Eielson Air Force Base F-35 crash

After watching the video in the OP I found this statement to be a little strange:

The crash, which occurred early Tuesday afternoon, caused significant damage to the aircraft, the Air Force said in a statement.
Click to expand...

kstp.com

Pilot safe after F-35 military jet suffers 'significant damage' in accident at Alaska base

A U.S. Air Force pilot is reported safe after an F-35 fighter jet crashed during a training exercise at a base in Alaska. Air Force Col. Paul Townsend commands the 354th Fighter Wing. He says the pilot experienced an “inflight malfunction” Tuesday but was able to eject from the aircraft. The...
kstp.com kstp.com

"Significant damage" seems to be a very kind statement as I'm not sure the damage will buff out. So glad the pilot survived ...
 
Perhaps it's parallax, but it looks like the jet was falling from significantly above the pilot, after he's already under canopy. Admittedly I have nothing to base this on, but that seems odd to me. And why is the gear down?
 
Last edited:
kyleb said:
That's about the weirdest thing I've ever seen.
Click to expand...

That was my first thought too, never seen an aircraft falling like that.

Curious what model of F-35, particular if the VTOL B model. Those have had their share of control incidents.
 
It is weird and if you look closely it almost looks fake. Dont deny there was an accident up there put the plane looks sketchy compared to stuff closer???
 
I hope that we eventually get to know why this thing was doing the falling leaf. It doesn't appear to be the Marine variant, and if it was, it wasn't configured in any case.
 
To crash near the runway, it was on departure or returning to land. Yes I realize more aggressive maneuvering than the average GA takeoff or landing, but not the levels out in the MOA. Yes, great the pilot got out, never have cared for funerals.
 
Daleandee said:
"Significant damage" seems to be a very kind statement as I'm not sure the damage will buff out. So glad the pilot survived ...
Click to expand...
They can't say that it was "insignificant" damage. But surely there is a better way of saying “damaged beyond recognition as an artifact of industrial society, much less a fighter jet, and then it also exploded.”
 
iamtheari said:
They can't say that it was "insignificant" damage. But surely there is a better way of saying “damaged beyond recognition as an artifact of industrial society, much less a fighter jet, and then it also exploded.”
Click to expand...

The form probably had a drop down menu of options, "No Damage", "Minor Damage", "Significant Damage". Need to add, "Totally Destroyed".

FUBAR is probably not PC enough.
 
Lindberg said:
Perhaps it's parallax, but it looks like the jet was falling from significantly above the pilot, after he's already under canopy. Admittedly I have nothing to base this on, but that seems odd to me. And why is the gear down?
Click to expand...
Speculation of course, but I would guess this was during an approach and the pilot initiated a zoom climb to bleed off speed before punching out. So the parachute deploys while the aircraft is still climbing until it stalls out. Wonder if it was going haywire in the cockpit with the controls and the pilot punched out of it.
 
brien23 said:
Not the first or the last at $80,000,000. each
Click to expand...
Fly expensive toys. Break expensive toys. Hopefully not very frequently, but lose an engine, the brain box, or a few critical sensors, and you're punching out. Most of the stuff we fly (from J-3's to A-380's) will at least keep the pointy end forward if something goes awry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top