Forum: F-16 Procedures

STBYGAIN wrote:

I don't know if the geography and flight parameters are correct, but yes it did happen. The plane rolled to the right due to the lapbelt being wedged against the stick while raising the seat.

I can tell you that happened when I was stationed in Aviano Italy. he pilot was from Spangdahlem Germany and the lap belt impeded the side stick controller while he was raising the seat. I was on the investigation team for engine shop. He ejected due to an uncontrollable rolling of the aircraft.

Ciao

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Although, raising the seat is pretty useful for getting a slight downward vector on the process, thus eliminating spots on the HSI/MFD's.

LMAO!!!!!

I have to raise the seat full up. Can't do it without undoing the lap belt and also my leg harness straps. Even then it's difficult. A lot of the difficulty is due to the anti-exposure suit and two sets of full-length polypropylene undersuits we have to wear here. Also, you can't see what you are doing usually due to the bulk of the combat-edge and survival vest contents, but then again you can't see most of the cockpit switches anyway when you are wearing winter gear, it's all done by feel. The poopy suit itself is the most difficult; the lower zipper rarely gets used and pretty hard to open in the first place. I sometimes pee behind the HAS right before start if I think I'll be in the jet for more than a few hours. <Very much looking forward to summer and the warm ocean temperatures.>

I unstrap every time.... Guess I spent more time practicing BFM vs BPM (heh heh)...

Cylon

There were two cases in the USAF. The first was over the Mojave Desert, and the second was over Turkey. Both pilots successfully ejected without their lap belts buckled (as the buckles were jammed between the seat and side stick controller).

Burn,

JFS start 3? Is there an extra bottle in some models? We have only 2...(Maybe because the BAF flies with block 15 airframes)

Another story on the piddle pack-thing. A Belgian pilot (now an instructor) on a ferry flight to Red Flag tried to use the piddle pack for the first time. I don't know witch model you guys use but ours has a long and small end on it. There was a small bend in his pack so the liquid could only fill until that bend. The result was (because he couldn't stop once the proces was started) that he sprayed the entire cockpit. Arriving in the sunny dessert made things really ugly because the smell of the vapors wasn't all that nice (the crew chief didn't went up the ladder). Bottom line: the avionics of the f-16 are peeing approved!

Take care.

Wonder what the mil-spec is for urine exposure... Embarassed

Frodo,

JFS Start 3 is sometimes used as slang for ejecting.

Burn

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I've heard the seat motor is designed to fail (or pop a breaker?) under a certain amount of resistance. So when the lap belt buckle is wedged against the SSC the seat motor fails

Acutally the seat actuator has a limit switch that stops at a certain piont, but has no pressure switch to notice a stuck lapbelt.

I have had a couple of seat pan rails (same rail where the inertia rail handle and or the Emer. Man. Chute Deployment Handle comes through) replaced in my time, due to the lap belt bending it, cracking it or damaging the rivets.

Courtpilot

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 25, 2003 - 10:03 PM Posts: 679

Gums wrote:

...snip...
Most amazing contortions were the guys that needed toilet paper when crossing ocean on a long deployment. Usually, safe the seat, unstrap, wiggle out of flying suit, turn around and use whatever available - helmet bag, small garbage bag, large map, heh heh heh. Rest of flight would get into real close formation to see how the guy actually did it.

LOL, and I thought I was crafty by changing cd's and steering with my legs, thats awesome haha.

526 out of Ramstein had this happen over Turkey. I was in the 512 and at home when it happened, Post GW1. Was a huge mess and huge laugh. The pilot got out OK.

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Over Turkey.... That's what I heard. That's why you lower the seat first, then unstrap.

Cylon

Just to clarify more, it was an US Air Force jet crashed over Turkey.

You must have been digging through some OLD threads!

Thanks for the clarification though!

Having worked at the F-16 SPO, here's what I recall. Mishap pilot unstrapped, with a buckle unknowingly under the SSC. Then like others have said he raised his seat to get the proper angle. At some point the buckle wedged against the base of the SSC and it quickly went full right roll command with a smidge nose down input which kicked off the autopilot. At this point I'm trying not to laugh as I picture this guy with his personal equipment unstowed and the airplane winding up into a right roll and attempting a slight nose over. That's such an unnatural move I can't even imagine what the poor guy must have had running through his cranium.

I recall however that he was able to release the jammed buckle and recover the jet...but I suspect there was some cockpit cleanup and some 'splainin to do.

LOL this was too much fun to read... Laughing

i wonder what happended to the pilot(s) after the investigators found out the truth ... any idea??

Also , had he started the "business" when the right-roll started or?? Confused

Forum: F-16 Procedures

Piddle pack incident - restrooms at 28,000ft