F1-11 Wheels Up Landing

Timmeh · 20-07-2006, 11:06 PM

I did a search and couldn't find a thread on this, so here it goes:

The Defence Force Imagery Group has finally released official photos of the F-111 incident from earlier this week. For those who weren't aware, one of our F-111s had an airborne emergency when a wheel departed the aircraft on takeoff (and struck an EF Falcon). The pilot was a mere two weeks out of his conversion course in which he learned to fly the F-111.

The decision was made to do a wheels up arrested landing, which gives us some great photos. The landing appeared very smooth to those watching, but the pilot reported that apparently it was rather rough.

Onto the photos:

This isn't the first cable arrestment of an F-111 with landing gear problems. Previously a Pig effected a cable arrestment when its nose landing gear failed to extend.

And of course, it doesn't take long for the media to jump on board!

Hope you found that interesting. Regards, Timmeh!

**Silver Ghia** · 20-07-2006, 11:26 PM

The sealed runway would have acted like a big file or sandpaper, and ground down the bottom of the fuselage. I was wondering why they didnt try to land it next to the runway on the dirt, which would have caused less sparks and possibility of fire. Or perhaps the arrestor wire being centred on the runway prevented this? It looked like a text book landing however, if there were procedures for such a landing for this aircraft type.

The media is always in for a good story to sell their newspapers, regardless of the ramifications. The 'cartoon' certainly illustrates the exagerations they quite often employ, to the detriment of a fine aircraft which is now grounded, for probably some time. The media doesnt really know what they are talking about when it comes to items like this.

LUXO_8 · 20-07-2006, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

The sealed runway would have acted like a big file or sandpaper, and ground down the bottom of the fuselage. I was wondering why they didnt try to land it next to the runway on the dirt, which would have caused less sparks and possibility of fire. Or perhaps the arrestor wire being centred on the runway prevented this? It looked like a text book landing however, if there were procedures for such a landing for this aircraft type.

IMO landing it without gear on the dirt would have had more of a risk of it digging in and cartwheeling......

they obviously would have gone through all the logical solutions prior to deciding to land it as was done.....

very well done by the pilot......

awesome pics too

**Silver Ghia** · 20-07-2006, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

IMO landing it without gear on the dirt would have had more of a risk of it digging in and cartwheeling......

they obviously would have gone through all the logical solutions prior to deciding to land it as was done.....

Yeah OK, the lower fuselage would've been damaged quite badly and would've been a write-off anyway.

Fairlane · 20-07-2006, 11:44 PM

Actually that landing was remarkable. Ive been to Amberley numerous times and always wondered why they kept the Arrestor cables at the Western end of the main runway.

Well they certainly proved their worth in that incident.

Good stuff by the pilot not only did he do a good landing but he saved one these beautiful planes. Though they'll probably just strip the parts of it and refit one of the spare G's.

XRated · 21-07-2006, 12:03 AM

Where's the pics of the wheel hitting the EF?

Firefox7 · 21-07-2006, 12:11 AM

I think they did an awesome job landing the plane they way they did. But i was happier to see them walking away unhurt. Just proves how talented & skilled airforce pilots are.

Cheers

HOON69 · 21-07-2006, 12:12 AM

was great watching it fly less then a foot off the ground takes hella skillz to fly that good.

he's got bragging rights for a while i'd be guessing.

MO · 21-07-2006, 08:22 AM

Great photos...text book stuff from crew.

Apparently a retaining pin was put in wrong.......so which L.A.M.E is having their pay docked to pay for that?

max · 21-07-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO

Great photos...text book stuff from crew.

Apparently a retaining pin was put in wrong.......so which L.A.M.E is having their pay docked to pay for that?

Well, them boys can bring it 'round Satdy arvo on the back of the ute an' I'll patch 'er up with a bit of galv. sheet and pop rivetts I got down in the shed! Chee-ee, don't go dockin' an L.A.M.E's pay! We all make mistakes!

AC · 21-07-2006, 08:47 AM

Great landing by the boys...

I noticed the old Caribou's sitting in the background, we used to have quite a few here at Richmond.
All gone now, we only have C-130's now...
And the occasional Caribou, F-18, Orions and of course the yanks in their C5's and C-141's

SPK-250 · 21-07-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ndOwner

Great landing by the boys...

I noticed the old Caribou's sitting in the background, we used to have quite a few here at Richmond.
All gone now, we only have C-130's now...
And the occasional Caribou, F-18, Orions and of course the yanks in their C5's and C-141's

Not much related but my mum and dad used to be based there at Richmond. thats why i was born in Windsor. I got to ride in a C-130 when i was a baby but dont remember it at all.

My 2nd cousin flys those F-111's. A couple of years ago he took a pay cut from $180,000 a year down to $156,000 a year. Poor bastard.

AlbertM · 21-07-2006, 08:56 AM

That cartoon reminds me of the movie Hotshots...heh

A good job by the pilot.

ON_DUBS · 21-07-2006, 09:08 AM

great comic,
any landing you can walk away from is a good one eh.

glad there were no injuries

TheSneakiness · 21-07-2006, 09:43 AM

I saw this on TV the other day and I must say the pilot did an excellent job of landing that aircraft without landing gear.

GreenMachine · 21-07-2006, 10:51 AM

Mate of mine works out there and said that the landing was absolutely amazing to watch - way more impressive than it looked on TV (which was pretty damn impressive).

Congrats to the pilot!

As a matter of interest, how old are those things now?

RS027 · 21-07-2006, 11:05 AM

33 years and 1 month they've been in the RAAF.

S3SR · 21-07-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RS027

33 years and 1 month they've been in the RAAF.

lol at least they have paid for themselves by that time hey..

and if they have lasted that long then it goes to show that proper servicing and the best pilots make the difference...

shhh dont say anything like we need to replace them otherwise our taxes will increase 10 fold

GreenMachine · 21-07-2006, 11:14 AM

XB Falcon era!

GK · 21-07-2006, 12:00 PM

Outstanding job by one of our pilots. They train them well. To fly that low so the arrestor cable can hook up, amazing!

GK

rodderz · 21-07-2006, 12:42 PM

Did you assist in teaching this bloke Timmeh?

Fine job at doing an emergency landing at such an early stage

Timmeh · 21-07-2006, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodderz

Did you assist in teaching this bloke Timmeh?

Fine job at doing an emergency landing at such an early stage

Nah, I am not in the F-111 world, I deal with the training of pilots of other un-named twin engine fighter types.

Tim