USNRET Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 So when your radar operator says turn away from thunderstorm.....this thing is beat to crap everywhere. Go salvage what we can and the rest goes in the dumpster 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck115 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Ouch, I've never been in an airplane that flew through a storm that bad! The worst was one stormy night in the Tonkin Gulf; the Admiral was aboard and we were the last to recover for the evening. We couldn't see the deck during our first few approaches and our preference was to bingo to Da Nang, but for some reason the Admiral wanted us to make a few more attempts. On one approach we finally saw the island after we were waved off, but we had to try again. Finally, on about the 5th attempt, we came in so low, under glideslope, that we saw the lights in the Jet Shop (below the deck), we climbed and caught the wire! The Flight Surgeon should have brought a stiff drink to the Ready Room for us that night! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted July 10, 2018 Moderators Share Posted July 10, 2018 Should buff right out Was it hail , don't know what else could cause that, besides a bunch of birds? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Hail, here is an example of the wing leading edge. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Numerous places all over the aircraft the skin began to peel off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Dang that's ugly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted July 11, 2018 Author Share Posted July 11, 2018 https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/confessions-of-a-pilot-behind-the-us-navys-airborne-sub-1598415741 A read on the P-3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted July 11, 2018 Share Posted July 11, 2018 Just a flesh wound. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted July 11, 2018 Moderators Share Posted July 11, 2018 After looking at the other pictures, they were very lucky. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted July 11, 2018 Share Posted July 11, 2018 On 7/10/2018 at 5:39 PM, USNRET said: Go salvage what we can and the rest goes in the dumpster Looks like the whole thing should go to the dumpster. I wouldn't want to be its next test-pilot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted July 11, 2018 Author Share Posted July 11, 2018 17 minutes ago, Jeff Matthews said: Looks like the whole thing should go to the dumpster. I wouldn't want to be its next test-pilot. After de-militarization we are taking what is good and is possible with hand tools and a ladder in two weeks everything else sold as scrap. There is more than one would think in relays, switches, valves, pumps, light bulbs, hydraulic components, etc, etc. Everything saved adds to spare inventory and saves money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twk123 Posted July 11, 2018 Share Posted July 11, 2018 How much wing damage like that can a plane take before it deforms enough to cause lift issues? I couldnt imagine being the pilot and praying the windshields dont give in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted July 11, 2018 Share Posted July 11, 2018 @USNRET Well it's on the ground. Was/is everybody that was on board OK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share Posted July 12, 2018 Last time I did this was 17-18 years ago when the Navy EP-3 had mid-air with Chinese fighter. Taking that one out of Hianan was political; U.S. wanted that airframe back flying. 2-3 months dismantling and 1-2 years rebuilding. This one is about economics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share Posted July 12, 2018 10 minutes ago, babadono said: @USNRET Well it's on the ground. Was/is everybody that was on board OK? No one injured. This aircraft is pretty forgiving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share Posted July 12, 2018 40 minutes ago, twk123 said: How much wing damage like that can a plane take before it deforms enough to cause lift issues? I couldnt imagine being the pilot and praying the windshields dont give in. During development the aircraft was pressurized and frozen chickens were cannoned into windscreens without failure. I have had several crack in flight but haven’t had one fail. A couple of inches thick, multiple layers and heated for flexibility. Yes, I have seen Snopes related but I watched the videos about 40 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted July 16, 2018 Author Share Posted July 16, 2018 Well it seems that 2 days means 2 weeks. Any Omaha peeps here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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