F-16 tail FS

[White666]

Yep, both skins of that vetical stab are composite. I remember the lengthy taining we received on the hazards of what was referred to as "corker" (carbon composites), when i was doing Disaster Response at Hill AFB. Sure enough the first F-16 crash was there, about all that was left was a charred vertical stab.

Yep, this is part of the report on that one.....Hill recieved the acft in april'79 and planted it in the dirt in Oct. '79

Crashed in Nevada due to an engine problem. An MOT&E aircraft piloted by Paul R. was lost as it ran out of flight control authority. The pilot was simply rocking the wings at low altitiude to acknowledge an F-15 simulated attack over Nellis range. The flight control limitations were not fully known or understood by engineers and pilots in those early days, and the triple ejection racks (TERs) loaded on stations 3 & 7 disrupted airflow over the wings causing loss of control at low altitude. Paul ejected successfully and due to his zoomie training at the academy and was able to steer himself clear of the fireball without injury.

Its listed as engine malfunction....but it sounds like pilot error to me.

 

[sandfarmer]

Not sure when the plane came to grief but I aquired it about three years ago from a fellow surplus/scrap person. He was going to just scrap it...and, of course, me being me, saw this and just had to have it. He said that it was purchased from Lakehurst at a scrap auction (this was before GL.....I think it was Levy Lathum) my buddy said that they had to get the guy with the crain to break it in half so it would fit on his trailer (remember...he was just going to scrap it) fortunately he wasn't fast in getting around to scrapping this and it sat in his yard surrounded by weeds and small trees until I saw it. It took me a year and a half to get it out to the road and get a truck & trailer big enough to move it and it still took me two trips to get it all! here's a pic of the magazine for the cannon ( round drum like thing) that was mounted right behind the second pilot, also found the feed mechanism and ammo chutes for the cannon...also dash pic............neet stuff

Thanks for the story Hawk, very neat stuff indeed and great pics!

 

[HAWKMAN]

Interesting, how much of the components were released for sale. Especially any gun parts which are strictly controlled. I see a couple multifunction displays there too. I worked on this aircraft at the factory here in Fort Worth. Brand new off the show room floor. I agree with those concerned about the composite material, nasty stuff, don't get a splinter. I'd love that vertical stabilizer. It would look great at my place. Heck there are probably one or two of my old inspection stamps still legible somewhere in there.

Post a pic of what your inspector mark looks like and I'll check for you! I've dug into some of the smaller pieces of wreckage and have found loads of ink stamps/written signatures..etc. As far as the carbon fiber issue goes, when I displayed it I had it on the back of my flatbed truck above the crowd so no-one was able to touch but I will admit I did this so there wouldn't be a chance of someone crawling on it and have it fall. Would a coating of clearcoat seal the tail? I'd still like to display down at the store.....

 

[PaulbusMax]

Thanks Hawk, it's about a half inch circle with the letters GDFW and the numbers 2093 or 287. (I had two stamps).

 

[HAWKMAN]

This wouldn't be one of your marks, would it?.....found this little fellow on the inside of an access panel door......hmmmm.....

 

[PaulbusMax]

HAAAA! It might as well be my mark! But no. Thanks for the pic.

 

[jeffhuey1n]

Post a pic of what your inspector mark looks like and I'll check for you! I've dug into some of the smaller pieces of wreckage and have found loads of ink stamps/written signatures..etc. As far as the carbon fiber issue goes, when I displayed it I had it on the back of my flatbed truck above the crowd so no-one was able to touch but I will admit I did this so there wouldn't be a chance of someone crawling on it and have it fall. Would a coating of clearcoat seal the tail? I'd still like to display down at the store.....

No promises and I am definitely not a composite materials specialist; however, a semi- to permenant coating of weather resistant heavy duty clearcoat may be the trick. Go good quality and keep the kids off of it.

Hope this helps. Any experts out there with ideas?

 

[PaulbusMax]

I still think the vert stab would look good at my place......

 

[HAWKMAN]

Would certainly be the only kid on your block with one!!

 

[DMgunn]

The pool of knowledge on this site and the number of grade A members who have served.................it's really something.

We have here the gentleman who owns this thing, someone who worked on it, several guys who are knowledgeable on recovery of this aircraft...the story of what happened.....I am half-expecting the pilot who crashed it to chime in at some point!

I don't know the first thing about F-16s, nor do I have any interest in them, but leave it to you guys to make for some very interesting reading anyway.

 

[rocketmann2001]

I was an F-16 crew chief at Nellis for 3 years. That is cool!

 

[McCluskey]

Really dude? Again?