ex-Top Gun pilot forgets landing gear

[Jim]

Long history as a "Teflon Don" in Naval Aviation, but a good stick nonetheless.

And an awesome officer to work for. He took care of his guys and watched their backs. Best boss I ever had.

 

[Thomas39]

What happened to his flow and checklist? Something for all of us who sometimes get complacent in an airplane to think about!!!

 

[asolo]

not "IF" but "WHEN"

Thats ignorant. That's like saying, "It's not IF a doctor will one day amputate the wrong, it's WHEN." I'm not the best pilot in the world and am not free of mistakes by any strech of the imagination, but I hope and pray it (forget to extend landing gear) will never happen to me.

 

[pal]

I met the guy and delt with him in the general aviation world some years back. I found him to be a courteous and likeable individual. His background is impressive by any standard. Its amazing how pilots with an inferiority complex are so quick to take a stab at him.

Sure the accident "shouldn't" have happened, but I have looked at many accidents over the years and believe me, it can and sometimes does happen even to the best. He certainly didn't acquire more flight time in F14s than anyone else and command the entire fleet just because he was lucky.

Come on guys and gals, build your own Resume, don't begrudge someone else's.

 

[Quimby]

Just goes to show that on any given day, it can hit the fan for any of us.....be careful.

 

[Prof. ATP]

This is a more forgiveable than the ex-Top Gun pilot who forgot that congressmen aren't supposed to take bribes.

 

[Huggyu2]

Come on guys and gals, build your own Resume, don't begrudge someone else's.

Please don't misunderstand me: I do not know the guy. I'd love to fly what he's flown.
The "other" forum I referred to is made up of a number of pilots that served with, flew with, and knew this guy. I was amazed that not one of them cared for him, and not one of them wanted to work with him again... although they did respect his flying credentials.

 

[aucfi]

At least he didnt try and BS his way out of it saying it collapsed. He still has his integrity in my opinion.

 

[bubbers44]

Hope he can just forget about it and press on. Have had that gentle reminder a few times when asked to slow to min approach speed and lowered landing flaps before gear. Guess I never will since I haven't flown in the last three years but after 23,000 hrs feel lucky nothing bad has happened. I probably shouldn't press my luck and get an F86 to have fun. My wife already told me what she was going to buy if I got that ultralight on floats.

 

[SIG600]

This is a more forgiveable than the ex-Top Gun pilot who forgot that congressmen aren't supposed to take bribes.

got that right....