Vermont Air Guard pilot grounded after Fenway Park flyover

SMOC · Post by **SMOC** » 14 Apr 2008, 15:52

As stated, there is no question he made a mistake in judgment. The real crux of the issue seems to be(and I'm playing armchair QB here) a preflight briefing that didn't cover all scenarios(what if we have a different holding point, what if someone can't form up, what if the group is too spread, etc...). Since they were put into a holding pattern at a point different than briefed, two out of the four had problems forming up. Once 4 knew he couldn't form up, he should have left the group and reformed after the flyby instead of the sloppy barrel roll.

I don't think he was showing off... the roll was too sloppy to be planned.

CelticWarrior · Post by **CelticWarrior** » 14 Apr 2008, 17:23

Sloppy? But I thought he was a very skilled pilot

SMOC · Post by **SMOC** » 14 Apr 2008, 17:38

You'll have to show me where I said he was a skilled pilot.

mikewmac · Post by **mikewmac** » 14 Apr 2008, 17:43

The pilot of #4 was apparently hustling to form up and when he realized that he was going to overshoot he tried a lag roll to put some G on the aircraft and lose enough energy to form up with the formation. This is perfectly acceptable in BFM above 5000 feet, but not at 1200 feet above a crowd.

Mike

nickblack423 · Post by **nickblack423** » 14 Apr 2008, 18:05

Thought as much.

Nick

djnocturnal · Post by **djnocturnal** » 14 Apr 2008, 18:06

this guy should be grounded. i have seen many, many maintenance guys get fried for doing things that could potentially harm the aircraft and or pilot. there shouldn't be any exeptions for this guy, he did the stunt too low and over crowd, lots of people could have been injured.

Jumpshot724 · Post by **Jumpshot724** » 14 Apr 2008, 20:48

It wasn't a stunt though it's a move from very basic ACM. As far as the move itself he did it perfectly, he just did it to low and over a crowd. At NO time was ANYONE, in the air or the ground, in any danger whatsoever. If it WAS dangerous he'd be grounded for different reasons than just remedial training.

No one ever has an absolutely perfect flying career, and i gurantee he'll never make a mistake like that again. Let's give the poor guy a break, nobody (fighter pilots included) is perfect.

djnocturnal · Post by **djnocturnal** » 14 Apr 2008, 23:04

didn't mean to type "stunt" i was just referring to what he did, regardless the manuever was done well below the specified altitude over a stadium filled with people.
i'm not saying the guy should be booted from the AF or anything like that but action definitely needed to be taken, if they feel grounding him for further training is the answer than that is probably what is best.

nickblack423 · Post by **nickblack423** » 15 Apr 2008, 07:13

Jumpshot724 wrote:No one ever has an absolutely perfect flying career, and i gurantee he'll never make a mistake like that again. Let's give the poor guy a break, nobody (fighter pilots included) is perfect.

Not arguing wth you here Jumpshot just keeping this entertaining topic alive with opinions.

Over here (UK) RAF pilots are supposed to be the cream of the crop, the best of the best, Im sure its the same everywhere. They are screened and supposed to be the best, most intelligent people out there and no-one below a certain "standard" is good enough aparently. (can you tell I wasnt selected already LOL) So they should be infalable. Mistakes cost lives. And it wasnt a mistake here. Imagine yourself in an F-16 forming up late behind the other 3 aircraft. What would go through your head? Wouldnt you think...oops I'll break off, or...oops, I'll join up at the rear. Not .....oops I'll barrel roll around the other aircraft and look a tit.

I know no-one is infalable but this is a quite high profile mistake for the best of the best to make and he handled it very badly in my opinion.

Nick