It was either a launch rail issue or the Sidewinder wasn't secured on the rail correctly by the ordinance crewmen that loaded it. Had the pilot actually fired it, it would have had a visibly burning motor and wouldn't be bouncing off the deck so, NO, it wasn't the pilot's fault.

What is propelling it down the flight deck?

Forward momentum, the plane had just landed. The plane was stopped by the arrester gear, the Sidewinder was jarred loose when the plane was stopped. This isn't rocket science.

I did some research and the press release said the same. Of course when the military screws up they at times do damage control. The thing that stands out to me is that in both pictures the Sidewinder is level with the deck as if the gyros are active keeping it level. How far is it from the F-18 to the end of the deck? Maybe 200’? That’s a lot of momentum. But hey at least you didn’t say “ rocket surgery “ which isn’t a term I heard once while at Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Where the plane stopped is really dependent on which arrester cable the hook caught since the first wire is about 200 feet from the rear of the flight deck with the last being about 350 feet. When you add another 200-300 feet for run out of the cable, that takes the plane up to within 100 feet of the forward end of the angled deck if it caught the "4" wire. Since an F-18 has a landing speed of 134 knots (154MPH), that means that Sidewinder was doing that speed when it left the rail. The missile would have impacted the deck probably 75-100 feet ahead of the plane and bounced its way down the flight deck until it went over the forward end. If you look closely at the first picture, you can see the forward fins are in contact with the deck while, in the second picture, the rear fins are dragging on the deck with the forward ones just above it.

Gee, what happened? This thread went quiet after my last post, did I do or say something wrong or bad?

LOL, I gave my opinion and you gave yours. Not much else to say about the renegade sidewinder.

Funny Init, I’m too old, too happy and too busy building to pay any attention to the Sundresses. Of course we can always revisit the reality of the LAX Jetpack guy.

Hi Speed,

I'm pretty sure when that image last appeared I was in agreement that it's most likely a balloon.

However, with the way my next mention of the topic of Balloons went, that's a grenade whose pin I ain't willin to pull;

Balloon thoughts........

Meanwhile, back in 1959, this is what Cadillac thought we all oughta be toolin around in.....
Oh but were it to be

Not really aimed at you. As I recall some held their ground firmly that an amateur built Jetpack could climb to 2,000’ and safely return to ground level. But you are correct, I should put the pin back in.

Thank Speed, I didn't figure it was aimed at me, I just didn't want to see us blow up the thread.

How bout that 59 Caddy concept car? The good ol days when the space race influenced everything!

We got this instead.

I can see where some might like the Moon Buggy look, and I of course have nothing against electric vehicles per se, , ,

but........

to me it's kinda fugly, in a failed futuristic sorta way

Now, if I were to go for the Moon Buggy look......

Ed Roth really was quite the artist!

R_Strowe

I'm not so sure that it was completely influenced by the space race........

Those are more dangerous then a Red Ryder BB gun.

and, much more desirable...

Ya gotta have SOME fun at work!