Forum: F-16 News

I don't think the NTSB has anything to do with this investigation. I think it is all Air Force. He had plenty of air speed at the bottom of the split- s, he was not even anywere neer slow enough for a stall. He probably had a good 250-300kts before he hit. He was in burner during most of the maneuver. He was really shallow and had lots of air speed before he started to pull out of the dive. I was there and that is what it looked like to me.

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I concur that from the 3 seconds or so that I witnessed those burners were putting out a pretty blue exhuast.

Ok here me out on this one...

I have not seen the video, I was not at the airshow,etc. However I know the jet better than the pilot ejecting from it knows it...

For those who think that when you are an instructor, you are for sure a good pilot...well, you are wrong.

I can tell from the picture that the jet has not enough speed to maintain airborne at that altitude in that attitude.

Some say that it is a stall...some say it isn't, because too much speed is involved. Well both are wrong, aircraft can be stalled at any speed... However the F-16 can't...because of his AOA limiting. It is limited at 25,5 AOA ... which can be obtained only at lower speeds.

Look at the leading edge flaps, they are full down.

Those who think this powerfull engine (I fly the same for years now) can pull the jet right out, are wrong as well. think about inertia. several things might be the cause...of course engine failure, however...How much burner do you want on a picture to act as proof..., or you start to pull down at too low alt, or you start to pull down at correct alt, but too low speed! Two sure tickets for hitting the floor!

Last but not least.

The USA is not full of supermen, get real...

People still fly these jets, people still make mistakes!

I was the photogrpaher of the image you speak of and I watched the action unfold while the jet was headed straight for me. There seemed to be no way for Capt Strikland to pull out. Thank God he put it down in a safe place and saved a lot of lives. Any longer on the stick and that jet may have taken out the control tower. (which I was shooting on top of) The whole thing was unfortunate, but a least it was only a $22 million dollar Air Show, it could have been worse.

Bennie Davis

I just read the official Air Force Accident Report. I also just read ALL the posts concerning the speculation as to the cause of this accident by all the Internet "experts" over the months.

I am happy to announce that not one poster was completly correct as to their "expert" opinion as to the cause OR in many posts, their explanations on basic aerodynamics.

Just goes to show you how one can't take ANYTHING that is Internet based as ANYTHING but pure rubbish. Don't quit your day job all you rocket scientists!

Bennie, your photo ought to be nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. There are folks out there who thought it was faked!

Great photo of a terrible event, the pilot was at the worng attitude to complete this loop (it is that pure and simple shamefully) and that report has since been made public.

Nice to know that the seat worked as it should, he now lives to fly a desk (for now or maybe for the rest of his USAF career) but he is alive and that is really what is important.

Very nice "lucky" photo though....very nice!

Thomas Wharton
Ex-Thunderbird (88 - 91)

Please note that there is also another forum topic on this subject.

See: http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-126.html

Forum: F-16 News

Thunderbird crashes at Idaho air show