Hi all
saw in a local newspaper “Le Nouvelliste” that yesterday around 15.00 h a Dh-115 Vampire Trainer (U-1208 – HB-RVF) made a perfect wheels-up landing with only minor damage to the aircraft; the pilot is unhurt. The cause is reported as a blocked landing gear.
Here’s the French original text:
16.12.2004 16:31 – – Sion: atterissage d´urgence pour un Vampire
“Aujourd´hui aux environs de 15 heures, un Vampire DH 115 – ancien appareil à réaction de l´armée suisse désormais utilisé par des civiles – a été contraint d´effectuer un atterissage d´urgence sur la piste de l´aéroport de Sion. Un ennui technique qui a bloqué l´ouverture du train d´atterissage avant serait à l´origine de cette mésaventure. Heureusement, aucun blessé n´est à déplorer. Plus de détails dans notre édition de demain.
(photo: Joël Bessard)”
Thank god for this happy ending of a dangerous situation !
Martin / Swiss Mustangs
By: Eric Mc - 17th December 2004 at 21:45
A return of the rubber deck would have been useful.
By: Spamcan - 17th December 2004 at 20:39
why are they looking under the bonnet? has the fan belt gone as well?
By: Manonthefence - 17th December 2004 at 18:03
I would think he took the hard because it was a known smooth surface, looking at the photo of the approach there a quite a few turn offs to go over plus it greatly reduces the chances of digging in and flipping the thing.
A good job by the pilot IMHO hope its back soon.
By: Swiss Mustangs - 17th December 2004 at 13:31
Sion is populated on both sides of the runway – one side is civil (at the right of below photo), including many helicopters and private planes standing on the grass sometimes, and the other side is military area with a number of taxyway exits. –
I think he did a great job landing like this.
Martin
By: Shorty01 - 17th December 2004 at 13:18
Interesting he chose the tarmac. Was the grass rough/unuseable ?
By: DGH - 17th December 2004 at 10:31
Glad to hear the pilot is ok. I’ve read many times that pilots would always land a gearless Vampire as it belly lands so well – point proven I think!
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December 17, 2004 at 10:19 am