RAF Typhoon ZJ809 had a VERY lucky escape this afternoon during the Friday practice session. Whilst descending in a half-loop the pilot came within approx 10ft of the runway and narrowly avoided “pancaking” it – thankfully lots of reheat and some serious luck prevented a accident.
By: italian harvard - 15th July 2005 at 21:49
…heart stopping surely.. I dont think the pilot would have ejected, it was a fraction of second, and if he was flying with the hand on the ejection handle he would have pulled it.. I wonder if it was just pilot’s fault or the Typhoon engineers will have a new set of sleepless nights over the jet’s software…
I’ve heard several stories of software problems with the italian Typhoons, hope they get sorted soon..
Alex
P.S.
Arent we off-topic in here?!?!? :D:D:D:D
Alex
By: steveS4SSL - 15th July 2005 at 19:46
Cheers – I’m hoping to see some from the Park & View!
By: Kilvy - 15th July 2005 at 19:42
Definately a heartstopping few moments, I was sure he was going in. Great photo Steve.
I estimated it was about 20-30ft clear of the ground.
Plenty of crackpot stories in the crowd (why do I always end up next to some know it all moron!). I heard it was 5-6ft clear, that he actually grazed the ground, and that the pilot would be at a Court Marshal this evening! 🙂
Takes all sorts (just wish they weren’t next to me!) 😀
looking forward to the pictures MOTF
Kilvy
By: steveS4SSL - 15th July 2005 at 19:36
as with anything, one man’s 10ft is another man’s 25…. 😀 – I stand corrected!
since I was looking though a viewfinder, I could only go on others thoughts – either way it was quite a few feet too few for my liking! I too thought it was going to end up as an accident photo….
By: Manonthefence - 15th July 2005 at 19:23
Without wishing to be too dramiatic it was at least 25 feet above the runway. However how close to banging out he was we will never know, whatever I was sure I was taking photos of an accident.
Very scary. Pics (as ever) to follow. 😉
By: jonny956 - 15th July 2005 at 18:47
Interview without coffee is on the way me thinks! Good pic though mate. You could sell that to the press! Shame the Appache taxied into the blue van though……army pilots, hey!!! Who’d have ’em!
By: Guzzineil - 15th July 2005 at 18:46
ah that explains why when I got in to work I was told that he was having to ‘do’ his display again… 😮
Neil
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July 15, 2005 at 6:44 pm