Aviation BS and Photo Thread

Only on the video!

 

Oshkosh 2023.

 

A near miss with a flock of birds at an airshow in Spain a couple days ago almost lead to disaster.
https://x.com/g_bouillon/status/1949677379430838779?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1949677379430838779|twgr^|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https://www.twz.com/air/spanish-f-a-18-hornet-seen-nearly-crashing-into-surf-during-beach-airshow

 

From the opposite angle.

https://x.com/Cotidianeous/status/1...early-crashing-into-surf-during-beach-airshow

 

An article with a statement at the end from the Spanish AF.

https://www.twz.com/air/spanish-f-a-18-hornet-seen-nearly-crashing-into-surf-during-beach-airshow

 

That did not seem like a near-crash. Maybe an unplanned evasive maneuver to avoid some pelicans or whatever those were, but the pilot seemed to have things under control.

 

Pretty much every day at my home field, suicidal crows. Arguably we are going a little (ok, a LOT) slower still, discombobulating. Have helped a couple of hangar mates repair damaged wing leading edges over the years, and clean up the guts. Thankfully none have gone into the props or windshields (yet).

 

Sorry to be so slow in replying...

I'm a helo driver, and the SH-60B was my primary fleet aircraft. But a list of everything I've flown:
T-34C, TH-57B, TH-57C, SH-3D (also the SH-3G & SH-3H), then I finally transitioned to SH-60Bs for my sea deployments. When I was at VX-1 (Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One), I also became a NATOPs instructor/evaluator for the SH-60F and SH-60H.

One huge recommendation is to take the FAA equivalency exams once you receive your wings. You can receive certification for anything you did a NATOPs check ride in the last 12 months. I ended up with the following certifications: Single Engine Land, Instrument Land, Helicopter Land, Helicopter Instrument, and Commercial Pilot. (Not sure if those are the exact names, but they're close...).

If you want to move into commercial aviation afterwards, the door will be wide open because the training and experience you will have acquired trumps anything anyone can get in the civilian world.

Enjoy your Naval Aviation journey! I can't think of any career I would have preferred over that one.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION F-35A, T/N 19-5535
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA
28 JANUARY 2025

https://www.pacaf.af.mil/Portals/6/documents/3_AIB Report.pdf

 

Water intrusion somewhere it shouldn’t have been. That’s one hell of an expensive mistake!

 

More than a mistake - corners were cut by maintainers.

 

Had a rare (and heavy) visitor nearby at Greenville Spartanburg Int’l Airport (KGSP). Super cool seeing the An-124 come in. We have lots of cargo ops here with BMW, Michelin, GE, and other big manufacturers. We have near-daily 747 flights but once in a blue moon we’ll get a nice surprise like this one.

 

Always wild to see them using their on board crane/hoist system and the tow bar is unreal!

https://youtu.be/AcS5Vd60yU8

We see them at SEA every so often to drop off parts/components for Boeing.

 

Did my first fixed wing flight in 19 years yesterday. Decided it’s time to get a tail dragger endorsement and buy a plane so I’ll be getting back into the swing in a PA-18-150. Definitely different than a helicopter but I managed to get it off and on the ground in one piece each time.

 

They could do better with properly inflated or solid dolly wheels on that towbar, a touch of grease in the right spots, and half as many crew. IMHO.

 

I don’t disagree. To be fair, that video was not taken by me, I found it online just to show how big and awkward it is. Since the AN-124 has a pair of nose gear, each on its own oleo strut, the towbar has to hook up and turn both of them. The challenge is how do you turn both nose gear at the same time? Obviously that chunky piece of metal is what the Russians came up with. Below are a couple photos of the landing gear and how they turn, granted during taxi but the gear would both turn the same way under tow.

 

The Antonov used to stop in here in Everett pretty regularly for a while dropping off parts but I haven't seen it in quite a while now. When I worked at the South end of the airport, just off the runway, we would hear it run it's engines up to like 75% power for 5 minutes before they could start their takeoff roll, there was never any question when it was heading out.

 

Yeah expect twin gear are less demanding in terms of materials and quality. A little awkward on the ground compared to a fancy single that can handle the load.