The Lucky Puppy: January 2008

26 January 2008

Code One Magazine

Code One, the magazine real fighter pilots read.

18 January 2008

Some F-15's Grounded Permanently

The U.S. Air Force has announced that 170 or more of it's F-15 Eagle fleet will be going to the bone yard. Failure of a fuselage longeron has been sited as the primary cause of the crash of an F-15 last November. The grounding will affect four models of the U.S. fighter. The F-15E Strike Eagle is not included. 60% of the entire fleet has been returned to service.

Watch investigation recreation video of mishap.

Related Posts:

F-15 Fleet Grounded After Crash

F-15E Strike Eagles Back in the Air

422 Eagle Holiday Greetings

17 January 2008

Boeing 777 Crashes at Heathrow

17 JAN 2008.
An British Airways Boeing 777 has crashed at Heathrow Airport, London, U.K. It is the first crash of Boeing newest airliner. All of the 136 passengers and crew survived the mishap. 19 were injured, many suffering minor injuries.

Flight BA038 was on final approach to the runway when the aircraft suffered a total loss of power.

Captain Peter Burkill calmly announced to his co-pilot: "I'll just have to glide it in." Burkill and his crew managed to keep the 777 airborne as they flew over houses, schools and offices - clearing Heathrow's perimeter fence by just five feet before crash-landing into a field 500 yards short of the runway. The aircraft came to rest with major damage to its landing gear and engines.

Statement by British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh:

"We are very proud of the way our crew safely evacuated all 136 passengers on board. The captain of the aircraft is one of our most experienced and has been flying with us for nearly 20 years," he added.

They showed great courage and professionalism in landing the aircraft safely. All of the crew did a fantastic job evacuating the 136 passengers. They are all heroes and everyone at British Airways is very proud of them.

An investigation is being conducted by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch so it would be inappropriate to speculate about the likely cause of this incident."

An airport worker was quoted as saying, "It's a miracle he managed to land it. The man deserves a medal as big as a frying pan. He has done a fantastic job."

The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch will lead the inquiry into the crash landing. A team from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is also heading to London, accompanied by representatives from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The 777 first entered service in 1995 and is currently being flown by 32 airlines around the world.

U.S. NSTB Records of all Boeing 777 mishaps. Use "Boeing 777" as make and model.

Last Words

It is said that pilots are the first one's at the scene of a crash. Some are caught unaware but most fight the problem all the way down. The CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) records their final words. These are some of them.

"There he is .. look at him! Goddamn that son-of-a-bitch is coming! Get off!"
Pan Am 1736, Boeing 747, 27 March 1977.

"Pete, sorry."
Air Canada 621,Douglas DC-8, 5 July 1970.

"Hey, what's happening here?"
Eastern Airlines 401, 29 Dec 1972.

"Ma I love you."
Pacific Southwest Airlines 182. 25 Sep 1978.

"Larry, we're going down, Larry.... I know it!"
Air Florida 90, Boeing 737, 13 Jan 1982.

"Amy, I love you."
Atlantic Southeast Airlines 529, 21 Aug 1995.

"Mountains!!!"
Vnokovo Airlines 2601, 29 Aug 1996.

"Ah here we go."
Alaska Airlines 261, MD-80, 31 Jan 2000.

"Too late! No time. No TIME!"
Air France 4950, Concorde, 25 JULY 2000.

10 January 2008

"Top Gun" Trivia

Top Gun-The Movie

Val Kilmer did not want to be in this film, but was forced to by contractual obligations.

Anthony Edwards, Michael Ironside, and Rick Rossovich all went on to roles in the ER tv series. Edwards: Dr. Mark Green, Ironside: Dr. William "Wild Willy" Swift, Rossovich: Dr. John "Tag" Taglieri.

During the final furball, Stinger orders, "Ready Willard and Simkin on cats 3 and 4" - a reference to dogfight choreographer "Rat" Willard and casting director Marge Simkin.

In several locker scenes, one of the lockers is labeled as belonging to "TEX". This is the call sign for one of the top gun instructors and MiG pilots that worked on the film, Lt. William 'Tex' Spence.

Charlie's "older man" date at the oak club was actually a teacher at Top Gun at the time. He was the consultant on the film.

The piano scene and the final bar/jukebox scene were shot in a San Diego restaurant called Kansas City BBQ, at the corner of Kettner Blvd and W. Harbor Drive. The restaurant now houses many props and memorabilia from the film, including the jukebox and Maverick's flight helmet sits behind the bar in a locked display case.

Stunt pilot Art Scholl died when his plane crashed on 16 September 1985 while he was performing the "flat spin" shown in the movie.

08 January 2008

Best TDY Patch

TDY is a term used in the U.S. Air Force which means "Temporary Duty". Which usually means going somewhere other than your home base for training. While on TDY people tend to let their hair down and party a little more than usual. Much of this happens in Officer and NCO clubs on base. There are times that one might find oneself in uniform.
"Who was that?" Is a common question and at those time it's easiest to track the "celebrity" down to his or her unit by checking out the squadron patch worn on the uniform. TDY's are also occasion to where unauthorized patches.

Hence, we have a winner. This is an actual patch worn while TDY. No photoshopping here.

Aircraft Marshalling

When an aircraft launches. When it leaves its parking space bound for the take off. A aircraft handler stands in front and directs the aircraft out of it's spot. This is to insure than no people,vehicles or equipment are struck or damaged as the aircraft begins to move under its own power.

Here are some examples:

12 Sqn-RAF

C-130

B-1B

F-15

Another F-15