Pilots

[Iconic Ride]

In the U.S. the rationale for a fighter escort (should there be time enough to launch one to the perceived threat area) is to preempt the plane from being directed toward a heavily populated "target." Who makes that decision (and has to live with it), and on what basis, is a piece of knowledge well above my pay grade, but that choice would fall under the rubric of "acceptable losses." A sacrifice "for the greater good" as it were. 

[Bibs]

Makes sense but that Typhoon looked unarmed though? What's he going to do, tip it's wings like a V1 back over the skies of Kent?

 

Looks like drop tanks and empty rails to me...

 

[Iconic Ride]

Well, there's always the "Kamikaze Option."  

[redshift]

Indeed. IIRC the F16 that were scrambled to intercept United 93 on 9/11 had nothing. No ammunition and no missiles, I think they had decided that one would take out the cockpit.

Having the fighter there can change the dynamics of a highjack. Highjacker says to pilot 'take me to x or I blow the plane up'; pilot can now respond 'Any deviation from our normal flight path an that fighter there is going to shoot us down'. You now have stalemate and maybe a chance to negotiate.

 

Edit to add:

Even if all the rails were empty there are also 27mm canon that fire over a 1000 rounds per minute.

Edited August 5, 2014 by redshift

[Bibs]

 

[Iconic Ride]

[molemot]

The Canadian Lancaster, C-GVRA, arrived safely at RAF Coningsby on Friday after her epic Atlantic crossing....

 

http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2014/08/08/aviation-news-cwhm-lancaster-kb726-c-gvra-arrival-signals-start-of-lancaster-bomber-tour/

[pete]

the two lancasters flying together today

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-28756779

[mdw]

Over Maidstone today.  What a sight and sound.

[73JPS]

The Canadian Lancaster (VRA) is known as the "Mynarski Memorial Lancaster". The story behind its namesake is truly remarkable:

 

(The following is stolen from Wikipedia, but accurate as far as I remember the story; Brophy and Mynarski had been both the most unlikely, yet best,of friends)

 

"In the aftermath of D-Day attacks on 12 June 1944, Mynarski (upper mid gunner) was aboard KB726,^[4] taking part in the crew's 13th operation, a raid on northern France. They reached their target at midnight, Tuesday 13 June. After encountering flak over the coastline and briefly being "coned" by searchlights, the Lancaster was attacked by a Junkers Ju 88 enemy night fighter over Cambrai, France. Raked by cannon fire with major strikes on the port engines and centre fuselage, a hydraulic fire engulfed the bomber. Losing both port engines, de Breyne (Pilot) ordered the crew to bail out. As Mynarski approached the rear escape door, he saw through the inferno in the rear, that tail gunner Pilot Officer Pat Brophy was trapped in his turret. The tail turret had been jammed part way through its rotation to the escape position.^[5]

Without hesitation, Mynarski made his way through the flames to Brophy's assistance. All his efforts were in vain, initially using a fire axe to try to pry open the doors before finally resorting to beating at the turret with his hands. With Mynarski's flight suit and parachute on fire, Brophy eventually waved him away. Mynarski crawled back through the hydraulic fire, returned to the rear door where he paused and saluted. He then reputedly said "Good night, sir," his familiar nightly sign-off to his friend, and jumped.^[6]

Except for Brophy, all crew members of the Lancaster managed to escape the burning bomber. Five left through the front escape hatch on the floor of the cockpit. When bomb aimer Jack Friday, tried to release the escape hatch cover in the aircraft's nose, the rushing wind ripped it from his hands. The hatch cover caught him above his left eye and knocked him out. He fell into the open hatch and jammed it closed until Flight engineer Roy Vigars reached him to quickly clip on Friday's parachute and toss him out the hatch while pulling the unconscious crewman's rip cord. Only Mynarski managed to leave via the rear escape door.^[7]

Mynarski's descent was rapid due to the burnt parachute and shroud lines, resulting in a heavy impact on landing. He landed alive though severely burned, with his clothes still on fire. French farmers who spotted the flaming bomber found him and took him to a German field hospital but he died shortly afterwards of severe burns. He was buried in a local cemetery. Brophy remained trapped in the bomber and remained with the bomber when it crashed in a farm field. As the bomber disintegrated, and began breaking apart, Brophy survived the crash and the subsequent detonation of the bomb load. Still lodged in his turret, the crash broke the turret open with him pitched out, striking a tree and being temporarily knocked out.^[8]"

 

Full Wiki entry here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Mynarski

 

Brophy was the only one to witness Mynarski's incredible bravery; since he survived, he was able to relay the story, which lead to Mynarski's posthumous award of the Victoria Cross.

 

Mynarski was VRA's only casualty.

Edited September 7, 2014 by 73JPS

[Bibs]

^ Hell of a story, a very brave guy. No greater love have this that a man who lay down his life for his friends.

 

This is an epic video

 

[Bibs]

Beautiful...

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/article11081356.ece#ooid=5kc2k2cDpaAJa7lfN0TXY0Lf7bLgDxo9

[Bibs]

Click to expand...

 

[Bibs]

 

[auRouge]

Get in!

[jonroberts]

Hello folks. I had no idea there were other pilots on TLF - just caught this thread while looking for U/J alignment info for my S1 Esprit (not sure quite how I got here!).  I got my PPL about 7 years ago and flew the usual spam cans (C152, PA28) until graduating to a P28R in a private group in the south east of England. Now flying a Rockwell Commander 114 thats the same age as my '76 Esprit, and an RV-9A for fun.

[Bibs]

[auRouge]

Choppy approach but amazing view coming in on final approach.. Guess the airport?!

[Bibs]

Stanstead?

[Bibs]

Since when did airliners have HUDs?

 

[Simon350S]

This flying stuff, well, it looks really easy.... Easier than my pesky little IR helicopter. Try and land that bitch in the same place twice! Impossible!

[Bibs]

Anyone with any interest in aviation has to listen to this man...

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/d01755cf#b04nvgq1

 

More info...

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30039300

 

[auRouge]

Since when did airliners have HUDs?

Depends which airline! Mine doesn't :-(

HUD is normally used for low visibility operations, essentially when your monitoring the aircraft flying it all the way onto the ground.. Autolands. HUD makes the transition from instrument to reality easier when you're in fog and literally looking for one light on the runway! Otherwise depending on your level of certification you have to abort.

Cool video on NATS, brings the amount of traffic up there into perspective. Part of my command training was done at NATS.

Swanick where NATS is based near Southampton is an incredible place... full of VERY talented people :-)

http://youtu.be/a8CQ29yWvZI

Stanstead?

Close... Antalya, Turkey :-D

[Bibs]

The waterfall put me off

[auRouge]

it threw me a bit when I saw it :-D