Mustang crash lands Duxford

[Nighthawke]

May also be an AAIB requirement that the airframe is left intact?

[wolfie138]

"Beds, Cambs & Herts Roads Policing Unit took to Twitter to describe the scene as "carnage"."

ffs, drama queen.

[Vulcanone]

Looking at it (the pelican crossing post about to get taken out.......)

another way the Police twitter may have been a tad tongue in cheek perhaps

T

[gyvespa]

Fair enough.

It just seemed a bit ungainly and improvised, but there's a time and a place for everything.
From the report it says "being taken for repair", perhaps being "recovered from the field and returning to Duxford" would have been a more accurate description.

There are lots of rules and regulations concerning transporting oversize loads but I'm sure there's provision for a common sense approach when needed.
At least no one was harmed during the reported 'carnage', I'm sure there was a more suitable word to use...

[Agent K]

I think as you point towards...
- This was a unique situation
- I'd imagine they would want the aircraft away from public access and souvenir hunters
- The aircraft is best kept whole and in a state that would be able to help the AAIB/investigation
- The ability to dismantle in a field is limited
- If you can avoid too much dismantling then it should help repair efforts
- etc. etc.

[plmc135]

Perhaps a quick call to RAF Odiham and the boys down there could have provided a Chinook to lift it straight over onto the field without causing all the inconvenience to all the road users

[ArabJazzie]

I can just see the usual headlines of "Chaos on the M11 as crashed aircraft dangles by a thread!"

[Nighthawke]

Perhaps a quick call to RAF Odiham and the boys down there could have provided a Chinook to lift it straight over onto the field without causing all the inconvenience to all the road users

At a far bigger cost though

[Jetbudgie]

Perhaps a quick call to RAF Odiham and the boys down there could have provided a Chinook to lift it straight over onto the field without causing all the inconvenience to all the road users

So the RAF have helicopters on standby every Sunday afternoon during the airshow season just in case an aircraft comes down away from an airfield, do they??

I'm amazed that the airshow organisers didn't know about that

[bizfreeq]

It was a tongue in cheek dig at those complaining about the traffic disruption Jetbudgie!

[plmc135]

I can just see the usual headlines of "Chaos on the M11 as crashed aircraft dangles by a thread!"

Instead of which you had all the headlines of crashed aircraft blocks main roads around Duxford due to location of traffic signals. There would have been no dangling by a thread, the RAF Chinook crews are well experienced in this type of operation.

And no it was not said tongue in cheek and I did not suggest that they could have had a helicopter available on a Sunday.

[Agent K]

Not sure of the relevance of this, a military Chinook on standby to deal with a civilian operation that they are currently not resourced for or have airframes committed to. There's not an endless supply of airframes or crews.

I'm sure the already hard-pressed crews would love to give up more weekends a year for this scenario......

[gamecock]

I'm with plmc135 - when did it get moved? Chinook crews practice USLs every day of the week, this could have been used as valuable training. Not at all unreasonable to ask the question on a forum.

[C24]

Thanks Steviejaws. Did you notice that I had managed the FC.?

A perfect opportunity for UnderSlungLoad training. ( The term USL is a recent acronym, it used to be called Under Slung Load . back in the day of course ).

Isn't the wingspan greater than the length of the fuselage? A bit of right rudder & opposite stick would have got it through.

[Vulcanone]

It was back on the airfield by about 3.30pm yesterday. From looking at the Key Forum

[MRTT]

Perhaps a quick call to RAF Odiham and the boys down there could have provided a Chinook to lift it straight over onto the field without causing all the inconvenience to all the road users

So the RAF have helicopters on standby every Sunday afternoon during the airshow season just in case an aircraft comes down away from an airfield, do they??

I'm amazed that the airshow organisers didn't know about that

Not that it matters as, the aircraft was moved on Monday..

[ArabJazzie]

I can just see the usual headlines of "Chaos on the M11 as crashed aircraft dangles by a thread!"

Instead of which you had all the headlines of crashed aircraft blocks main roads around Duxford due to location of traffic signals. There would have been no dangling by a thread, the RAF Chinook crews are well experienced in this type of operation.

And no it was not said tongue in cheek and I did not suggest that they could have had a helicopter available on a Sunday.

You took that far too seriously!

[XR221]

Film of the Miss Velma flight here - it does not include the wheels up landing, just the final turns and glide - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LdrY79g99Q

Steve.

[Usernamegoeshere]

so the fire engines can find it

Why on earth do we need to know what field it came down in?
The important thing is the pilot is ok and the aircraft has also survived

[Agent K]

So let's run this through....

RAF get a call about a downed aircraft with a need for a Chinook. The support team on standby over the weekend waiting for just this incident and spring into action. They immediately contact JADTEU at BZN to produce and test a plan to carry the aircraft (weight, balance, lifting points etc and they have access to TF51 plans etc etc). They then produce a test plan achieve sign off and implement, probably takes a few weeks at least......

In parallel insurance for this task is sorted and the owners are worked with.

A fee is negotiated with the owners.

An aircraft (if available) is taken off other duties for this and after a few weeks it all happens (hoping the aircraft is still secure in the field)..... to the cries from the press of military aircraft being used to help a civilian operator. Imagine the sun headlines....

Meanwhile in 1 day a crane and low loader has returned the aircraft to base negating the need for all the above.....

Use of a Chinook seems so easy and obvious from the armchair, less so in real life especially if you work in aviation and understand the full picture!