Anyone actually see the F/A-18 crash today???

[sdsubzero4]

Yes, I heard that from a Marine buddy of mine. He's an F/A-18 pilot. I don't remember what squadron he was at in Miramar. But his name was Captain (now Major)Rich Patteson C/S Buzz.
He told me an ejection would cause a person to shrink.

 

[yosemiddysam]

Ejecting at tree top level is pretty much the last chance you have of getting out alive. I am sure everyone remembers the blue angels pilot that lost his life for not ejecting in the carolina air show. They are trained to stay with the A/C as long as possible to avoid tragedies like this.

 

[sdsubzero4]

No, its bad enough jumping out of a plane, can't imagine being rocketed out of one.

 

[Gibs]

Yose, I am glad that it wasnt one of you or BJ's(I think he works on them too) planes. I was worried one of you guys shops had worked on it and you may have been drug into this as a scapegoat.

I was thinking about my favorite Marines.....

 

[yosemiddysam]

BEEJAY works on the support equipment that we use to work on the planes. He would never be drug into this. Now Me on the other hand.....I could have been the guy that signed the paper saying that everything on the jet was good. Not a good scenario. As soon as I see the smoke I was like please lord dont let it be one of ours!!!!!!!

 

[Gibs]

oh ok he is like navy AS's then yellow gear....

Well again glad it wasnt yours!

Gib

 

[sdsubzero4]

Glad to know it wasn't you, Yose. But I feel for the guys in that squadron and those that worked on that plane. Some careers could be ruined. Hopefully it won't come out they gundecked on a step or procedures and it was a mechanical failure not in their control.

 

[yosemiddysam]

Correct he would be like that. I am glad it was not one of ours too but hate to see another Hornet bite the dust. Our planes are getting old and the replacement is far out of sight. We are working right now with half the number of planes that we should have. We normally have 12. But at the same time we are expected to make the same flight hours and it is just killing the squadrons morale, jets, and will to accomplish it.

 

[yosemiddysam]

Glad to know it wasn't you, Yose. But I feel for the guys in that squadron and those that worked on that plane. Some careers could be ruined. Hopefully it won't come out they gundecked on a step or procedures and it was a mechanical failure not in their control.

From the sounds of it and this IS pure speculation... the only thing that could have caused this is lack of servicing, or FOD'ing out both motors when taking off. Like I said I was not there nor did I see what happened but flying single engine is always tricky!!!!!!! It is even worse when the left engine goes out.

 

[sdsubzero4]

It sounded like when the F-14 was toward the end of their service span. They were cannibalizing from down jets for parts for the ones flying and like you said, number of planes in a squadron was almost cut in half.

 

[sdsubzero4]

So the left engine is the primary one?

Everything is speculation now and its important that nobody jumps to a conclusion. Like you said we weren't there.

 

[Gibs]

I completely agree with that Yose. That is all of us. You guys need planes, I need more ships and parts, and Emilio needs more Spec Ops guys. It is everywhere that we are expected to do more with less and the stuff can only be kept up so long until it breaks.

I fell you on that issue.

Gib

 

[yosemiddysam]

Yes they werte but guess what........the flight hours damned sure never changed. They were still expected to fly the living piss outta them.

 

[yosemiddysam]

Yes the left engine controls the flight controls. The right assists the left but mainly controls the landing gear, brakes, steering, speed brake, IFR probe,.....basically all the **** you dont need to keep flying but have to have to be a plane. Now with the left one out the right can and will pick up the slack but man is it nasty. Hard to fly, and just plain ole sucks. It is mainly there to get to a safe place and eject.

 

[sdsubzero4]

Yeah, with the additional work load, can't imagine to work too long. So, its kind of amazing that he did get an hour of flight out of the jet.

 

[sdsubzero4]

I completely agree with that Yose. That is all of us. You guys need planes, I need more ships and parts, and Emilio needs more Spec Ops guys. It is everywhere that we are expected to do more with less and the stuff can only be kept up so long until it breaks.

I fell you on that issue.

Gib

I know when I was active, the goal was to have 3000 Spec Ops operators and we topped off at about 1700. 20 years later I don't think its at the 3000 level but I think its over 2000. I think its the tradition of the military to do more with less. As Clint Eastwood character said in Heartbreak Ridge "Adapt and Overcome" and I think the military is doing that.

 

[SIC FIDDY]

I was real bummed out when I heard about this. I use to work at the squadron that had the accident and I grew up in Mira Mesa. I can only imagine what the family of the lost, pilot and squad are going through. As stated above, the pilot did everything he possibly could to save lives and their is only so much you can do in a situation like this.