Thunderbird/ Blue Angel Crashes

[AWP]

The President was also in attendance as a speaker. The pilot ejected but there's no word on the Airman's condition. Hopefully he's a new member in the Caterpillar Club.

Air Force jet crashes after flyover at Colorado Obama speech | Fox News

An Air Force Thunderbird jet crashed south of Colorado Springs just after a flyover for a graduation of Air Force Academy cadets where President Barack Obama had spoken.

 

[Devildoc]

Glad the pilot is OK. Hope everyone else is, too.

 

[DA SWO]

Blue Angels lost one today too

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2016/06/02/navy-blue-angel-jet-crashes-smyrna/85308972/

 

[Centermass]

Fire chief: 1 dead after Navy Blue Angel jet crash in Smyrna around 3 pm today.
At least one person was killed. The victim’s identity has not been released at this time.

Further details weren’t immediately known.

Hunter Hayes was set to fly with the Blue Angels on Friday. His publicist told News 2 the crash happened right in front of them. He was not injured.

Their performance was to be at the Great Tennessee Airshow. It’s unclear if the crash will affect the show.

WATCH LIVE: 1 killed after U.S. Navy Blue Angels jet crashes in Smyrna, Tenn.

Prayers to the pilot, his family and friends.

 

[DA SWO]

Thunderbirds fighter jet crashes in Colorado Springs after flyover at Air Force Academy graduation

Looks like a backup (no number on the tail).
Pilot is ok.

 

[AWP]

Renamed the thread. What a sad and odd day for the flight demonstration community. 1 pilot and 2 a/c in one day? Tragic.

Blue skies.

 

[Red Flag 1]

CRAP! Three all so close. Maybe it's time for the Thunderbirds to stand down, and take a close look at what they are doing.

Rest In God's Own Peace, Capt Jeff Kuss. Thoughts and prayers out.

 

[Gunz]

Rest in Peace, Marine.

Glad the Air Force pilot was able to walk away from his crash.

 

[AWP]

From last year, but kind of ominous:

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/blue-angel-f-a-18-hornets-shed-parts-in-flight-twice-in-1709836712

 

[Devildoc]

RIP, Shipmate.

Per his grandfather: "It's hard to put into words right now, but it's beautiful that a person can live and die engaged in their life's pursuits."

 

[Red Flag 1]

From last year, but kind of ominous:

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/blue-angel-f-a-18-hornets-shed-parts-in-flight-twice-in-1709836712

Not unlike the troubles with the F-15s.

 

[TLDR20]

Military aviation is a dangerous business. Flying air shows is a dangerous business.

RIP to the pilot. He went down with the ship, and I am sure was engaged in his survival till the end.

 

[metalmom]

God speed. Thinking of his loved ones and peers.
As a 10 yr old I saw a female wing walker fall to her death. Traumatic.Air shows can be dangerous.Formation flying-very plausible danger.

I have a huge respect for The Blue Angels and our Snowbirds.

What a tragic event. RIP.

 

[Blizzard]

Godspeed.

 

[Dame]

Thunderbirds fighter jet crashes in Colorado Springs after flyover at Air Force Academy graduation

Looks like a backup (no number on the tail).
Pilot is ok.

He must have waited until the very last second in order to get it down. According to this, the gear was down.
Pilot Ejects Into Field Before Thunderbird Crash

Rest in peace to the Blue Angel.

 

[Optimus Hund]

Fair winds and following seas.

 

[Blizzard]

From what I hear, TBird 6 ran out of gas. Oops. Guessing his days on the team are numbered.

 

[TLDR20]

From what I hear, TBird 6 ran out of gas. Oops. Guessing his days on the team are numbered.

No it is Obama's fault.

 

[AWP]

No it is Obama's fault.

Good to see you finally coming around.



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News reports have him on final to Colorado Springs. That low could be a bird strike or some type of equipment failure. At that altitude you don't have a lot of time to problem solve a sudden engine out scenario. Witnesses say he consciously avoided homes too, so I imagine he was pretty task saturated and "in the corner" for altitude and speed.

 

[Devildoc]

No it is Obama's fault.

That's so...last administration. I'm going with "It's Hillary's fault."