CF-18 Crash - Lethbridge Airshow

[WarbirdRadio]

Everyone is ok...not official word yet here on what happened. The show is still on...so come on out if you're in the area.

http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/fighter ... story.html

v/r
Matt Jolley

[Dave Homewood]

Very sad that this has happened to marr the show. I was only listening yesterday to a discussion on Warbird Radio with one of the organisers who seemed thrilled that the RCAF was sending a Hornet to display. it must be very disappointing for the guys and rirls running the show. But thank goodness the ejection seat worked and the pilot escaped ok. Best of luck for his recovery.

[adflyer]

How ironic that staying alive was playing in the background. Fortunately that was the case here.

[WarbirdRadio]

When we left the airport tonight we spotted an F-18 beside a hangar. Looks like the show will go on. I'll be sure and most more tomorrow.

v/r
Matt Jolley

[b29flteng]

I saw some still photos and it appears one engine exhaust nozzle was closed and the other was open. Engine failure?

[TimAPNY]

I saw some still photos and it appears one engine exhaust nozzle was closed and the other was open. Engine failure?

There are a lot of electronics that control the engines and keeps the hornet in the air. It might not be the engine just one of the several computers that all have something to do with controlling the engines. Hard to tell. But I'm sure the black box survived and the cause will be found.

I'm very glad to see the pilot is safe. I bet that was a warm trip to the ground.

Tim

[Randy Haskin]

Looked to me like the left engine was in afterburner (the one with the nozzle full open), and the right was obviously not (with the nozzle closed).

What you can't tell just by the photos is the state of the right engine. Usually in MIL power the nozzle is fully closed, but it could also be closed because of a failure of the nozzle, of the DEEC, or of the engine itself, etc.

[Randy Haskin]

But I'm sure the black box survived and the cause will be found.

What kind of 'black box' does a CF-18 have?

[RMAllnutt]

This guy was very lucky to get out indeed. There are some pretty amazing photos on The Daily Mail site which show just how close he came. Very lucky, but incredibly brave to fight things down to the last fraction of a second...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1297283/Canadian-Airforce-pilot-ejects-fighter-jet-moments-crashes-ball-flame.html

[Randy Haskin]

but incredibly brave to fight things down to the last fraction of a second...

Not so much bravery, but instinct, and probably not for the heroic reason you might think.

You might be surprised to know that the vast majority of unsuccessful ejections out of aircraft (ergo, the guy died) were because the pilot was continuing to try and 'save' the airplane and waited to long to give up on it.

So, that is something that comes natural to pilots -- to try and fly out of whatever problem is encountered. It's very *un* natural to pull the handles and face a very uncertain future for yourself. I don't think you'll find anyone who is eager to pull the handles and chuck the jet into the dirt at the first sign of trouble. Nobody wants to leave that nice, warm womb of a cockpit for the cold, windy, loud harsh environment that awaits outside the canopy and the possible physical injuries that go with it. In addition, most military pilots are the self-critiquing type, and are usually wondering what they did wrong to cause the situation whenever there is a serious emergency. Punching out of the airplane is a bit like admitting you did something wrong....

[Randy Haskin]

Just watched the video, and IMHO it has to be an engine problem/failure with the right motor.

He's doing the "high alpha" pass, where the jet is well below normal stall speed (alpha) and flying based on the engine thrust and the flat-plate newtonian physics of the bottom of the fuselage and wing impacting the air (Mr Bernoulli has left the building).

I don't hear anything on the soundtrack of the video that sounds like a compressor stall or other engine failure...there isn't a poof of smoke or anything visual, either.

But regardless, what the jet does is consistent with a significant loss of thrust on the right side.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Pilot+ ... story.html

[DB2]

The position of the pilot's head in the first ejection pic is a bit disconcerting...obviously didn't have much if any time to brace his head back, but I hope he didn't receive any permanent neck/spinal cord injuries.

[Bill Greenwood]

When it is not the pilot's fault, it is likely a mech failure.
If not then blame it on:
1. The liberal media
2. Al Gore
3. B P
4 All of the above.

Glad the pilot and those on the ground are ok; Who invented the ejection seat anyway? Was it Martin-Baker?
It was probably not any of those above.

[Mudge]

WOW...looks like half a swing in the 'chute and he's on the ground. Luckily it was a low speed maneuver or he would have hit the ground a lot harder from that altitude.
Scrapes and bruises would be expected. Hope his back's OK.

Mudge the hopeful

[Nathan]

Glad the pilot got out ok.