Mustang crash lands Duxford

[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!

[Sparts99]

Many years ago during a Biggin Hill Air Fair a steeplejack injured himself at the top of a tall structure in Woolwich, the emergency services couldn't get him down. Somehow contact was made with the airshow and an FAA Wessex went and lifted him off and took him to hospitable, returned to Biggin and took part in the airfield attack display later. Not strictly relevant to this but maybe someone will find it interesting in the light of the Chinook comments.

[wolfie138]

they should've loaded it w/ wings vertical then there would have been no issues :-D

[Nighthawke]

@Sparts99 - Your opening words sum it all up really. Different times - these days so many H&S issues and requirements mean the old style "let's just do it now" can no longer apply.

[ArabJazzie]

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!

Worked in aviation for a few years and had to pick an aircraft out a field once, but all that needed was a 3 axle rigid with a hiab after we removed the wings. Still dont understand all the ins and outs!

More recently, what you describe above was achieved in a couple of days, but both of these were fatals and handled by an RAF Puma and a civil Ecureuil.

[T_J]

[wolfie138]

yeah, it was kinda a joke.

[ColintheCaterpillar]

Top job. Good effort that man.

[cj9ru]

I was at Duxford on Monday during the time the aircraft was recovered and brought back. Yes, the traffic was held up for a bit and they bent a light post but frankly all the fuss in the press and the Police twitter is way over the top. They needed to get the aircraft back as soon as possible to avoid bits 'going missing' and they did it as quickly as possible. Yes, they got their measurements wrong and hit a post but to describe it as carnage is frankly ridiculous.

Aircraft back at Duxford safely, nobody hurt moving it or indeed landing it safely in field. If the incident had been a wide load caravan there would not even be merit in mentioning it in the press.

On the subject of an airlift by Chinook I am almost certain if they had been asked they would have done it. The way it was done seemed the simplest option at the time.

I am just very glad that the pilot managed to land it safely ( did pretty well in my opinion) and that the aircraft got back to the airfield virtually intact...( baring a few red faces when it hit the post ) a pretty good outcome.

Chris

[Agent K]

You're almost certain? What do you base that statement on? Do you work in the RAF, MoD or have genuine contacts within the CHF and supporting bodies?

Given it was achievable with a crane and a lorry and within 24 hours, they weren't needed anyway?

[ColintheCaterpillar]

Given the layout at Duxford, the apparently normal nature of the initial final turn, I strongly suspect there was no "loss of power" (however it manifested itself) until he was well established on his final approach.