Dutch F-16 Friday Rehearsal

[Mictheslik]

Some video....not mine but on youtube



.mic

[parabola50]

Thanks for posting the video, looks like a bit of a close call!

How much force would have been felt by someone on the ground behind him?

[Timc]

Ok, here's a few dodgy images but it shows how close to the deck he probably was. The white lump in the foreground is a gazebo so I'm sure someone can do the maths to work out approximate height.

Cheers
Tim

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[stuart n]

I've yet to see a video or photo where you can see the aircraft and the ground in the same frame. We were watching from P&V east, you could tell he was low but nowhere near the Typhoon incident from 2006. Not questioning the red card just questioning how low he actually was. The ground crew seemed somewhat bemused by the questions they were getting on the stand over the weekend.

[st24]

Ok, here's a few dodgy images but it shows how close to the deck he probably was. The white lump in the foreground is a gazebo so I'm sure someone can do the maths to work out approximate height.

Cheers
Tim

So from that you're suggesting he was as low as a gazebo - 10-12'??? I've loads of airshow shots wth low a/c and foreground obstructions- it's just the perspective between camera, obstruction and aeroplane. He was low and needed telling about it,as he said himself - lesson learnt, i.e. don't high-g barrel into a low cloud straight from display start....

As MrC eluded to- the FCC need to take some blame for this in my opinon, hours and hours of really good weather, with nothng arriving yet plenty waiting to validate stuck on the deck. Have seen this time and time again (F-22 was a classic example) where rehearsals take place in truly awful weather - who on earth thought it safe for the Black eagles to practice in some of the worst conditions ever on the Friday?!! A solo is bad enough but 8 fast jets in tight formation? Bonkers......

[canard67]

ATC do not dictate when practices take place, they are coordinated by the Flying Control Committee.

[ikarus]

I dont really think the perspective on the video or photos show anything to worry about , I'd rather people didn't post stuff like this after a so called incident - it doesn't do much for the display team or pilot morale after the event which is a bit unfair on them.

Remember the IL76 departure last year ..... they didn't come back this year did they , hope the blurb about that incident hasn't contributed.

My own personal opinion ....let's move on ....... and hope for another superb and safe display next year

[boff180]

Umm,

Just to point out there was a valid reason why nothing happened during the period of good weather on the Thursday morning.

Who here noticed the C17 pass through the overhead extremely slowly? On board were the bodies of the three members of our armed services that had been killed by afgan police earlier that week.

During a repatriation ceremony at Brize, there is a temporary pause/ban/restriction on all flying ops from the airfield and within the zone (which Fairford is in) as a mark of respect.

A perspective on the bigger picture is needed here by some before they blame any other incidents on DBH for not utilising this time period. Sorry the repatriation of three hero's ruined your airshow arrivals.

Andy

[st24]

Umm,

Just to point out there was a valid reason why nothing happened during the period of good weather on the Thursday morning.

Who here noticed the C17 pass through the overhead extremely slowly? On board were the bodies of the three members of our armed services that had been killed by afgan police earlier that week.

During a repatriation ceremony at Brize, there is a temporary pause/ban/restriction on all flying ops from the airfield and within the zone (which Fairford is in) as a mark of respect.

A perspective on the bigger picture is needed here by some before they blame any other incidents on DBH for not utilising this time period. Sorry the repatriation of three hero's ruined your airshow arrivals.

Andy

Was aware of that Andy but didn't I hear over the radio a lot of comms with (IIRC) the Pat Suisse requesting a rehearsal and ATC were asking if their display would impinge Brize's zone during the ceremony, if so it was a no-no. Presumably if something else could have gone up (a solo for instance) only requiring Farford local control it could have??

[chidders]

Can anyone confirm that this was actually the Dutch and not the Belgian F-16?? If it was the Dutch then it wasn't in its normal display colours??

[Chrisse]

Nowhere near Typhoon 2006-low, but low enough to bust the minima, hence the decision. And yes, it was the Dutch F-16, not the Belgian one thank you very much

[swingy]

ST24 I dont know what was on the radio etc but a couple of RIAT folks both told me independently there would be no flying during a repatriation. That is pretty similar to what Andy has suggested and I can appreciate and respect that position being taken by RIAT if that is in fact the case. Perhaps the good folks at DBH could add this to their FAQ section on the web site and we can all hope and pray we have no need for such flights in the future.

[Screechy]

Can anyone confirm that this was actually the Dutch and not the Belgian F-16?? If it was the Dutch then it wasn't in its normal display colours??

The special marked display machine was at the time in a hangar being given a once over after going tech prior to it's rehearsal slot.

[st24]

Can anyone confirm that this was actually the Dutch and not the Belgian F-16?? If it was the Dutch then it wasn't in its normal display colours??

The special marked display machine was at the time in a hangar being given a once over after going tech prior to it's rehearsal slot.

Co-incidentally the Belgian display bird was at home, also sick...

