Jim wrote:
Ed Rasimus wrote:

On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:19:31 GMT, Yeff wrote:


On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 08:00:59 -0400, Jim wrote:


Shortly after departing however he experienced a loss of one engine.
Aircraft recovered at Dayton. I wonder why he would RTB to a
civilian field when WRI-PAT is so near.


I'm betting he returned to the airfield that already had personnel
trained
to generate and recover F-117s there.



Sounds like the answer to me. Limited number special purpose aircraft
have some peculiar support requirements and might need some specially
trained support personnel.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com


True but those people were but 10-20 miles away. Working at an AF
hangar with AF tools and support would seem to me the wiser option.
After all if an engine change out were required would that not be easier
all around at an AF facility compared to a borrowed civilian one?

I bet his field selection was at least partly based on whatever
caused the engine failure (oil related, fuel related, fod, other,
unknown?), what was in between him and each facility (ie, populated
areas), historical experience of F-117 engine failures, he was
already at Dayton anyway so he stuck with a workable "plan A,"
command climate (written directives and unwritten preferences of the
squadron CO and chain of command)... etc.

PIC decision making stuff - I know, pretty general answer (I'm not
trying to sound sarcastic).