In September of last year a USAF Thunderbird crashed here at Mtn Home. A buddy of mine was extremely close to the crash and snapped this photo. It's been hovering at AF Headquarters, waiting for release ever since and got released today.
posted
That picture makes me wonder what it would be like to punch out of a fighter. I wouldn't want the thing to crash, but it might be fun to try just once. In a non life threatning situation, of course.
Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
You may want to change the thread title, scott. That's an awesome picture, but I assumed it was going to be a portrait of you. (it's not you, right? )
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
So, did your friend have time to take the picture and get a safe distance or was it just dumb luck and the plane stayed aloft long enough to pass him by?
I've seen that photo floating around on the web for a few days, so I think it's been released for a while.
Posts: 224 | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
about punching out of a fighter. I've read many articles discussing the risks involved. The military is still trying to perfect the technique. The system used in these f-16s holds a pretty good chance of permenant back damage. Sure you get out alive... which is what they want. but its not anything anyone wants to do for fun. Though, I know what you mean Posts: 879 | Registered: Aug 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Taberah, the picture was officially released on Friday last week. Any picture that you saw before that was an illegal copy. I work in the department that deals with that sort of thing so I know when we get releases. Keep it on the down-low if you could, you don't want the Feds on you. Somebody gave an illegal copy of that photo to the press and it exploded onto the world.
The photo was taken on the catwalk of the ATC tower. During the airshow we always had a photographer and a videographer there. I had just been releived of the tower spot to get reaction shots of the crowd during the thunderbirds and my Supervisor was up there at the time. The photographer that took the picture noticed something was wrong and started firing shots. Once he saw the plane aim towards him and a flash of light he took this one and dove into the tower. Everyone in the tower turned out okay and had to go to the hospital because of a potential hydrozine leak.
If the video your watching is good enough you can see the engine of the jet bounce right over the hood of the videographer's car!
posted
No, I don't work for PA. I work for the Multimedia Lab on the base. We take care of anything that has to do with imagery weither it be Websites, film, photo, graphics, flash animations, etc. The photos that PA shoots are mostly crap anyways. Their "photographers" don't go through the same school as our real photographers. My main job is Video, but I work a little of everything.
Posts: 1660 | Registered: Jan 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
*wistful* It sounds like Mountain Home is on track with the multimedia stuff. Wouldn't it be nice if it was like that everywhere else . . .
My PAO experience was limited to a few months, but I saw a lot of frustration with the DOIM folks. Fortunately, I didn't deal with them much--I'm a words guy.
Posts: 224 | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
Another forum I frequent which has the crash report and some military pilots discussing the aftermath for the pilot.... probably some rough language in there-- be warned.
One thing that will help is that the abbreviation "SA" stands for "situational awareness"
Posts: 2112 | Registered: Sep 1999
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Somebody gave an illegal copy of that photo to the press and it exploded onto the world.
