Pilot Escapes Jet Crash

[gateley]

A pilot's amazing escape from a plane crash during an air show practice has been captured in a dramatic video. Captain Brian Bews ejected only moments before his CF-18 Hornet fighter jet smashed into the ground and exploded in a ball of flames at the 2010 Alberta International Airshow. The cause of the crash in unknown.

View footage and photos at http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Canada-Jet-Crash-Pilot-Brian-Bews-Survives-After-Ejecting-At-Lethbridge-Airport/Article/201007415670207

[BlueJazz]

1. I'm going to be a grammer cop here.

"Captain Brian Bews ejected only moments before" should be "Instant before"

[gateley]

2. How come? (I'll gladly learn a grammar lesson.) nt

[BlueJazz]

3. Hey...It makes me feel superior...I need that.

:)

[gateley]

6. No, seriously. Why is what was written incorrect? nt

[BlueJazz]

10. Moments are usually written and used to mean short but appreciable time..

...like "I'm going out to the yard to get the paper..be back in a moment" or I'm on the phone, just a moment"

Instant is a much shorter time span "The little mouse was gone in an Instant"
"He lit the match and Instantly the Gasoline exploded in his face"

From the looks of the Jet Crash and the pilot's escape...Instant makes more sense.

[gateley]

12. Got it -- thanks -- I was just curious. nt

[dionysus]

4. "ejects the instant before"

;)

[11 Bravo]

18. As long as you don't aspire to be a spelling cop. (It's spelled "grammar".)

[DemoTex]

5. Lucky-Ducky

I witnessed the Mig-29 lawn-dart manuever at the Paris Air Show on June 8, 1989 - another Lucky-Ducky. I attended a few more Paris, Farnborough, and Singapore air shows after that. But I always got in the closest thing to a bomb shelter or sought out the best ever chalet (usually Dassault's) with the best wine and food - and got drunk as a lord - when the low-jet flying started.

I hate air shows.


Notice that the pilot's chute does not fully open until just before he hits the ground - Lucky Fucking Ducky!

[gateley]

7. Wow - and he's THIS CLOSE to the burning plane! During WWII my dad

was a Flight Surgeon in Navy Air, and for some reason he was the medical guy when they were testing a new chute. They were out wherever, and he said they stood and watched the guy fall, and fall, and fall. Now, I don't know if I'm remembering this correctly or if my mind added it after the fact (or if my dad was embellishing) but the guy (jumper) had such faith in the chute opening that he didn't open his reserve until it was far too late. :( I DO remember he was killed immediately, naturally.

I always love the Lucky Ducky stories - I'm so happy for their survival!

[Steely_Dan]

8. I Watched The...

...video of the crash several times. I think that this pilot is going to be in some trouble. It looked to me that it was human error. He tip-stalled which is almost inexcusable.

-P

[DemoTex]

9. I've been flying 48 years (20k+ hours), and I have never heard that term.

Tip-stalled? Please describe that in cogent, aerodynamic language.

[Steely_Dan]

13. Yeah...

I suppose I sounded like some kind of expert. And I am not....

I do have experience with gliders....

A tip stall is when one wing drops out because low air speed.

-P

[gateley]

11. How does a tip-stall differ from a stall? Would he have had a stall warning?

I ask from the wisdom and experience of someone who flew a Cessna 172 35 years ago! :hi:

[Steely_Dan]

15. Once again...

I'm not an expert other than with gliders where air speed is everything (true I suppose for all aircraft). Turning at low air speed causes tip stalling (where one tip drops).

Of course as is mentioned below, that could have happened from engine failure as well.

Gateley...I had no idea that you flew.

-P

[gateley]

16. Ahhh - I get it. I went gliding once off Tiger Mountain in Issaquah (near Seattle).

At first I thought "what the hell am I going to do up there for 30 minutes -- I'll be bored out of my skull."

When we were being towed, the instructor was saying in a normal voice "it's a little noisy now, but once we're on our own it'll be quiet". Noisy! Man, compared to the Cessnas I was flying this was like a church. (The tower at Boeing Field would say to me "and One Nine Julia, don't yell, okay?" because it was so damn loud I'd be hollering my lungs out. :7) Once the tow plane let us go, it was like a tomb -- and a dream. It was fantastic and so moving. In envy you your experience with gliders!

I only flew until I got my private 'ticket', that was my goal, and then I spent my money on drinking, drugging and partying. :eyes: So it's been many many years.

:hi:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. Hornets have a aural warning system on board that does stall warning and lots of other things

Its universally known as Bitching Betty

[Pilotguy]

14. Stall...

While the video does suggest an aerodynamic stall caused this crash, if you look closely at the picture you'll notice one of the engine nozzles is wide open while the other is closed which would indicate an engine failure (right engine) or at least some sort of problem with the right engine. Glad the pilot made it out and is not seriously injured and that no one on the ground was hurt.