The website and forum will be intermittently unavailable while we're making some security updates.
File uploads to the download hangar are also disabled until further notice.

Thunderbird 4 AAIB final report

Have a story, topic or report on what's really happening in the world's militaries? Talk about it here.
Post Reply
User avatar
MIKE JG
MAIW Developer
MAIW Developer
Posts: 10976
Joined: 12 Aug 2006, 02:25
Version: MSFS

Thunderbird 4 AAIB final report

Post by MIKE JG »

Here is the full AAIB report of the accident that took the life of Thunderbird #4, Maj. Stephen Del Bagno. :cry:

https://media.defense.gov/2018/Oct/16/2 ... REPORT.PDF

Worth the read if you have the time. Makes me really, really appreciate what these guys do on a daily basis.
-Mike G.

Recovering flight sim addict, constant lurker.

Check out my real life RV-8 build here: RV-8 Builder Log
User avatar
Victory103
Colonel
Colonel
Posts: 3977
Joined: 13 Aug 2007, 03:35
Version: P3D
Location: KPHX

Re: Thunderbird 4 AAIB final report

Post by Victory103 »

Tough read,knowing how much these guys train on and off duty, all the former fighter guys I know are big into cardio. Lost the previous AIB link in 2014 where I would read all the reports. I had heard that due to the F-16 requiring the 9G centrifuge qual, many Guard guys just get too "old" to fly them.
DUSTOFF
ARMY PROPS
NAVY SAR

-Chris
User avatar
MIKE JG
MAIW Developer
MAIW Developer
Posts: 10976
Joined: 12 Aug 2006, 02:25
Version: MSFS

Re: Thunderbird 4 AAIB final report

Post by MIKE JG »

I've heard more than one Guard guy say it's a "young man's" airplane, seems like a lot of them end up with neck issues from always straining to look over their shoulder.

What gets me about this accident is that he went from -2 G's to +8 in about 6 seconds. Not sure anyone could withstand that without losing consciousness.
-Mike G.

Recovering flight sim addict, constant lurker.

Check out my real life RV-8 build here: RV-8 Builder Log
Post Reply