I am not going back to Hainan, too old

[USNRET]

Did this in 2001, don't care to go back to get a P-8

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/08/22/342465620/chinese-fighter-buzzed-u-s-navy-plane-in-dangerous-intercept

http://fly.historicwings.com/2013/04/the-hainan-island-incident/

Edited August 23, 2014 by USNRET

[dtel]

That's crazy at any age, they need a window they can point a 50 caliber out of during close encounters.

[USNRET]

That's crazy at any age, they need a window they can point a 50 caliber out of during close encounters.

"We" don't make the rules and yes it sucked Edited August 23, 2014 by USNRET

[derrickdj1]

Retired, what a nice word.  Thanks for your service and enjoy life.

[JL Sargent]

Oh my gosh! Mike, you were on that EP-3 ARIES during all this? That was one hell of an adventure! I bet you still don't like Chinese food!

Tell us about that from your personal experience if you will.

[USNRET]

Sorry if I misled. I didn't leave it there. I went, cut it up, brought it back and put it together again. I will leave it to the aircrew that put it there to defend their position as to why it's not at the bottom of the ocean.

Edited August 23, 2014 by USNRET

[Daddy Dee]

i didn't remember having to cut up the aircraft. 

 

what was that decision process like? that was easier than repair to fly it out?

[USNRET]

The team was tasked with developing all possible methods of retrieval while the politicians negotiated. We flew in ( a  l.o.n.g flight from Georgia to China on a Gulfstream) and inspected the P-3. Our immediate thoughts were that we could throw some scab patches over holes, replace a few engine / prop assemblies, replace an elevator and limp it out. The Chinese would have no part of flying it out.

 

Another option played with was to tow it to a sea port and barge it out. That was a laugh considering the highways and byways there.

 

We leased a Russian Antonov to bring in our supplies and to take out the pieces. Once back at our Marietta, GA factory we selected a donor aircraft and replaced the wings and empennage.

Read this with a large grain of salt. I have a DVD with a slide show of our day to day activities around here somewhere. But my mug shot did make Time magazine.

[JL Sargent]

That's really interesting. The Chinese Gov. gave you guys 30 days to get it out? Your pic on the cover of Time? Sweet. I hope you have that framed in the study LOL.

 

 

The Russian Antonov is a big SOB.

 

Edited August 23, 2014 by JL Sargent

[Daddy Dee]

USNRET,

 

Thanks for the link. Odd bunch, the Chinese. 

 

Very cool project to recover the plane as needed. impressive indeed. 

 

The pilot, Lt. Shane Osborn. He was the man flying that day to get the plane on the ground, period saving crew and plane. Recovered from an inverted dive to do that. No small thing. 

 

If you can post your pic from Time mag. would love to see it. 

[USNRET]

If you can post your pic from Time mag. would love to see it. 

It's in a box somewhere around here. Didn't make the cover but if I remember correctly it was May 2001 with a cover concerning stem cell research and the article was titled something like A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words. I kept thinking I would frame the magazine for my Mom but never did, perhaps i should find it and give it to the kids who were not born quite yet even though the son was in the 'oven'. if you see the photo I would be the only person in green while everyone else was in yellow.

[JL Sargent]

I wonder if that article could be found here?

 

http://search.time.com/results.html

[Dr Morbius]

I remember this story well…………excellent flying by Americans, not so much Chinese. Even their auto driving skills are suspect, and that's from experience.