US F-15 down in Lincolnshire UK

a reply to: PW229

They're getting closer. There's a pic now of the left side of the aircraft, but the part of the cockpit that you can see is still on fire, so you can't tell any kind of detail, and it only shows the very back portion of the upper part of the cockpit. Maybe by tomorrow we'll have more pictures of it and can get an idea.

While eyewitness reports aren't the most reliable, there are some interesting ones coming from this crash. At least two show that the pilot wasn't in control at the time of the crash.

District Counselor Anthony Casson said the aircraft was in different fields, and it had split into pieces.

Another eyewitness said that at least one engine appeared to misfire, and the aircraft "fell to the ground backwards, with the engine smoking".

Andrew Woodger saw the crash, and said he heard the engines cut out, and it "fell to the ground like a leaf might float", unpowered.

Lakenheath has stood down all F-15 operations today. The F-15Es will resume flights tomorrow, no word on the C/Ds. There were 11 aircraft in the air at the time of the accident.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Let's say it's a 'mechanical' issue. Let's remember this is the U.K., not back in the states. There could be a backlash against the U.S. Military in the U.K.-even more than usual, that is- and the decision is to remove the C and D models from the U.K..

In that scenario, would, say an initial F-22 presence be considered? Perhaps morphing into an F-35/22 combination down the road?

In any event, a replacement will eventually considered. Which platform compliments the EF better? For that matter, what about overall NATO commitments regarding a replacement for the C/Ds?

a reply to: nwtrucker

The F-22s all have homes. I don't see them removing the F-15s any time soon, but they won't unhome an F-22 unit to move there. The Eagles will stay until the F-35 is ready to replace them.

I doubt we'll see a backlash. If we were it would have started already, and there's no sign of anything like that happening.

An aviation enthusiast appears to confirm that he was out of control the entire way down. He said he heard the pilot radioing altitude, and at 2000 feet he decided there wasn't anything more to be done, and said he was ejecting.

I saw a pic on a facebook page of the 'driver' banging out. Think it was a group called 'RAF Wadiington'. Will try and look of it.

Cheers

Sorry, Waddington

a reply to: Zaphod58

That makes sense. Thanks.

That is...unless another one goes down, oh say in a couple of weeks?.......

While performing Basic Fighter Maneuver training, the Mishap Aircraft entered a downward vertical maneuver. Aerodynamic instability across the nose started the aircraft oscillating. Combined with an aft control input this put the aircraft into a flat spin. When the pilot was unable to regain control he made the decision to eject.