Belgian F-16 clips power line in Morocco

F-16.net ^ | 12/16/2010 | Lieven Dewitte

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Last November, a Belgian F-16 pilot hit a power line in Morocco during a training flight. As a consequence, parts of Morocco and Algeria were cut of from electricity for a while.The 350th squadron, which is based in Florennes, deployed to Sidi Slimane Air Base in Morocco with seven F-16s. They were preparing for a NATO operation in Afghanistan (ISAF), the latter which has a similar landscape.

During a training mission, a pilot was flying too low and ended up hitting a power line. The aircraft could still land safely.

[NeverForgetBataan]

I’d would say that stick jockey is one lucky rammer jammer.

[fso301]

He was lucky but I’m always amazed at how tough the planes are. Remember when those E-6 intruders clipped the cable car wire in Italy? Those steel cables are about 1 inch thick and the E-6 made it back to base.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I remember the incident in Italy. With so much sophiscated equipment how can a pilot make a mistake like that

[60Gunner]

Since Morocco and Algeria have been in the Dark Ages since the inception of Islam, I wonder if anyone noticed?

[CrazyIvan]

They need cutter blades like crop dusters have. Back when I
was hanging around the airport there was a duster there who
had been through the wires several times. One day while he
was gone we took black tape and made several telephone pole
“kill” emblems on the plane. He thought it was funny and
left them there.