denim

Incredible photos of Thunderbird 6 crashing at Mountain Home AFB on 14 Sept 2003



The "fun" is near the center of the image.

I'm sorry that it's so big, but I don't own the thing. Lotta detail there. More:

http://www.avweb.com/newspics/DavisTbirdEject.jpg
http://www.avweb.com/newspics/TBirdchute1.jpg
http://www.avweb.com/newspics/tbirdchutewide.jpg
http://www.avweb.com/newspics/TBirdwreckdavis.jpg

and some video

http://www.avweb.com/newspics/tbird.wmv
http://www.avweb.com/newspics/tbirdcrash.mpg

Cynthetiq

since we put car crashes in Tilted motors... i've moved this there too...

Very nice hi res pic...glad he's okay and hopefully they got some parts left.

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merkerguitars

Wow....at least the pilot survived

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ledhead

did this ever make the news, because i think i had heard of this but i am not sure. the reason being, is because this is bigger than you think. the thunderbird pilots are some of the best in the world and when one goes down, it is not a good thing.

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Cordachine007

WOW. I didn't hear about this. Where was this, any news links to check out. That is an awesome pic of the plane though, HUGE. The thunderbirds are a great act, I'm glad the pilot got out! post more!

denim

I posted the "where" and "when" in the root message. I only heard about this today, but yeah I think it was news at the time.

Elitegibson

That is without a doubt the largest image that my computer has ever viewed.

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Scorps

That is something you don't want to see at an airshow!

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Confederate

I got that one beat, I have a picture of the surface of mars that is 4660x6449, the picture itself is 33 megs in size

denim

OTOH, that picture is, if I understand correctly, an image of the pilot screwing the pooch. Betcha he doesn't like it much.

wrongfullyaccuzd

The in-cockpit shot is an insane video.
I guess everyone makes mistakes.

MooseMan3000

I'm not sure I understand... did he just fly too low, and assume he couldn't make it out? If something actually went wrong, that's an insanely fast reaction time. Either way, he's lucky.

Ilow

That is some insane shit! Does anyone know what exactly did happen? That 1st one is an amazing shot.

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denim

I've only heard that the first shot was taken with a 600mm lens from a good distance ahead and to one side. With that kind of lens, the photographer could be quite a ways away.

And that the plane was going to crater, so the pilot got out. Good move if he couldn't do anything about it, I'd say.

Cycler

News info here<p><a href=http://www2.kbcitv.com/x5154.xml?ParentPageID=x5157&ContentID=x50142&Layout=KBCI.xsl&AdGroupID=x5154>ThunderBird Crash</a>

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denim

So, in other words, there was nothing wrong with the plane per se. Pilot error, but he waited until LESS THAN the last second to bail. They can build another plane. The pilot is another matter.

blkdmnd

Yeah, not a good thing for the best the AF has to offer to make a bad error like that. No doubt, the pilot no longer flies for the team, if he even flies at all.

Still, these guys put on an incredible show. I highly recommend that you see it if you haven't.

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Zooksport2

'ang about. Thats a bit harsh. remember that he is moving pretty quick. Not a lotta room for error, and even the tiniest one could be a big no-no.
You have never bingled a car because you were "not paying attention?"

Z

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denim

You ever "bingle" a US$30M car?

Ilow

you do tend to expect more out of the best at a particular profession, especially when they're flying a $30M plane, and especially when they only have to concentrate for a limited period of time. I guess not everyone's big fuckups are so public.

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Zooksport2

I do agree that when a person is in charge of a 30 mill plane that he/she has a certain amount of responcibility not to prang it, but I still maintain that regardless of what a person is flying, driving, whatever, A heck of a lot can go wrong, and if it does at the incorrect millisecond, all hell can break loose.

On a side note, Would'nt the rockets that propel the seat out of the aircraft, like, burn the cockpit?????

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Sparhawk

I was about 500 yards away - that shot was from the tower, which the engine almost hit when it went flying by (the rest of the plane came to a halt before it would have hit the tower).

My pilot friend, as the plane started its descent, said "it looks a little low..."

That was their first bloody move after takeoff, too, so I still haven't seen the T-Birds perform.

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ducati999

whoa that is a crazy ass pic...dammmn

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PoteMatic

dang just about the right time to eject.

Redjake

On Snopes (or somewhere, can't remember exactly) they explained the whole situation. the guy that took the picture was standing on the tower you can see in the crash video in the distance. he said the wreckage came frighteningly close to the tower. I would have shit my pants.

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splck

Greats pics. I like the vids too.

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