F-18 Question (Sort of)

[Tora18]

Canadian Demos

Fox-3,

Your right about the Canadian Demo, I forgot. Yes big gonads, but I'm sure all US demo pilots would do it too, if allowed. On the same note, the USN F-14 demo w/ a dirty roll off a touch and go is very impressive. First, time I saw It I was sure the pilot was going to mort.

 

[C-150ETOPS]

Saw the Blue Angels about 3 years ago at Patrick AFB where one F18 looked like he had a problem but finished the show anyway.


They were doing a flap/gear/hook down flyby in the diamond formation sometime around the first quarter of the show. We were in a boat almost underneath the flyover when I figured something didn't look right. With a good look with the binocs, I believe it was the slot guy who had flaps/hook/nosegear but neither of the mains down. The main gear doors were closed too. I figured he'd be landing soon, but he cleaned up and completed an awesome show.
After the rest of them did the show landing at the end, then I saw one loitering out over the water for 10-15 minutes doing the 200-250 kt, about 5000' problem solving pattern. Unlike the rest, he eventually came in and landed into the wind, (unlike the others), with everything down including the hook. He didn't take a cable at the approach end and appeared to not have any other major problems.

Great show. T-Birds performed right afterwards. The Blue solos would cross low the sailboat masts at the base marina then disappear behind a line of 75' Australian Pines doing +500Kts.