Aviation BS and Photo Thread

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Here are two videos about the F-18 crash at the Canadian air show. First one just shows the crash. Second one is long but has the pilot talking about what happened.
http://youtu.be/0HDIxzSMp-0
http://youtu.be/SwI_0FNMRmk

 

Awesome.

 

If he's even got 500 pounders underneath, it's a bomber.

 

In the spring of 1944, Bill Overstreet of the famous 357th FG was hot on the tail of a German ME109G. The pilot of the 109 flew right over Paris where German anti-aircraft artillery was heavy, probably in hopes they would solve his problem by eliminating Bill and his P51C named the "Berlin Express". Bill persisted through intense flak closing the gap with the enemy fighter. Already hit in the engine, as a last resort the ME109 pilot aimed his aircraft toward the imposing Eiffel Tower and in a breathtaking maneuver flew right under it. Even this was not enough to shake Bill as he followed right behind scoring several more hits in the process. The German ME109 crashed moments later and Bill escaped the heavy flak around Paris by flying low and full throttle over the river.

Here is the encounter described in Bill's own words:

"I had followed this 109 from the bombers when most of the German fighters left. We had a running dogfight and I got some hits about 1500 feet, He then led me over Paris where many guns were aimed at me. As soon as he was disabled, I ducked down just over the river (smaller target for the Germans ). I followed the river until I was away from Paris." - Bill

When asked what was around the tower at the time, Bill said, "I'm not sure, I was a little busy."

 

Aside from the corny storyline, that is one of the most accurately depicted movies of life on a carrier and air operations.

Fun fact: The rescue swimmer on the helicopter was my Div-O from 97-98

 

I retired there onboard the USS Missouri. The flag in my Shadow Box was flown over the USS Arizona on Memorial Day 2012. I love the history and nostalgia there.

 

The history and technical approach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gYENf3Zyho

The OH SHIT videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKqO6gdJIz8

Watch this last-second crab, looks like the tires would come off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtnL4KYVtDE


Many many more out there.

 

OK, I'll start collecting up a few to post

 

Yea we been up there a bunch, probably up by Weed

 

Yep, just looked, that's it. Weed airport, just north of town on the plateau. Rest stop right there, runs parallel to I-5, very close, as in stone's throw, to the highway.

 

Forgot I had these. Endeavor's final flight aboard the 747 touring the nation en route to Los Angeles in 2012. This was over Sacramento. My guess is under 1,000 ft.






I always wanted to go see a launch at Canaveral, or even a landing at Edwards, but never got around to it. My wife went to space camp and wanted to be an astronaut at one point. Even still has the dorky denim jacket covered in shuttle and NASA patches.

 

This tour was one of the coolest things I've seen. I saw it that day too, but didn't get any cool photos like yours!

 

It flew right by my office in LA. We watched it on the roof...best day evaaaaaa

 

I had no idea what the flight path would be, so I figured it would go past the Capitol at some point. I headed down to the Sacramento River near Tower Bridge (ten blocks from the Cap) and got right down on the shore with no one in my way. I thought the bridge might also provide a cool framing opportunity if I got lucky. Boy did I get lucky. It came straight north up the Sacramento River right toward me, flew straight over the bridge (out of frame) and continued north before banking right and coming back over downtown closer to the Capitol on the return leg, before it banked right again and headed west to SF.