Aviation films from the past

How about theseon flying the P47? Especially with ‘Snafu’ close to flight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcGoc7P1MnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y3v1-WMJS8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NWaHlnI_LQ&feature=relmfu

Martin

How about theseon flying the P47? Especially with ‘Snafu’ close to flight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcGoc7P1MnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y3v1-WMJS8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NWaHlnI_LQ&feature=relmfu

Martin

A couple of quotes from a similar thread on prune a few years ago

Damien B
Cdr Russell was the CO of 803, and his Scimitar (XD240) was the first to land. The no.1 arrestor wire pulled out and parted as he was completing his landing roll and the aircraft rolled off the end of the deck ‘at walking pace’ into the sea. The rescue diver from the SAR helicopter – onscene in seconds – actually sat on the sinking aircraft to try and get the canopy open but to no avail.

The above picture and other similar ones were front page material in the press of the next day – before the family had been informed.

Divers recovered the nose section and Cdr Russell’s body four weeks later and underwater escape training was improved as a result of the investigation. Trials of ejections through the canopy were carried out in 1959, resulting in the fitting of canopy breakers to the head box of the seat. Underwater ejection trials did not take place until 1962.

John Farley

Damien has posted most of the relevant facts. Shortly after this accident we were issued with modified leg restraint garters that had removable D rings to cope with when the cords would not disconnect from the seat pan. A friend of mine flying Scimitars at the time said that when the aircraft sank the pilot was free apart from his leg restraints.

In those days the emergency egress drills on the surface recommended that you undid everything before getting rid of the canopy on the basis that it provided protection from fire on the ground and water coming in at sea.

A couple of quotes from a similar thread on prune a few years ago

Damien B
Cdr Russell was the CO of 803, and his Scimitar (XD240) was the first to land. The no.1 arrestor wire pulled out and parted as he was completing his landing roll and the aircraft rolled off the end of the deck ‘at walking pace’ into the sea. The rescue diver from the SAR helicopter – onscene in seconds – actually sat on the sinking aircraft to try and get the canopy open but to no avail.

The above picture and other similar ones were front page material in the press of the next day – before the family had been informed.

Divers recovered the nose section and Cdr Russell’s body four weeks later and underwater escape training was improved as a result of the investigation. Trials of ejections through the canopy were carried out in 1959, resulting in the fitting of canopy breakers to the head box of the seat. Underwater ejection trials did not take place until 1962.

John Farley

Damien has posted most of the relevant facts. Shortly after this accident we were issued with modified leg restraint garters that had removable D rings to cope with when the cords would not disconnect from the seat pan. A friend of mine flying Scimitars at the time said that when the aircraft sank the pilot was free apart from his leg restraints.

In those days the emergency egress drills on the surface recommended that you undid everything before getting rid of the canopy on the basis that it provided protection from fire on the ground and water coming in at sea.

Jesus, imagine showing a pilot dying on the news these days, one hopes they never will, cannot believe they did then, the families could see it.

The news broadcast of the P-38 crash at Duxford in 1996 is on youtube for all and sundry to see. If anyone has not seen it, it is horrific.

Jesus, imagine showing a pilot dying on the news these days, one hopes they never will, cannot believe they did then, the families could see it.

The news broadcast of the P-38 crash at Duxford in 1996 is on youtube for all and sundry to see. If anyone has not seen it, it is horrific.

It was quite a well known accident, and has been discussed here before, but it was thought that the canopy jettison system was fouled/damaged when the aircraft hit the sea. Because the pilot had to remove head gear as sea water was most likely entering his breathing system, combined with his unstrapping from the seat, and trying to hold back a very heavy canopy rearwards against gravity for normal escape his chances of using the seat were reduced. There was also suggestion that he might not have taken to the seat because of the proximity of the rescue helicopter. I’m sure I’ve read that he eventually succesfully unstrapped, and got the canopy back far enough, but his leg restraints were still attached.

The whole thing was made worse by the media being in attendance as it was the first front-line deployment of the Scimitar to a carrier, Cdr Russell being the lead pilot for 803 sqn for the embarkation aboard Victorious.
It is perhaps surprising, given how bad our current media is, that such things were shown back then – it’s one of the worst things I’ve ever watched.
Really brings home what these guys had to go through on board carriers.

It was quite a well known accident, and has been discussed here before, but it was thought that the canopy jettison system was fouled/damaged when the aircraft hit the sea. Because the pilot had to remove head gear as sea water was most likely entering his breathing system, combined with his unstrapping from the seat, and trying to hold back a very heavy canopy rearwards against gravity for normal escape his chances of using the seat were reduced. There was also suggestion that he might not have taken to the seat because of the proximity of the rescue helicopter. I’m sure I’ve read that he eventually succesfully unstrapped, and got the canopy back far enough, but his leg restraints were still attached.

The whole thing was made worse by the media being in attendance as it was the first front-line deployment of the Scimitar to a carrier, Cdr Russell being the lead pilot for 803 sqn for the embarkation aboard Victorious.
It is perhaps surprising, given how bad our current media is, that such things were shown back then – it’s one of the worst things I’ve ever watched.
Really brings home what these guys had to go through on board carriers.

Royal Navy pilot dies trapped in his sinking jet 1958 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg0Jj-2x5rM&feature=related

Something I’ve wondered on about this incident, could the pilot have attempted to eject when the Scimitar began to sink? I mean, I seem to recall it worked for a Wyvern pilot who I believe made the first successful underwater ejection.
Maybe the seat wouldn’t fire anyway due to canopy being jammed? Not sure, not that up on Scimitar technicality’s.

Anyhow, notwithstanding, a properly nasty incident.

The RAF Tornado GR.Mk.1 vid sure did bring back some memories of Cosford back in 1993, that’s when i first saw it.
I’ve been looking for it ever since.

Jesus, imagine showing a pilot dying on the news these days, one hopes they never will, cannot believe they did then, the families could see it.