How Low Can You Go??

Phantom brown trousers!

When I was in the RAF, I was in Air Traffic Control on Holbeach Range and we got to know the USAF F-4 pilots from the 48th TFW at Lakenheath, who used to be Range Officers. They all thought they could out-do each other with ‘flybys’ past the tower, so……the next day!!!
Now you wouldn’t get away with this on an operational USAF airfield, but on a bombing range…… This must be one of the scariest shots I have ever taken – I present to you Capt.Eric Davey of the 494th TFS, 48th TFW!!!
How I focused on this, God only knows…but a few seconds later 😮

Mark 12 – just arrived back from a short break – will try to locate ‘The Major’s’ landing photos soon as poss.

Mark12…..That is one of the most shocking displays of gratuitous flying with out a helmet I have ever witnessed…….

Got any more? 😀

“Still too low on the round-out Hoskins”

This amazing shot is currently running on a thread on the WIX site.

Apparently the pilot lived to fight another day.

Do watch the most incredible video of these aircraft performing inside a large stadium in Japan. Unbelievable cross control.

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2005/stunt-flying-p1.php

Mark

This may be a few days late, but the thread earlier reminded me of this pic I took at Cadillac Michigan (1999?)
Apparently occasional careful operation on grass does no harm – or so they told me !
DC

Great Stuff – thanks for sharing!

TT

It’s thankfully very rare but people do.
I can’t remember which one it was or who was at the helm (and I would say who if I could recall) but many years ago I do remember a visiting Spit arriving at DX about 10.30 on the morning of a September show.
On a long final for the grass, straight in and flaps down from the west getting lower and lower despite calls from the tower.
A red Very across the bows saved him at the last minute (50ft) resulting in a very powered climb out, circuit to the north, gear down and a red faced landing 😮

It was one of those slow motion heart in mouth moments. Anyone else recall this event or are sleeping dogs best left :rolleyes: ?

This reminds me of a similar situation. I happened to be working across the street from Deer Valley airport in Phoenix just shortly after the arrival of RW382 into the US. The Spitfire made an appearance at a gathering of Spitfires in nearby Scottsdale and then spent the following couple of weeks at Deer Valley. The pilot of the Spit was building time in the airplane and flew it nearly every day so I spent a great deal of my free time over at the airport observing. Anyway, on this particular day the pilot was shooting landings. He did the usual flyby down the runway and broke midfield, dropping the gear in the turn. As the pilot rounded out on final I noticed the gear was only about half way out of the wells. I fully expected the pilot to abort but he continued with the approach until he was maybe 150’ high. At that point I guess somebody in the tower must have taken notice and warned the pilot of the situation as he applied power and went around. The following landing was without incident. Needless to say my heart was in my throat there for a few moments! Is it possible to get two greens with the gear not actually down and locked on a Spit?

Photo of SAA’s Historic flight DC-4 which I took way back then!

It depends who is picking up the tab for the shock loaded engine, the prop and the doghouse. 🙂

I am not saying he forgot anything. I do not know the full circumstances.

Mark

It’s thankfully very rare but people do.
I can’t remember which one it was or who was at the helm (and I would say who if I could recall) but many years ago I do remember a visiting Spit arriving at DX about 10.30 on the morning of a September show.
On a long final for the grass, straight in and flaps down from the west getting lower and lower despite calls from the tower.
A red Very across the bows saved him at the last minute (50ft) resulting in a very powered climb out, circuit to the north, gear down and a red faced landing 😮

It was one of those slow motion heart in mouth moments. Anyone else recall this event or are sleeping dogs best left :rolleyes: ?

And for the corporate jet jockies…

This shot is from a crosswind landing near London… Got real ugly…

Julie Clark at the Ottawa Air Show Aug. 27 2005

f I knew I had a problem with all three sections of the alighting gear, I think I would have put it on the grass.

What with that nice big scoop under the belly just asking to help to flip you over?

As to keeping the canopy closed well I think that is the key to the whole thing.

