Thunderbirds and Altimeters

What I don't understand, is why he didn't realize he was too low when
he rolled over and looked down? Seems like if he's done this for awhile
he would get a sense of good and bad? But maybe being on the road
and all the different locations they fly makes this a poor judgment tool.

Watching the cockpit video, the ground sure looks close to me, as the
B-52's on the ramp are filling the window :-)

"Dudley Henriques" wrote

I've been back channeling for two days now with friends who are
ex-Thunderbirds and professional pilots in other professions.

It looks like a simple mistake really. What it amounts to is that he
mentally used the reference altitude the team uses at Nellis which put him
800 feet low on the roof. This kind of lapse can happen; just not in the low
altitude aerobatic business! The physical and visual cues missed I have no
answer for. You either see them or you don't. You don't have time to
mentally calculate. Your mind, eyes, and body either pick up on these things
or they don't. Somehow, he missed the cues. They were there. I know they
were there because I've seen and felt them myself many times doing exactly
what he was doing. It's almost impossible to explain to people who haven't
actually flown low altitude demonstration work. Anyway, he made it. He won't
get a chance to try it again, but it looks like the AF has learned enough
from this to make a few corrections that might help the next guy down the
road!
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired
For personal email, please replace
the z's with e's.
dhenriquesATzarthlinkDOTnzt
"S. Sampson" wrote in message
news:dphRb.1296$Q_4.438@okepread03...
What I don't understand, is why he didn't realize he was too low when
he rolled over and looked down? Seems like if he's done this for awhile
he would get a sense of good and bad? But maybe being on the road
and all the different locations they fly makes this a poor judgment tool.

Watching the cockpit video, the ground sure looks close to me, as the
B-52's on the ramp are filling the window :-)

"Dudley Henriques" wrote

I've been back channeling for two days now with friends who are
ex-Thunderbirds and professional pilots in other professions.

Without pre-judging this pilot, what happens to a pilot who makes a mistake
and totals the aircraft? Out of the team? or out of the AF completely?

Nick

"Nick Coleman" wrote in message
...

Without pre-judging this pilot, what happens to a pilot who makes a
mistake
and totals the aircraft? Out of the team? or out of the AF completely?

Nick

Last word I have is that he's been transferred down to DC at the Pentagon.
It's a desk job for sure if you survive this kind of mistake. But make no
mistake yourself in judging Chris Striklin. He's a good pilot. He never
would have gotten a slot on the team if he wasn't. He just got caught up in
an error. He made a mistake.
He was lucky. He's still a good pilot and a fine officer. It's just that you
can't make this kind of mistake and remain a Thunderbird. It's impossible.
The team has learned something and will move on retaining that
knowledge....hopefully using it to good advantage in the future. It's a done
deal.
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired
For personal email, please replace
the z's with e's.
dhenriquesATzarthlinkDOTnzt
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired
For personal email, please replace
the z's with e's.
dhenriquesATzarthlinkDOTnzt