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Posted on 04/21/2007 1:42:05 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Breaking on CNN a few minutes ago.
1 plane down in neighborhood, status of pilot or occupants unknown at this time.
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I think they still have a bunch at AMARC. Singapore may even still fly them, I saw something about them replacing the J-52 with the F-404, talk about a hot rod!
Thank you for your service. I was weapons systems on F-15s for four years. Fond memories. I appreciate the privilege a lot more now than I did then.
It won’t be long before DU claims Bush had it shot down.
I would rather swim through a real sewer in my nightgown than to go over to HuffPo. [spits derisively]
As bad as DU is, it doesn’t hold a candle to the foul-mouthed, America hating, military despising people who post there for the most part. (Although sometimes a voice or two of reason speaks up, but they are quickly shot down with nasty curses.)
They were all ex USN birds. I seem to remember they even sank one British ship with iron bombs.
Thanks for the update...
I miss working on them, what a neat plane. Looks like most have been retired but I think Israel still uses them. Here's to memories.
Typing isn’t my forte. I excell at proof reading. ;)
This is too bad, watch airshows will be banned in SC like they did here in central NH when they had an air show accident years ago...sad, i miss the annual airshows.
Lol, they just didn't know how to drive 'em!
Boneyard at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ.
Smoke rises over the treetops after a Navy Blue Angel solo pilot flying an F-18 crashed during an air show at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort, S.C., Saturday, April 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Birmingham News, Mark Almond)
The Blue Angels team leader circles the site where a Navy F-18 Blue Angel plane crashed during an air show at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort, S.C., Saturday, April 21, 2007. The Beaufort Gazette reported the plane hit a pine tree and then crashed near a subdivision, setting at least one home on fire and peppering homes with shrapnel. The county coroner's office said one person was killed. (AP Photo/Birmingham News, Mark Almond)
The Navy Blue Angels perform the last maneuver before Blue Angel No. 6 (plane just above center) crashed during an air show at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort, S.C., Saturday, April 21, 2007. Blue Angel No. 6, one of two solo pilots crashed two minutes after this picture was made about four miles west of the base as the team was setting up for its final maneuver. (AP Photo/Birmingham News, Mark Almond)
Thanks!
I was an Airframer. I was pretty good with the slats. The slats caused a lot of problems. My squadron would bring in one jet a night and I would optimize the slats on that jet. There had been some accidents related to the slats and CNATRA had sent out a team to check all the squadrons, they said ours were the best. I still feel pretty good about that.
What RochesterFan said. Pukin Dog was just pointing out some inside facts. Aside from the sentimental, human equation, in strategic and economic terms it can be argued that the pilot is worth more than that plane and pilots are trained as such. In those last seconds the pilot may decide that they couldn’t stand to be thought of for the rest of their life as someone who “bailed out”. If a pilot perceives that the general public’s expectation is that his only honorable choice is to go down with an unresponsive plane, this could pressure him at the last second to decide to remain in it. PD was pointing out how pilots are trained to respond pragmatically, not romantically.
United States Navy
Opposing Solo
Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis is a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Reading Memorial High School in 1992 where he played football and was active with the Civil Air Patrol. He attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science with honors in 1996.
Kevin reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for Officer Candidate School and aviation indoctrination in September 1996. He completed primary flight training at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, and transferred to NAS Meridian, Mississippi, for intermediate and advanced flight training. While there, he flew the T-2C Buckeye and TA-4J Skyhawk, and received his wings of gold in June 1999.
Kevin reported to Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101) at NAS Oceana, Virginia, for training in the F-14 Tomcat and was the “Top Stick” in his class. In July 2000 he reported to the VF-11 “Red Rippers” where he completed deployments aboard the aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). While with the “Red Rippers,” Kevin served as the airframes/corrosion branch officer, air-to-ground training officer and head landing signals officer. His deployments included extended operations in the North Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In July 2003, Kevin transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet through Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, California, and then reported to the Fighter Composite Squadron (VFC-12) “Omars,” stationed at NAS Oceana, Virginia. While at VFC-12, Kevin served as a Navy adversary pilot providing valuable air-to-air training for fleet squadrons. In December of 2004, Kevin graduated from the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) as an adversary pilot. During his tour at VFC-12, Kevin worked as the schedules officer, legal officer, FRS/SFARP officer and assistant operations officer.
Kevin joined the Blue Angels in September 2005. He has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours and 200 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include the Air Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various personal and unit awards.
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