F-35 down in Nevada?

[Blackcat1]

Whatever it was he was flying, such sad news RIP.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/innov ... 6ababb973c

[BOLLO]

https://theaviationist.com/

[page_verify]

Sad news, it seems most likely it was a classified prototype rather than a Mig, Su or F-35 - the Janet flights from Groom Lake, which is roughly where the crash happened, were suspended that afternoon for a classified test.

[plmc135]

Now being reported on Aviation Week that it was a "foreign" type of aircraft under test by the guys at Groom Lake.

[Jackonicko]

My understanding is that Av Week (unusually) got it wrong.

https://www.facebook.com/aerospaceanaly ... =3&theater

[page_verify]

Welcome Jackonicko, a familiar name from the aviation journalism world to many I'm sure.

[Jackonicko]

Thank you!

[TonyO]

My understanding is that Av Week (unusually) got it wrong.

https://www.facebook.com/aerospaceanaly ... =3&theater

This is not definitive yet...

[eagle driver]

A little more info .
Fatal Nevada Crash Involved Foreign Aircraft Type

Sep 11, 2017

Guy Norris
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

LOS ANGELES — A September 5 accident at the Nevada Test and Training Range that killed a U.S. Air Force test pilot appears to have involved a foreign aircraft type operated by the service’s secretive Red Hat unit.

The fatal incident came to light when an Air Force spokesman at Nellis AFB announced that Lt. Col. Eric “Doc” Schultz died of injuries sustained in the crash of his aircraft on the range about 100 miles northwest of the base. The spokesman said the aircraft was assigned to Air Force Materiel Command, but did not specify the type involved or the circumstances.

Given the approximate location provided by the Air Force, it appears the accident occurred midway between Groom Lake and the Tonopah Test Range airfield, both of which are operated by Detachment 3, Air Force Test Center. The site is responsible for test and evaluation of classified “black” aircraft as well as foreign types which are flown by the Red Hats for tactics assessment and dissimilar training against front line Air Force units.

Sources indicate Schultz was the Red Hats squadron commander at the time of his death. The Red Hats became an unnumbered unit within the Detachment 3, AFTC test wing after the 413th Flight Test Squadron (formerly 6513th Test Squadron) was deactivated in 2004. In recent years, the unit has operated a variety of Russian combat types, including the MiG-29 and several Sukhoi-developed models such as the Su-27P, one of which was recently observed flying in the vicinity.

Schultz was formerly involved in F-35 testing based at Edwards AFB, California. He was an exceptionally experienced pilot with more than 2,000 hours flying numerous aircraft. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot’s School, Schultz had also served as director of operations and exchange officer at the Canadian Forces Flight Test Center [sic]. He also flew an F-15E fighter in more than 50 close air support combat missions in Afghanistan. In addition, Schultz served in systems engineering for the Airborne Laser program.

Prior to his military career, Schultz was the senior scientist and business development manager at the Pratt & Whitney Seattle Aerosciences Center. He also flew as a rotary-wing flight test engineer at the Naval Air Warfare Center.