They had a cracked rocker cover that was leaking oil, they replaced it and were checking for leaks before returning the bird to flight status....that guy drew the short straw!
Did anyone see the Cessna 150 that took the tail off a Citation X in Indiana yesterday? Uncontrolled field, X rolling out, 150 lifting off on a cross runway. If the 150 is found to be at fault, there’s going to be quite a deficit in insurance coverage. Something a lot of folks don’t think about, but the typical 1 million smooth leaves the Citation owner holding the bag for at least 40 more.
It looks like the Thunderbirds lost a pilot today during practice. Not much info yet, but rumors of it being one of the diamond pilots after some sort of contact. RIP
Washington (CNN) A US Air Force Thunderbirds pilot was killed when his F-16 jet crashed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada on Wednesday.
In a statement, the US Air Force said the jet from the service's precision demonstration team crashed at 10:30 a.m. during routine training on the Nevada Test and Training Range.
The pilot's identity is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification. An investigation is underway.
The statement said the team's show this coming weekend at March Air Reserve Base in Southern California was canceled and the effect on the remainder of the Thunderbirds' shows scheduled for 2018 had yet to be determined.
The team had performed once so far in 2018, in Melbourne, Florida, in late March, as well as doing a flyover of the Daytona 500 in Florida in February.
The crash of the F-16 was the third for a Thunderbird jet in the past two years.
In June 2017, an F-16D used by the team ran off the runway and overturned at Dayton International Airport in Ohio while preparing for an air show. Two crewmembers were injured.
In June 2016, a Thunderbirds F-16 crashed south of Colorado Springs, Colorado, after it and other Thunderbirds flew over a graduation ceremony at the US Air Force Academy. The pilot ejected in that incident.
Wednesday's Thunderbird crash was the fourth incident involving US military aircraft in approximately 24 hours. The other incidents are:
A US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II jet crashed Tuesday during takeoff from Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport. The pilot was able to eject and is being treated.
A US Marine Corps CH-53 crashed Tuesday in the vicinity of Naval Air Facility El Centro in California, killing four crew members.
A United States Marines Corps CH-53 helicopter was damaged late Tuesday while landing in the East African country of Djibouti, in the vicinity of Arta Beach.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Did anyone see the Cessna 150 that took the tail off a Citation X in Indiana yesterday? Uncontrolled field, X rolling out, 150 lifting off on a cross runway. If the 150 is found to be at fault, there’s going to be quite a deficit in insurance coverage. Something a lot of folks don’t think about, but the typical 1 million smooth leaves the Citation owner holding the bag for at least 40 more.
Because my motto has long been, "man does not live by aviation photography alone.." , at least not this man..........my latest project, a little "Hill Country" bungalow.................
News of the USAF Thunderbird pilot's death yesterday hit a little closer home today when I realized who he was. Then realizing he flew an F-35 to the 2016 Alliance Airshow, sent me to looking through my photos from that show.
I met, then Captain, Del Bagno at that airshow and spoke with him briefly. I snapped this picture of him while he was messing with the F-35 helmet they had on display.
Flew up to Boston on Wednesday and photographed this Citation XLS over at Hanscom field for a client. When I photographed this exterior shot, it was about 28 degrees and so windy.
So glad I don't live up there! I am NOT a cold weather fan, at all.
Prayers to the family of the Thunderbird pilot who lost his life this week in a tragic accident.
