Pilot who wrecked Black Hawk admits he was showing off

Associated Press ^ | May. 05, 2005 | JAYMES SONG

[patton]

If you are going to fight hard, you must train hard. Sometimes people die.

I wish they didn't, but zero tolorance for screw-ups means you lose in combat.

[patton]

BS. Soldiers show off all the time, and people die.

Personally, I have dropped an M1 tank in a lake, driven a BMP down a ski slope, backwards, and done a lot of other silly things.

You want soldiers that fight and win, or avoid danger at any cost?

B 3/325 INF AIRBORNE!

[mordo]

Yes I know I was one of the 200 you mention that did not make it.
And since it was going to be a career thing for me, well after Uncle Sam was not going to pay for it all I could not see myself droning on & ON, boring a hole in the sky burning up gas in piston engine airplanes to build up hours.

A Cherokee at 100kts 5000' OH WOW.
;)

[mordo]

You must be a good samurai.
The FR metaphorical sword awaits you

[El Gato]

I spent 22 years doing that job, because when I was a kid, I saw someone else doing it at an airshow,

What were they flying? F9F Cougars?

Just kidding, although I think that may have been what they were flying the first time I saw the Blue Angels, although it could have been the F11F Tiger. Pretty sure the Thunderbirds were flying F-100s the first time I saw them, although it could have been F-84F's I suppose.

I think the current aircraft flown by each team are their "coolest" yet, the F/A-18 Hornet and the F-16 Falcon.

[a6intruder]

You fighter guys sure have short fuzes. We attack guys, on the other hand, pride ourselves on being suave and debonaire in the face of ignorance.

According to him, I "stole" the cruise "Top Hook" award from Chris Weutrich (sp?) with a 3.75 average landing grade. No bolts and no "no grades" the entire cruise. It was magical.

By the way, welcome to the proud group of retired Naval Aviators whose "steeds" have been retired...those lawn darts will never replace us.

Freegards...a6intruder

[RobRoy]

I am reticent to be all that hard on the pilot. It is one of those "walk a mile in my shoes" sort of things. What if the wheel chock had been secured.

Maybe murphy was involved at least a little.

[a6intruder]

Dropped a sentence...sorry. Insert this after first comment.

When were you in VF-143? I did a Med cruise with them in CVW-1 on JFK in the late 70's.

[leadpenny]

Yeah, right. AP is making it up. Gimme a break!

[RobRoy]

Yes, I wonder just how dangerous this would have actually been had the wheel chock been tied down.

[Pukin Dog]

When I signed up, the Navy was transitioning from the F-4 to the Tomcat. The Blues were flying the A-4 Skyhawk at the time, but still lookin good. The Hornets are nice, but the Blues never looked better than when they were throwing Phantoms around the sky. Nothin sounded like an angry F-4.

[RobRoy]

The more I read about this, the more I am convinced that the pilot was a victim of unfortunate circumstances. Like the driver that comes to a hard stop at a red light at an intersection at the exact moment his brake line ruptures, carrying him and his passengers into the intersection and death.

[eastforker]

I know the story isn't made up but sometimes reporters like to add little things, thats why I said I would like to read the transcript.

[Pukin Dog]

As a former LSO, I would need to see your tapes to comment.

But, who could not land that slow sucker? It aint like you had a lot of trouble seeing out of that greenhouse-nose at high alpha, nor were you saddled with engines that turned against you at the worst possible moment.

But yes, short fuzes is why fighter guys rarely get beyond Capt in this man's Navy, and RIOs and other pukes are driving the CVNs these days.

But you want us on that CAP, you NEED us on that CAP. YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH!

[tet68]

A wheel chock rose off the floor and drifted into the cockpit, jamming the controls and preventing Rogers from being able to pull out of the dive, he said.

Just like the flying dog.

http://www.alldumb.com/item/24/

[Pukin Dog]

Started in VF-111 in 76, TG in 81, -126 for 2 years, Demo, then -143 until War College. I fly for Delta now, when they can afford the gas.

[Doe Eyes]

I spent 22 years doing that job, because when I was a kid, I saw someone else doing it at an airshow, and wanted to do it myself.

I really don't think we are having a problem recruiting fighter pilots, or pilots in general. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Pukin Dog]

Whoops, I left out 2 years in RAG instruction. It was forgettable.

[Pukin Dog]

We have a problem recruiting people who can actually hack the syllabus to become pilots. The drop rate is unbelievable these days. Many come in, few make it out with gold.

[leadpenny]

AP wouldn't be the only news organization in the court room. If they got things wrong the other guys would eat their lunch.