Jessi Combs fatal accident
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The Hypno-Toad

Original Poster:

13,172 posts

229 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
I know no one put a gun to her head and forced her into the cockpit & she was clearly a very brave lady but the wiki page below poses some interesting questions about the car she was piloting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Eagle...

The F104 that it was built out of first flew in 1957 and was retired in 1970.

First engine test in the car: 2004

First run of the car: 2006

Last run of the car (in its original form.):2008

Now clearly Jessi had set a record in it awhile ago so she probably took a calculated risk that it was still safe but the picture in the article shows it as an actual museum piece at one stage. It will be interesting to see how the investigation into this tragedy plays out but I would imagine her relatives will want some answers as to if that car should have been moving under its own power in the first place, let alone trying to beat records.


Eric Mc

124,996 posts

289 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
I hadn't realised that she was driving that particular car - which has been around the block a number of times in various guises.

I've never felt that a car based on an F-104 was the best of ideas.

Supercilious Sid

2,699 posts

185 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
I've never felt that a car based on an F-104 was the best of ideas.
Indeed its nickname of Witwenmacher would give pause for thought.

Eric Mc

124,996 posts

289 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
That always crops up when the F-104 gets mentioned. That was as much to do with Luftwaffe shortcomings as the aeroplane.

The F-104 that was converted into this "car" was historic in its own right as it was a very early F-104A which was very different to the F-104Gs used by the Germans (and others). It had served as a chase plane for NASA and the USAF at Edwards Air Force Base in the 1950s and 60s.

Yertis

19,573 posts

290 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
I've never felt that a car based on an F-104 was the best of ideas.
A ground attack aircraft based on an F-104 wasn't the best of ideas, but needs must.

Eric Mc

124,996 posts

289 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
The ejection seat on the F-104A fired downwards!

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

285 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
The ejection seat on the F-104A fired downwards!
Good point. But on a land vehicle that's gone out of control at 500MPH that's probably as good a direction as any.

Eric Mc

124,996 posts

289 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
At least you won't get a headache.

frisbee

5,512 posts

134 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
What's the problem with using an F104?

At least its not made of wood.

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

285 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
frisbee said:
What's the problem with using an F104?

At least its not made of wood.
For one thing aircraft designers tend to be fairly relaxed about their creations moving up and down a few feet during the aerodynamic complications of the transonic region.

InitialDave

14,449 posts

143 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
Yertis said:
A ground attack aircraft based on an F-104 wasn't the best of ideas, but needs must.
I'd have thought an F-104 would make an excellent ground attack aircraft.

Or are you quite choosy about which piece of ground you attack and when?

Yertis

19,573 posts

290 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
InitialDave said:
I'd have thought an F-104 would make an excellent ground attack aircraft.

Or are you quite choosy about which piece of ground you attack and when?
The F104 had...

ooh I almost earned a woosh-parrot there. wink

FourWheelDrift

91,966 posts

308 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
This is the fuselage that they bought for $25,000 out of a scrapyard in Maine in 1999.



They planned to do 800mph in it.

North American Eagle story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHs9o8FZdlE


Eric Mc

124,996 posts

289 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
Yertis said:
The F104 had...

ooh I almost earned a woosh-parrot there. wink
A narrow escape. Maybe qualifies for a small budgie?

Yertis

19,573 posts

290 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
Nah I'm good thanks. biggrin

The Hypno-Toad

Original Poster:

13,172 posts

229 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
FourWheelDrift said:
This is the fuselage that they bought for $25,000 out of a scrapyard in Maine in 1999.



They planned to do 800mph in it.

North American Eagle story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHs9o8FZdlE
yikes

That looks like it’s been bent in the middle.

yikes

Eric Mc

124,996 posts

289 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
You can see why it was sometimes referred to as "The Missile With a Man in it".

nikaiyo2

5,807 posts

219 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
The Hypno-Toad said:
yikes

That looks like it’s been bent in the middle.

yikes
Isn't that just the "area rule" fuselage?

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

285 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
nikaiyo2 said:
Isn't that just the "area rule" fuselage?
Don't think the F104 was that sophisticated. More the 'use masses of power in place of subtlety' rule.

Eric Mc

124,996 posts

289 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
And use razor blades for wings.