RAF Harrier Crash

CrazyDunc · Post by **CrazyDunc** » 16 Jun 2008, 22:01

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leic ... 457288.stm

Was a Female NSW Pilot, Callsign "Spider 1"

Quote:
13.46L "spider 1 has ejected" 369.3500Mhz Just before that 'no idea what my rpm is'

All i have for you atm, will pass on Knowledge of Serials and what not as i get them, thank god she's aright.

EDIT:

Early indications are its : ZD408/37A

ronniegj · Post by **ronniegj** » 17 Jun 2008, 03:41

Always grateful to hear the pilot made it out.

Ron

nickblack423 · Post by **nickblack423** » 17 Jun 2008, 07:55

In the light of the fact that the pilot is safe I think I can be allowed to be light hearted and say

"BLOODY WOMEN DRIVERS!!!"

Seriously though, glad she's ok, and as always she did a great job not hurting anyone on the ground.

Nick

CelticWarrior · Post by **CelticWarrior** » 17 Jun 2008, 12:24

I echo the sentiments expressed; glad to hear she's OK too. Funny how the "oh so politically correct" Bbc repeatedly refer to the pilot as "he", no prejudice there, then!

So was this an RN or RAF Harrier?

CrazyDunc · Post by **CrazyDunc** » 17 Jun 2008, 13:31

Its a RAF Harrier Flying with the NSW.

Dunc

nickblack423 · Post by **nickblack423** » 17 Jun 2008, 14:04

There arent any such things as RN and RAF Harriers anymore. They are all one big fleet, and they dont really even adhere to any particular squadron either, as you can see from the MAIW UK Harriers package. They were a bugger to sort out.

Death traps though. I bet they're fun to fly but I'd feel a little nervous as pilot of one every time. There was a report I saw somewhere here that some guy in america wrote when a US Pilot died in an AV8B, calling for them to be scrapped as they are dangerous.

Nick

CelticWarrior · Post by **CelticWarrior** » 17 Jun 2008, 15:20

nickblack423 wrote:... AV8B, calling for them to be scrapped as they are dangerous.

Nick

Yep, military aviation is the most safe occupation to take up

If they can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

SMOC · Post by **SMOC** » 17 Jun 2008, 15:31

CelticWarrior wrote:Yep, military aviation is the most safe occupation to take up If they can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

I'm not sure that's what was being implied. Perhaps the point was that the age of the aircraft coupled with the particular stresses a VSTOL aircraft might incur has weathered the aircraft to such a point that it is considered more dangerous than it should be.

Just spit ballin' though...

nickblack423 · Post by **nickblack423** » 17 Jun 2008, 15:38

Well I dunno I cant find the report, but I think it was to do with the fact that the Harrier has already cost numerous lives and yet they leave it in service.

Dont get me wrong Im not moaning, the thing is superb and we run risks everyday, even crossing the road.

Nick

ronniegj · Post by **ronniegj** » 17 Jun 2008, 20:33

Funny how the report above seemed to leave the impression that the a/c just crashed randomly into the ground and it was great good luck that no one was killed on the ground and no buildings were struck. However, if you play the news video, you see a rather long furrow, at the end of which is a broken Harrier, which has some, but not a lot, fire. It seems to me that she rode that thing down until she was sure of the impact point and clear direction of travel after impact, and I'll bet she punched out at the last available moment. I say she has 'The Right Stuff'. It will be interesting to see the final report, to see if all of this is confirmed.

Ron

GZR_Sactargets · Post by **GZR_Sactargets** » 22 Jun 2008, 21:25

ronniegj wrote:Funny how the report above seemed to leave the impression that the a/c just crashed randomly into the ground and it was great good luck that no one was killed on the ground and no buildings were struck. However, if you play the news video, you see a rather long furrow, at the end of which is a broken Harrier, which has some, but not a lot, fire. It seems to me that she rode that thing down until she was sure of the impact point and clear direction of travel after impact, and I'll bet she punched out at the last available moment. I say she has 'The Right Stuff'. It will be interesting to see the final report, to see if all of this is confirmed.

Ron

There are many "Fighter Chick" Pilots(Their own choice of words)

http://www.fighterchicks.com/history.html

ronniegj · Post by **ronniegj** » 23 Jun 2008, 00:50

I've seen the site before. Very interesting. Things sure move along fast.

Just a few years ago 'Jag' did an episode where a female 'womens rights amendment' advocate Senator had pushed to have the Navy allow a basically unqualified woman into the Naval Aviator program, and of course the thrust of the program was 'damned woman driver' killed herself during night quals due to panic and too low an approach to the deck.

In Desert Storm it was a bit of an uproar when a couple of female aircrew died in action. That seems like yesterday - only 18 years - hell, Nam was only a couple of weeks ago!

Anyway, check the above site, follow a few links and watch these chicks fly.

Also, the VAW-113 or 116, whichever, YouTube video re: Pumpit!, or Hey, Ya!, has at least one a/c commander - female type (love that ponytail) - and now the newest thing on PBS, Aircraft Carrier, has a number of FA-18 jet jocks - female type. It's become the norm rather than the exception, in all branches.

Man has the world turned since my day! The gals (some, not all, anyway) have got what it takes! Here's to them

Ron

CelticWarrior · Post by **CelticWarrior** » 23 Jun 2008, 14:23

I heard on another site that she was in fact a he, an experienced Royal Navy pilot.