[Screechy]

Can anyone confirm that this was actually the Dutch and not the Belgian F-16?? If it was the Dutch then it wasn't in its normal display colours??

The special marked display machine was at the time in a hangar being given a once over after going tech prior to it's rehearsal slot.

Co-incidentally the Belgian display bird was at home, also sick...

True, feel fortunate now that I saw it at Duxford in May, as every time it has been due to display at a venue I have attended (Bodo, Waddo, RIAT) it has been left at home feeling poorly.

[st24]

Can anyone confirm that this was actually the Dutch and not the Belgian F-16?? If it was the Dutch then it wasn't in its normal display colours??

The special marked display machine was at the time in a hangar being given a once over after going tech prior to it's rehearsal slot.

Co-incidentally the Belgian display bird was at home, also sick...

True, feel fortunate now that I saw it at Duxford in May, as every time it has been due to display at a venue I have attended (Bodo, Waddo, RIAT) it has been left at home feeling poorly.

It wasn't down to attend Waddo.. At least it gave RIATers the chance to see the Stingers special fin, which may be a rarer bird overall...

[capercaillie]

ST24 I dont know what was on the radio etc but a couple of RIAT folks both told me independently there would be no flying during a repatriation. That is pretty similar to what Andy has suggested and I can appreciate and respect that position being taken by RIAT if that is in fact the case. Perhaps the good folks at DBH could add this to their FAQ section on the web site and we can all hope and pray we have no need for such flights in the future.

Yes, its certainly even more confusing now. The Swiss were certainly told their practice display in the late afternoon (between 3 and 4 IIRC) couldn't happen because of infringement on the repatriation ceremony, yet Al Fursan, MiG29 and Hawk all practiced around this time and certainly a lot later than the morning timings when very little took place, yet practice slots were listed. It also doesn't explain why the Dutch F-16 didn't use the Wednesday slot that was booked.

In addition Andy, I'm still looking for where someone has written the airshow arrivals were ruined because of the lack of practices? No need to over dramatise, if there was a legitimate reason, which appears to be the case, just say so.

[DamienB]

Doesn't look to have been as close a call as the F-16 at Yeovilton.

And both were nothing in comparison to this, of course.

[james.25]

I was by the lake at rhymes when this happened. I remember watching him enter the low cloud looking like he was going inverted, I followed the silhouette through the cloud base and then to my suprise he pulled back down through the cloud still inverted, I must admit at this point I near shat myself because for a split second my brain computed that he was heading straight for me and the rest of ryhmes in an unrecoverable dive at a very strange angle, A second later he flips it over and plugs in the burner I have a split second major relief moment (loosening a4se cheeks) Then the second bout of shock horror when I realise he's still sinking fairly fast towards the rhymes farmyard/access road area, a second later and the raw power stars to work the magic and up he goes, my ear's where ringing fairly! My brother in law was standing next to me, he had literally just arrived on the campsite 5mins earlier and this was his first airshow since he was a young kid, he said whilst rubbing his ear with a slightly uncomfortable look on his face "bloody hell mate, I know you said they were low over here, but I never realised it was this close, that's mental" I said they usually aren't mate......

Looking at that video again, I have to wonder if an poor bastards were in the portaloo's on rhymes when this happened, for anyone who doesn't know rhymes they are situated roughly below where his lowest point is, it must have felt like there world was about to end

[SCOUSEFOWLER]

i was travelling up the lane to rhymes farm, was just about to turn in to the farm and was deafened and blasted by afterburner yee haa

turned into farm everyone looked a bit shocked

[Screechy]

TEA 'storm' CUP

[Dollys]

Finally got hold of my mates samsung galaxy s2 footage.Thanks DJ.
I was busy taking photos next to him at Rhymes Farm pay & view,waiting for the b2 arrival,when the F16 went up.Here is 90% of its display before it was told to abandon the practice and to land !
Cloud was a bit low and he seemed to misjudge his height after exiting the loop from the cloud.Afterburner on! but still gravity taking effect, before enough thrust to initiate climb.
An interesting way to end a long damp day on the friday,then came the b2.

Here is the youtube link for my video.
http://youtu.be/V5ssjRshfc0

Enjoy.
Interested in peoples comments please.
Dolly.

[davers]

Ok folks haven't been on here for a while ,we camped at rhymes in the top field and he was dropping directly above us, I have pics be it not the best I will try and post them on here later I have put them on a fb group already,when i get chance to I will put them on here the quality is not that good but caught the moment I think.Martin

[Escapist]

Here are couple of pics taken from the tent at rhymes farm. not to good was to busy running for cover. The first picture was shot through some tree branches.

[url][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/78697610@N08/8544859015/][/url]
dutch f-16 friday riat 2012 by matty257, on Flickr[/url]

[url][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/78697610@N08/8544859207/][/url]
dutch f-16 friday riat 2012 by matty257, on Flickr[/url]

[RJC1878]