|
|
|
OIF Veteran
 
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 7:01 PM
Posts: 3,599,
Visits: 24,575
|
|
| SN, on some of the links I posted above it says that she was already "checked out" as a Tomcat pilot...the approach she died on was supposed to be just another routine landing. Of course any naval pilot will tell you there is nothing routine about a carrier landing. Also...the links above claim her bird went into the sea...what I gather from your post was that she burned into the carrier...her RIO ejecting before impact. Is that what happened? Apparently her RIO ejected in an upright attitude but she punched out downward sending her straight into the drink and killing her instantly [?].
|
|
|
|
|
Ei Temporis Vita Semper Resumo Sese
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 9/1/2008 10:22 AM
Posts: 8,428,
Visits: 7,503
|
|
| F-14 was an old hydraulically controlled bird... a real bear to handle during emergencies. The RIO was alert and knew their shit was weak when the plane started to roll after blowing the landing... he punched as soon as the wings tilted a few degrees. SM was dead on with his assessment. Since then and up to it's retirement, quite a few female pilots successfully transitioned to the airframe.
"The degenerative and loony should never be denigrated but, rather, thanked. In their absence, the rest of you would be obliged to fill congressional seats... positions naturally unsavory to the sane and honorable." Thorax
|
|
|
|
|
OIF Veteran
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 7:01 PM
Posts: 3,599,
Visits: 24,575
|
|
| Steve, again...according to what I've read she was no longer training to be a Tomcat pilot. She had already been "checked out" on the airframe when the accident happened off San Diego [she was still a newbie Tomcat pilot]. The bird also did not crash into the Lincoln...the USN later spent $100K to recover the wreck in over 3,000 fsw. Her body was recovered still strapped to her ejection seat. I copy you on the handling characteristics of the Tomcat...a large jet by fighter standards. Are you saying that she was "waved off" and after clearing the carrier deck that was when they ejected and the bird went into the sea? My understanding was that her Tomcat went down before reaching the stern of the carrier on approach?
|
|
|
|
|
Regular Joe
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 9/1/2008 7:12 PM
Posts: 407,
Visits: 2,273
|
|
Rey, on other point that I picked up from your link, when the RIO punched out, he used a system that automatically ejected her after him. If I read this right, she never initiated the ejection. The conclusion I draw is that with an independant system, he'd have been gone, and she would have ridden the A/C in.
________________________________________________________________________ "Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there. Eighty are just targets. Nine are the real fighters and we are lucky to have them for they make the battle. Ah, but the one. One is a warrior, and he will bring the others back."
Heraclitus circa 500B.C.
|
|
|
|
|
Hard Charger
Group: Registered User
Last Login: Today @ 10:15 AM
Posts: 1,553,
Visits: 5,822
|
|
| I found this pretty much sum's it up for me! Whether LT Hultgreen as an individual was underqualified and pushed into a situation for which she wasn't ready isn't proven by this mishap and can never be shown conclusively to be true or false! Even though the plat lense camera video shows the crash from the ships perspective, what went on inside the A/C is the real question. As ya'll have stated already, that aircraft is a bear, and even with updated digital flight controls, could probably put anyone in a world of hurt, at any time, under the right set of circumstances. I was involved in putting together alot of the last set of graphic changes that went into the C/D models for the tech manual on that bird; worked with the government boys over at NAS Cecil Commerce Center (old NAS Cecil Field) on it in it's last days; lot a $$ spent on just getting all that technical mumbo jargon ironed out and published for the Navy, then to watch the Tom get shelved like that.....I still got paid!
"Let's Go Downtown" - Flight of the Intruder
http://www.327infantry.org/second/c_co Same Mud Same Blood - NBC documentary filmed 1967 RVN, chronicle Frank McGee
IMOFSGT Nelson P. Henry101st 2nd/327th -NO SLACKKIA October 28, 1967 in QuangTin Province RVN
|
|
|
|
|
OIF Veteran
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 7:01 PM
Posts: 3,599,
Visits: 24,575
|
|
nomad (1/19/2007)
Rey, on other point that I picked up from your link, when the RIO punched out, he used a system that automatically ejected her after him. If I read this right, she never initiated the ejection. The conclusion I draw is that with an independant system, he'd have been gone, and she would have ridden the A/C in.nomad, does that mean that when someone initiates an ejection in a two-seater fighter they will both eject automatically with like a one second delay between crew members?
|
|
|
|
|
Regular Joe
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 9/1/2008 7:12 PM
Posts: 407,
Visits: 2,273
|
|
That's what I understood from the write up. I know they had that system in the the old OV-10 Broncos, it's like a .5 second delay, just enough to keep the 2 from colliding on the way out. I'm guessing her RIO had more time in his seat than she had in hers, knew the were f***ed and tried to save them both.
________________________________________________________________________ "Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there. Eighty are just targets. Nine are the real fighters and we are lucky to have them for they make the battle. Ah, but the one. One is a warrior, and he will bring the others back."
Heraclitus circa 500B.C.
|
|
|
|
|
President for Life
| | | |