via Seapower Mag.
Harrier Jet Runs Off Runway in AfghanistanHmm. An ejection. Sounds like another aircraft that will be written off...this incident has Class A mishap written all over it.
By RICHARD R. BURGESS, Managing Editor
ARLINGTON, Va. – A Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft has been damaged in a landing mishap in Afghanistan.
The AV-8B, assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 311 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., was damaged July 10 during its landing roll-out when it ran off the runway at Camp Bastion.
According to a source, the aircraft’s outrigger landing gear collapsed, causing the Harrier to veer off the runway. The pilot ejected and survived.
The extent of the damage to the aircraft is being assessed.
Not necessarily, in 1997 when I wasa SNCO stationed at RAF Lakenheath we had an F-15E Strike Eagle that suffered a bird strike while flying low level over Wales. In the ensuing chaos the WSO who for some unknown reason had the ejection sequence handle set in solo mode and without making any attempt to communicate to the pilot pulled the handles and ejected. The pilot who thought the canopy had just failed completely made an IFE into RAF Valley. The jet was ferried back to Lakenheath a few days later and the rear cockpit had to have extension repairs but the jet returned to regular flying.
ReplyDeleteI’ve always wondered what went through pilots mind when he got the Eagle stopped in the barrier and he unbuckled to check on his WSO and all he saw was the telescoping pole.
that's crazy! did you ever get to talk to the WSO and find out his story on why?
DeleteHe was sent to my squadron (I was detailed to the 48th OSS at the time as the Wing avionics manager) and was assigned duties in the weapons shop, he still flew but none of the pilots would trust him and he never talked about the incident.
DeleteThe Air Force did their normal half A** investigation and found no fault, what was laughable was one morning during the daily Group how goes it meeting the Group C.O. was trying to pass off that the reason that the ejection sequence handle was in solo is because his put hit as he ejected. I looked over at the Boeing tech rep and we started to laugh quietly. The reason is the handle is on the far right of the rear cockpit instrument panel and is spring loaded. You have to pull it out rotate and push it back into position to ensure its locked into the new detent. Our Group Chief asked us after the meeting what was so funny, I told him if his boot hit it then part of his foot would have been in the cockpit
What really bad on this incident is the other WSO’s told me that they had a procedure for the loss of a canopy that would allow the crew to determine if each guy was conscious and functioning because with the wind blast you can’t use the intercom, this guy didn’t and punched out. If the pilot had been incapacitated he would not have been able to eject and would have rode it in.
Here are some shots of the rear cockpit, 2nd row 2nd photo is a good one, the sequence handle is the black and yellow handle on the far right of the UFC panel.
http://www.f-15e.info/technology/cockpit/rear_cockpit/rear_cockpit_photos.htm