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Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 02:47
by MIKE JG
Not been a good couple of years for jet aircraft at Oshkosh.
Not long after this Alabama ANG Viper went off the end of the runway today while landing downwind, another aircraft, a vintage FJ-4B also went off the very same end.

Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 04:21
by Victory103
That will ruin your day. Noticed the dirt out of the exhaust too.
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 04:59
by maddog65
Yeah last year Aaron had a close call while he was taking pics
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 10:19
by Stewart Pearson
Singing...................Sweeeeeeeeeeeet Home Alabama!

Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 12:43
by LEBTowerGuy
Anyone want to be a viper driver? Looks like a pilot slot just opened up in the ALANG.
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 12:51
by maddog65
You know the Viper also has the nickname of Lawn Dart.
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 13:01
by LEBTowerGuy
I thought that was the F-106?
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 13:39
by MIKE JG
The good news is that no one was hurt.
The Viper was the second aircraft in a flight of two to land, the lead landed normally apparently. Word is that both aircraft that went off the end landed with a tailwind because of the operations that were ongoing at the airport at the time.
Might be time for a safety stand down at KOSH. Too many accidents in the last couple years.
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 14:08
by maddog65
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 14:38
by LEBTowerGuy
@Les that was an interesting read, didn't know much of that history.
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 15:05
by MIKE JG
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 16:04
by CelticWarrior
The second one is clearly going a lot faster than the first, looks like he chose to take the dirt rather than run into the back of No.1
Glad nobody was injured.
Didn't Prince Charles get grounded for doing something similar in a BAe 146 some years ago?

Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 16:30
by Greg
CelticWarrior wrote:The second one is clearly going a lot faster than the first, looks like he chose to take the dirt rather than run into the back of No.1
Normally in such a case, the slow lane/fast lane principle applies. The first aircraft stays one on side of the runway when the speed is under control, the "slow lane", allowing the second aircraft to overtake on the "fast lane" in case he's got to take the cable.
Two things make no sense to me: the pilot doesn't eject even though he sees his aircraft diving nose-first into the dirt, and nobody seems to care about hydrazine. Isn't every accident with an F-16 considered as a potential hydrazine incident? We (Belgian Air Force) always create a perimeter around an F-16 until the fire crew can confirm there's no hydrazine in the air. The EPU may not have gone off but there's still a risk for a leak as a result of the accident. Still the pilot walks about and some of the guys on their tractors come take a closer look. That's plain stupid

Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 16:44
by flyingscotsman39
Slightly off topic - saw a Mig21, Romanian Air Force over run the short runaway (28) at Lossiemouth a few years back. Quick look at the undercarriage and it was towed off the grass and flying again that afternoon. They made 'em tough.
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 18:01
by Bone184
Tirithon wrote:
Two things make no sense to me: the pilot doesn't eject even though he sees his aircraft diving nose-first into the dirt, and nobody seems to care about hydrazine. Isn't every accident with an F-16 considered as a potential hydrazine incident? We (Belgian Air Force) always create a perimeter around an F-16 until the fire crew can confirm there's no hydrazine in the air. The EPU may not have gone off but there's still a risk for a leak as a result of the accident. Still the pilot walks about and some of the guys on their tractors come take a closer look. That's plain stupid

I heard that there was brake issues with this F-16 but don't know how true that is. I was surprised to see that no one setup a perimeter....it's been sometime since I was where 16's were stationed but that use to be what we did....until someone could verify like you said.
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 18:19
by MIKE JG
Yea the brake issue is that when you are going that fast, the brakes won't help you......
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 18:32
by CelticWarrior
MIKE JG wrote:Yea the brake issue is that when you are going that fast, the brakes won't help you......
Down wind landings are always fraught with danger, even for us fling-wing jockeys. Never had an issue myself, but seen quite a few Pumas who had.
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 18:48
by Stewart Pearson
CelticWarrior wrote:Didn't Prince Charles get grounded for doing something similar in a BAe 146 some years ago?

Indeed, Jug Lugs managed to pile up his BAe 146 at Islay Airport in 1994.
Needless to say, nowt happened to him, but the RAF officer designated the aircraft captain got removed from instructor duties. Again it was a downwind landing.
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 29 Jul 2011, 20:04
by ahs06
Sounds like they need Tony Kern to teach them some flight discipline at Oshkosh. If your in the aviation industry, you should look up his books. He set the doctrine for USFS fire bombers (among other things).
Re: Viper goes offroading at Oshkosh...
Posted: 30 Jul 2011, 00:00
by MIKE JG
Surprised he didn't eject. Latest rumor floating around is that this was the Wing Commander.....