We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:27:55 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ...not meaning to pile on, but the report is out about the B2 crash in Guam earlier this year. The video keeps your heart in your throat - but the pilots do punch out at pretty much the last second. Depending on whose cost figures you accept (1.4 - 2.5 billion per aircraft) you are watching 1/4 to 1/2 of a Nimitiz-class carrier turn into a yard dart at Andersen AFB on Guam. The cause, according to the AF report (as reported by the AP): The Air Force on Thursday said the first crash of a B-2 stealth bomber was... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:40:55 -0600 Communication - from the bottom up or top down? I say blame it on some AF brass who thinks "I should know that, I'm in charge. If I didn't come up with it then it's probably just another crew chief trying to make a name for himself and make me look bad". I say, fire the MotherF&*%er like they did with the other incompetants in the nuke flyover fiasco. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73915 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73915 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 06:43:21 -0600 Instapilot, in a million words or less, how do we prevent this from happening again? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73910 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73910 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:35:33 -0600 Sometimes, despite all the maintenance, all the planning, all the pre-flights, $#it just breaks anyway...it's that Murphy guy I tell ya... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73909 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73909 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:39:19 -0600 As a 30+ year veteran of military and civilian flying, a grad of the USAF Mishap Investigation course, having been up close nad personal with F-117s and the maintainers and operators therein, not to mention talking to aerodynamic engineers, electrical engineers and the 4-stars who have seen everything from tracers coming up from the trees in Vietnam to JDAMs on 1x1 foot targets, etc., etc., etc., I find these comments... amusing. Heh. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73908 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73908 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:33:33 -0600 All that technology, all that money... and all gone for a departure stall. Sheesh. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73906 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73906 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:17:33 -0600 Yea, and sometime back a F-117 was lost at an airshow because of a maintance failure. I can't say for sure but it's less likely things like this would happen if Curtis LeMay was still around. He was one ruthless SOB and didn't mind taking heads if there was a slip in combat efficiency. Too many of the Air Force brass today act more like CEO's of Starbucks than warfighters. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73905 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73905 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:09:20 -0600 "The two pilots ejected. One was in stable condition with unspecified injuries at a naval hospital in Guam, while the other was released after a medical evaluation, ..." I'm glad we didn't lose them, at least.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73899 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73899 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:30:01 -0600 I know they survived, I do not know if they were folded, spindled, or otherwise mauled. I know one problem with zero-zero or near zero ejections is landing in the flaming wreck, which did not happen here. Long time no read, dude! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73894 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73894 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:39:59 -0600 Nice of them to keep the wreckage clear of the runway. Were the pilots ok? I understand ejecting that low to the ground can be hazardous to your health. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73892 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73892 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:32:15 -0600 Has it taken forty years for the Air Force to figure out you can't get a computer wet and still expect it to work? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73890 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/speaking_of_the_3.html#comment-73890 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:23:38 -0600