Red Arrows Hawk crash at RAF Valley

Airframes · Mar 20, 2018

Just shown on BBC News a few minutes ago.
A BAe Hawk from the 'Red Arrows' has crashed at RAF Valley, Anglesey, this afternoon. The pilot ejected, but the 'engineer' on board (presumably a ground crew member), was killed.
It's believed the aircraft was returning from Valley to home base at Scampton, following a monthly Hawk simulator session.

pbehn · Mar 20, 2018

Sad news, I was hearing reports on the radio all afternoon, it sounded bad news from the start.

rochie · Mar 20, 2018

Very sad news

Marcel · Mar 20, 2018

Not good condolences to the loved ones of the deceased.

Gnomey · Mar 20, 2018

Very sad news indeed

Crimea_River · Mar 20, 2018

Never good to hear these things. Very sad.

vikingBerserker · Mar 20, 2018

Yikes!

Dai · Mar 22, 2018

So sad. Condolences to the family of the flight engineer.
I am not at all familiar with Hawk emergency systems but it does seem strange to me that only the pilot ejected succesfully. Do the ejection seats not operate simultaneously in these situations?

buffnut453 · Mar 22, 2018

Dai said:
So sad. Condolences to the family of the flight engineer.
I am not at all familiar with Hawk emergency systems but it does seem strange to me that only the pilot ejected succesfully. Do the ejection seats not operate simultaneously in these situations?

Since the Hawk is a training aircraft, the command eject control is located in the rear cockpit where the instructor sits. Giving the front seat command eject functionality would likely result in a panicky student banging out both pilots from a perfectly serviceable aircraft...which is not a good thing. It's unfortunate but a quirk of the airframe.

My deepest sympathies go out to the family of the serviceman who lost his life.

Capt. Vick · Mar 22, 2018

XBe02Drvr · Mar 22, 2018

buffnut453 said:
Since the Hawk is a training aircraft, the command eject control is located in the rear cockpit where the instructor sits. Giving the front seat command eject functionality would likely result in a panicky student banging out both pilots from a perfectly serviceable aircraft...which is not a good thing. It's unfortunate but a quirk of the airframe.

My deepest sympathies go out to the family of the serviceman who lost his life.

My sympathies to all: the loved ones of the victim, his squadron mates and the pilot who survived and probably feels like sh!t.
I saw an episode like that involving a rejected TO in a TF9J. The student died, the instructor survived and was so badly shaken by it and his performance so deteriorated that he eventually lost his wings.
The TA-4F I rode in had the same command ejection setup as the Hawk, and for the same reason. My pilot said "I can't punch you out, you've got to do it yourself. The bell will ring, the lights will flash, and you will hear 'Eject' 'Eject' 'Eject' three times. If you're still here by the end of the third 'Eject', you're Pilot in Command!"
Cheers,
Wes

JJWilson · Mar 22, 2018

Sad to hear, condolences to the family, and the RAF members present........

buffnut453 · Mar 22, 2018

The maintenance technician has been named as Cpl Jonathan Bayliss.

RIP Cpl Bayliss...and thank you for your service.

JJWilson · Mar 23, 2018

Well Cpl Bayliss, you were not a hero because of how you served, but because you served...........May thy soul rest in peace and endless serenity.

Red Arrows Hawk crash at RAF Valley

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