F16 Dead Stick Landing

Author
Discussion

FUBAR

Original Poster:

17,062 posts

240 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Just been sent this link which I'm sure will mean more to most of you than I smile

Streetrod

6,468 posts

208 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Good job, I did not realise that an F16 was such a good glider. It was also interesting to note how calm the pilot was and how steady his breathing was. A true professional

MartG

20,748 posts

206 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Dunno about that controller who kept yakking on, restating the bleeding obvious all the time ( e.g. after landing telling the pilot he now needs to stop the aircraft ). Surely in times like that radio traffic should be kept to a minimum in case the pilot has to say something quickly

Ian Lancs

1,127 posts

168 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
MartG said:
Dunno about that controller who kept yakking on, restating the bleeding obvious all the time ( e.g. after landing telling the pilot he now needs to stop the aircraft ). Surely in times like that radio traffic should be kept to a minimum in case the pilot has to say something quickly
Think the person saying get it stopped was actually his wingman who acted as relay etc for the ATC messages?

chuntington101

5,733 posts

238 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Streetrod said:
Good job, I did not realise that an F16 was such a good glider. It was also interesting to note how calm the pilot was and how steady his breathing was. A true professional
guess its a bit eaiser than dodging bullets and SAMs! lol

Vieste

10,532 posts

162 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Wow thanks for the link.

staples230uk

172 posts

174 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Ian Lancs said:
Think the person saying get it stopped was actually his wingman who acted as relay etc for the ATC messages?
Yeah in aircraft emergencies such as this or any major problem be it engine hyds etc etc, the diverting aircraft will have an escort to talk him down, make sure his flaps and gear are where they should be.

55allgold

519 posts

160 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Remarkable.

Simpo Two

85,871 posts

267 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
I thought all pilots had to practice deadstick landings for PPL and upwards?

Eric Mc

122,301 posts

267 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
They do - but you don't do a PPL course using the F-16.

Simpo Two

85,871 posts

267 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
They do - but you don't do a PPL course using the F-16.
Not unless you're very rich, I agree... but given that an F-16 pilot is going to have considerably more training/flying time and Newton will get him down one way or the other, is this achievement in the Sullenburger/Hudson River class or just an unusual day at the office?

Eric Mc

122,301 posts

267 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
It's pretty skilful flying I would say - but most trained air force pilots should be able to carry it off.

The F-16 is computer copntrolled so the key to flying it after engine failure is making sure the electrical systems don't go down on you.

Mojocvh

16,837 posts

264 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Trivia-Did you know the FBW system had it's own separate windings on the generator away from the rest of the aircraft electrical supply system.

Real neat, other aircraft, the Tornado, for example, only separates the FBW at the cb boxes.

Of course the EPU would have kicked in but that brings it's own BIG set of problems, surprised he jettisoned the tanks overland, however his wingman was VERY adamant that this WAS the time to do it!!



Edited by Mojocvh on Wednesday 27th April 17:53

Eric Mc

122,301 posts

267 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Mojocvh said:
Trivia-Did you know the FBW system had it's own separate windings on the generator away from the rest of the aircraft electrical supply system.

Real neat, other aircraft, the Tornado, for example only separates the FBW at the cb boxes.

Carry on!
Tornado isn't really FBW though, is it?

Ginetta G15 Girl

3,220 posts

186 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
staples230uk said:
Yeah in aircraft emergencies such as this or any major problem be it engine hyds etc etc, the diverting aircraft will have an escort to talk him down, make sure his flaps and gear are where they should be.
Not necessarily.


Simpo Two said:
I thought all pilots had to practice deadstick landings for PPL and upwards?
It depends on the a/c and what its Glide Ratio is (and how close you are to a suitable runway). Most FJ don't glide that well (certainly mud moving types). Watching the HUD video the F16 was getting around a 1 in 1 descent (1Nm / 1000ft) which is fairly reasonable, about the same as a Hawk.

Try that in a Harrier or a Jaguar and you'd have to be hitting High Key (abeam the threshold) at 10,000ft! Ie not a lot of point in routinely practicing it.


Eric Mc said:
The F-16 is computer controlled so the key to flying it after engine failure is making sure the electrical systems don't go down on you.
Hence the chat about the EPU and it's Hydrazine fuel and the requirement for Fire Cover post the roll-out.



Nice piece of flying there.

Eric Mc

122,301 posts

267 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Yes - I picked up on that at the end. I wonder how long the APU runs before its fuel expires?

Mojocvh

16,837 posts

264 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Tornado isn't really FBW though, is it?
Really? well there ya go........ http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/tornado_ids_a... link a bit spotterish mind...

Edited by Mojocvh on Wednesday 27th April 18:28

Mojocvh

16,837 posts

264 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Yes - I picked up on that at the end. I wonder how long the APU runs before its fuel expires?
EPU-running a monofuel that generates it's own oxygen as it burns, APU's are generally regarded as AIR breathing.

EPU's running monofuels have highly toxic exhaust gas components, the rule is get upwind and stay there.

A monofuel leak, on aircraft, is a very nasty affair indeed.

Last time I saw one was on a Canberra PR9 [at Bodo a long time ago] luckily the amount of monofuel (AVPIN) in the engine starting system is/was comparatively small. However the bloke that got more than a face full wasn't the happiest of chaps......especially as the deluge system was frozen over, he still went it though, head first to break the ice.

Edited by Mojocvh on Wednesday 27th April 18:43

Eric Mc

122,301 posts

267 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Mojocvh said:
Eric Mc said:
Tornado isn't really FBW though, is it?
Really? well there ya go........ http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/tornado_ids_a... link a bit spotterish mind...

Edited by Mojocvh on Wednesday 27th April 18:28
OK - I'll refine what I meant. The F-16 is completely unstable without FBW as it is designed as an agile dogfighter. If the F-16 loses its FBW, it crashes. Indeed, one of the F-16 test pilots lost his life when this is what happened.

Would a Totnado be unflyable without FBW?

bobthemonkey

3,854 posts

218 months

Wednesday 27th April 2011
quotequote all
Mojocvh said:
EPU-running a monofuel that generates it's own oxygen as it burns, APU's are generally regarded as AIR breathing.

EPU's running monofuels have highly toxic exhaust gas components, the rule is get upwind and stay there.

A monofuel leak, on aircraft, is a very nasty affair indeed.

Last time I saw one was on a Canberra PR9 [at Bodo a long time ago] luckily the amount of monofuel (AVPIN) in the engine starting system is/was comparatively small. However the bloke that got more than a face full wasn't the happiest of chaps......especially as the deluge system was frozen over, he still went it though, head first to break the ice.

Edited by Mojocvh on Wednesday 27th April 18:43
Pretty sue the F16 is worse in that it uses hydrazine, which isn't exactly pleasant stuff!