Posts 156/185/189 and 190 suddenly triggered the old grey cells….many years ago there was a TV documentary on ag-pilots in Africa (IIRC), who got bored with the relative tedium of crop spraying.

Nearby was a lake or river – very still, very calm water.

One eveing (no doubt after a beer) they were seeing just how low they could get above thw water when one of them actually skimmed the surface with his mainwheels. Fortunately he didn’t dip his tyres in too deeply, or he would have instantly nosed over into the wet stuff. Having done it once, and got away with it, he repeated it, then they all tried, and before long found it was relatively “easy” 😮 to “water ski” their Agcats/Agtruks etc in this way. I remember camera shots showing the planes skimming down the river/canal/lake surface raising spray from their wheel for maybe 50 – 75 yrds at a time

Anyone else remember the documentary – given it’s nature it was probably shown on the then relatively obscure C4 (or BBC2)?

Paul F

Not only do I remember it, I have a copy (or at least it should be in my late Dad’s collection, I borrowed and watched it about a year ago). It was called “The Topdressers” and was a BBC production from memory. It focused on a Kiwi pilot and a few Brits in Africa. Yes, it featured some stunning flying shots, especially those where they were skipping the canal with their tires.

I note the pilot elected to land with the canopy closed in this emergency.

Well spotted! 😉

This may be a few days late, but the thread earlier reminded me of this pic I took at Cadillac Michigan (1999?)
Apparently occasional careful operation on grass does no harm – or so they told me !
DC

Valid point, and I’ll admit to not knowing the full circumstances either. I’m just relating what I recall reading about the incident back when it happened. Of course, my memory fails me once in a while! I’ll see if I can dig up any of the old info on the incident.

PS- I’ve also read some discussion concering whether it is better to belly land on the grass or on the pavement. Seems some folks don’t like grass because of the chance of a wing tip or some other part of the airframe digging in and causing an ubrupt stop or change in direction.

A reduced risk of fire on the grass.

I note the pilot elected to land with the canopy closed in this emergency.

‘Box Brownie’ took an amazing set of photographs of ‘The Major’ making a classic belly landing in two seat Spitfire MJ627 at Baginton in April 1998.

It was a gear problem. Fuel burnt off, hood jettisoned, on the grass parallel to the main runway, minimum power at touch down, straps super tight.

Expensive but minimal damage.

Perhaps we should ask him to post them?

Mark

Chad,

If I knew I had a problem with all three sections of the alighting gear, I think I would have put it on the grass.

Mark

Valid point, and I’ll admit to not knowing the full circumstances either. I’m just relating what I recall reading about the incident back when it happened. Of course, my memory fails me once in a while! I’ll see if I can dig up any of the old info on the incident.

PS- I’ve also read some discussion concering whether it is better to belly land on the grass or on the pavement. Seems some folks don’t like grass because of the chance of a wing tip or some other part of the airframe digging in and causing an ubrupt stop or change in direction.

Good point… :rolleyes:
Although I’ve seen quite a few belly landing photos of service aircraft (for example Skyraider, Alpha Jet) – all on the runway (but with a fluffy foambath).
So you’re saying he simply forgot to lower the gear and… oops? 😮

It depends who is picking up the tab for the shock loaded engine, the prop and the doghouse. 🙂

I am not saying he forgot anything. I do not know the full circumstances.

Mark

Good point… :rolleyes:
Although I’ve seen quite a few belly landing photos of service aircraft (for example Skyraider, Alpha Jet) – all on the runway (but with a fluffy foambath).
So you’re saying he simply forgot to lower the gear and… oops? 😮

Daz, if you are referring to Mr. Wood then I don’t think so. As I recall, the Mustang belly landing was the result of a malfunction and not one of pilot error. The skillfullness of the landing probably resulted in a few pats on the back!

Chad,

If I knew I had a problem with all three sections of the alighting gear, I think I would have put it on the grass.

Mark

That looks like a very decent belly landing indeed!