Yak18

My Feedback: (11)

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Ken Bryant

My Feedback: (10)

edh13,

The Air Force doesn't wear the squid cranium covers anymore. Some bases tried them and the Crewchiefs *****ed to much. Heck I even used one for a test. I hated it. But I suppose it would have saved me from getting the 15 or so stiches I have had in the last 19 years

To verify, yes those are the pilots helmets. The Radar is classified but that's not why it's covered. It's covered because the material it's made of is a danger if touched or inhaled. It's covered to protect people.
The missles that are on that bird are training and have no explosive or propellent in them. They just have a compressed gas called Argon for cooling the seeker head.

air mail rcu

Now that's going to leave a mark.

RCWSO

I am new to this forum and saw this when I was searching around. Just a note about he crash. It was not really a blown tire. The main landing gear was turned sideways 90 degrees upon landing. So in reality, they were not landing on a rolling tire just a main gear stub. When that grabs the ground at 150 knots or so, it will throw you for a ride. Just a note.

TOPGUNNER

Front Landing Gear Malfunctioned,

it happens more times than it should on the F-15, for some reason the front landing gear doesn't lock and folds on impact from
landing

at least once a month this happens, most of the time it happens on its Taxi to the runway but the
one that Malfunction on landing, i bet are even scarer

its happen twice here at the Missouri National Guard at Lambert Airport
once a few years ago and the latest was about 2 months ago...

being a huge fan of the F-15 i'd be a little scared of landing, you have a small chance of the gear failing [:-]

p.s. both pilots walked away from the crash in my cases........

RCWSO

Just another note on that crash. It was not the front landing gear that malfunctioned. It was one of the main landing gear that was "cocked sideways" 90 degrees. I know this because I fly the F-15E and I know both of the dudes that were in that crash at Lakenheath. The F-15C or A or B models may have problems with the nose gear. I can say from my few years of flying the Mighty Strike Eagle we do not have front gear problems. It is a problem with the main gear not coming down and turning toward the runway. Anyway, just a note on that one. Fly Safe.

NickC5FE

My Feedback: (31)

Thanks for correcting the thread RCWSO. we got the debrief here at luke after this jet bit it. It was not a blown tire, the blown tire was an effect of the tire being 90 degrees to the plane of rotation upon landing. Nick

fiveoboy01

My Feedback: (3)

I realize that the gear failed in this case, but I have a question - what exactly is the maintenance schedule for these tires? Is there a criteria to dictate when they're replaced?

Only reason I ask, when I was at the EAA convention at Oshkosh a few weeks ago, the A-10 on the tarmac had MAJOR cords showing on ALL 3 tires.

NickC5FE

My Feedback: (31)

Yes there is a schedule. I am not a Crew Chief, but a specialist, and i know that they swap the tires when i certain number of threads are visible i think its 3 spots that have rubber down to the minimum. At least thats on an F-16.

RCWSO

On the Strike Eagle it depends on how many and how deep the cords are that are showing. I cannot quote what the exact number allowed is because different types of tires have different ratings. Sometimes a jet may have three different types of tires on it for various reasons. If it looks bad, I just ask the crew chiefs. They have all the specs memorized. They also have tools to measure how deep the shredded pieces may be. It is odd sometimes to look at the tire and see so much wear and they say, it is ok to go with. The crew chiefs know their stuff and wouldn't send anyone out knowing that it is bad. Fly Safe.

fredsapprentice

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I am sorry to hear of the servicemen's injuries on landing.

I saw someone mention the Concorde ship mishap (may she rest in peace) and thought it may be appropriate to ask....were those Firestone tires?

(Though I will admit the reason for the "Firestone" misfortune was due to manufacturers not following directions from the vendor on proper inflation.)

I hope for a swift recovery and being as the tire(s) are the first to come into contact with the ground (thank god) most of the time they take quite a beating. I still think about it and wonde how these round rubber things can take this sort of abuse.

26C4U

DUBRO tires take a lot more beating. I don't hear anyone complaining. I've never had a blown Dubro tire.

dugedug

My Feedback: (1)

I was on duty when one of our c-141s blew out all four tires on one gear before. Pilot locked up the brakes. It sounded like howitzers going off right outside the hangar doors. I had to help change the gear, wish we had digital cameras back then. The magnesium alloy wheels were melted in half, along with the bolts. I use to keep one of the bolts in a drawer in the shop. Tire wear specs (which are in the "-4t" TO) are different depending on manufacture and if it is a retread. It's possible to have a tire with a wear spot all the way around the tire. You can also have a certain number and depth of cuts and delams... all measured with micrometers and/or depth gauges. Fighters(navy planes are near 400+psi for carrier landings) have alot more pressure than large acft(~140-240psi), but both will do alot of their own damage when blown. Prices range from ~$500-5k for tires. C141 retread mains were about $1200. New C17 mains were $2400 per.

That being said, alot of maint. time goes into each wheel-tire. I've spent my share of time in the tire shop as an Airman. It's alot of dirty heavy work and everything is by the book and all limits must be met to get the most use out of each tire. Gotta save those civy tax dollars as much as you can. But gear and tire failures happen on a daily basis. I think alot of engineers got paid to much.

About the crash, I'm wondering if 3-green(all down and locked switches activated) were indicated??? Perhaps a rigging problem?