F-35 Crash, New Video

[FLYBOYJ]

Looks like he got a little low!

Newly leaked video shows F-35 crashing in flames on aircraft carrier | CNN

A video posted on social media over the weekend shows the stealth fighter that crashed on a US Navy aircraft carrier last month bursting into flames as it strikes the flight deck of the massive warship.

www.cnn.com

 

[Capt. Vick]

Did it flip upside down after it hit?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Did it flip upside down after it hit?

I think it stayed right side up.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yeah, definitely below his glideslope.

 

[buffnut453]

That is one expensive oopsie...really glad the pilot made it out ok, though (you can't put a price on a human life). I hope the pilot and the 6 other ship's crew who were injured all make full and rapid recoveries.

 

[Torch]

I think its sad we lost an aircraft but whomever is releasing these videos should be keel hauled

 

[buffnut453]

I think its sad we lost an aircraft but whomever is releasing these videos should be keel hauled

Twice.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

The first pic (aircraft in water) and first video (aircraft about to land) released I think were 'bootleg" I think this one was officially released.

 

[Gnomey]

Does look like a botched landing attempt but could be aircraft issues though believe nothing mentioned?

 

[ARTESH]

Is pilot ok?

That's only thing that matters.

Edit: just found that pilot and some of crew were injured... I hope they get well soon.

 

[gumbyk]

From what I've heard, the PLM system in these aircraft makes this sort of accident extremely rare. It sounds like its pretty much autoland. So maybe it had a mechanical issue at the root.

 

[manta22]

For a far better commentary about this than CNN, go on YouTube and search Ward Carroll's channel. CNN is late to the game anyway.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Another... Can pilots tell us, was eject necessary here?



Memories of this Harrier. Definitely an eject!

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Another... Can pilots tell us, was eject necessary here?



Memories of this Harrier. Definitely an eject!

I'm not a pilot, but an ejection in yesterday's was entirely appropriate. You never stay in an airplane out of control that close to the ground.

 

[cvairwerks]

Without going into any details, there was no option.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Another... Can pilots tell us, was eject necessary here?

YES! I hate to speculate but if you watch the clip there was smoke emitting from the aircraft during hover. To me it looks like the pilot was trying to troubleshoot an issue. It seems he decided to land and after the aircraft made contact to the ground something went incredibly wrong and he lost control of the aircraft. The F-35B has a lift fan that might have caused surges when this pilot was trying to shut things down.

Again, I heard this was a production test flight, the aircraft had not been delivered to the government. The test pilots flying these test flights are very well trained and know what they are doing.

 

[DBII]

... The test pilots flying these test flights are very well trained and know what they are doing.

My first thought was why punch out? Then I remember my tank had a master caution light, a warning light and fire. Pilot my have received multiple alarms. Luckily, it was not over the population and safe to deboard the plane through the closest marked exit.

 

[Admiral Beez]

YES! I hate to speculate but if you watch the clip there was smoke emitting from the aircraft during hover. To me it looks like the pilot was trying to troubleshoot an issue. It seems he decided to land and after the aircraft made contact to the ground something went incredibly wrong and he lost control of the aircraft. The F-35B has a lift fan that might have caused surges when this pilot was trying to shut things down.

Again, I heard this was a production test flight, the aircraft had not been delivered to the government. The test pilots flying these test flights are very well trained and know what they are doing.

Thanks, good info. Does it look repairable? Does an ejection cause a lot of cockpit damage that can result in a write-off?

 

[cvairwerks]

Repairability is going to depend on what is found when the a/c is recovered and inspected. Everything can be fixed, but the question becomes a financial one too, at some point. Once you reach a cost estimate, or a technological hurdle that is too expensive, then the airframe becomes a ground trainer and is relegated to classroom usage.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Thanks, good info. Does it look repairable? Does an ejection cause a lot of cockpit damage that can result in a write-off?

IMO it looks repairable. An ejection can do some damage to an airframe, I'm sure that there are repair procedures in the aircraft's MMs for ejection events.

I remember an event at Lockheed Burbank where the crew of an S-3 ejected during a production test flight. IIRC on of the crew perished when his chute didn't deploy properly. The aircraft was salvaged.