrew were distracted with "tidying up" the cockpit, stowing publications and maps, and setting up for the full stop recovery, and that hand off between the front and rear may not have been verified as to who "had the stick". (as often was the case, F-4 crew would take turns with touch and go and command, to keep proficiency).

The findings indicated everything was in normal operation. Engines were in normal power setting for the turn to base, as were flap/slat settings, gear still in the up and locked position.

Aircraft simply was in a right bank turn and descended (according to area of impact and determined flight track) until just before impact where wings were leveled and stick input to full aft deflection as evidenced by the horizontal stabilizer at impact.

And sometimes, in the middle of the night you wake up and wonder...

I miss friends and those I've served with.

Toss a nickel in the grass...

quote:

Originally posted by Tailhook 84:
Fox News reporting both the Pilot and WSO died.

This really sucks. Prayers for the families involved and their squadron mates.

Yes prayers for all

RIP

Lord watch over their souls.

I grew up fishing down there, got to know some of the folks a bit over time. Loved the talk early in the morning at Kims Kuban when the Sundowner guys would be in early and I was getting breakfast and lunch sandwiches for the day. Loved watching them scream overhead every day. This is sad and confusing...thoughts are with their families.

We are pushing these airplanes too hard without proper maintenance/replacement and asking crews to fly them with insufficient recurrent flight training hours.

RIP LCDR James Johnson and LT Caleb King.


Navy identifies aviators killed in Super Hornet crash

Fair winds and following seas