Air Force releases details of F-15 crash

[unhappycamper]

The F-15C cracked in half and the cockpit landed separately from the rest of the wreckage.


Air Force releases details of F-15 crash
By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, January 11, 2008

ARLINGTON, Va. — The four F-15Cs were minutes into their second test flight, soaring into a crisp, perfect Missouri sky over Lambert Field.

Slightly in front of the flight lead, his wingman began a nearly level right-hand turn, preparing for a one-on-one offensive maneuver that November morning.

On the radio, the flight lead could hear Maj. Stephen Stilwell, or “Mick 2,” breathing hard, fighting the pull of 7.8 Gs as the powerful but aging jet swung into his turn at 450 knots.

Suddenly, the lead pilot, who like the others was with the Missouri National Guard 131st Fighter Wing, heard his wingman’s voice come up on the radio.

“Mick 2, knock it off!” the No. 2 pilot said.


Rest of whining at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51541