And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Monday, April 14, 2025
The infamous Harrier crash at Lowestoft beach air festival in 2002.
Went to an air show at NAS Norfolk when I was stationed at CINCLANTFLT and had never even heard of V/STOL anything other than helicopters.
At one point in the show, they had a Marine AV-8B come in straight toward the grandstand from out of sight, slow to a hover about 100 meters in front of us for about 30 seconds, then rotate in place 180 degrees, and just haul ass directly away in the direction from which it came until we couldn't hear or see it anymore. The whole thing took less than 5 minutes. Then they told us about the 25mm cannon etc. and I was pretty impressed.
Still, 47 years later, one of the loudest and most amazing experiences of my life.
Was stationed about 30 minutes south west of Lowestoft in the 80’s. Not sure how warm the air was that day but I can tell ya from first hand experience that water is seriously cold. Spent precisely 2 minutes in the North Sea off the beach in Felixstowe.
In December 2003, 16 months after the crash, an RAF board of inquiry established that Flight Lieutenant Cann had accidentally operated the controls for the throttle and nozzle direction lever at the same, causing the aircraft to plummet 50ft.
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-story-behind-a-famous-photo-of-an-ejection-from-a-raf-lightning-interceptor/
ReplyDeleteDifferent crash but equally interesting photo.
DeleteWent to an air show at NAS Norfolk when I was stationed at CINCLANTFLT and had never even heard of V/STOL anything other than helicopters.
ReplyDeleteAt one point in the show, they had a Marine AV-8B come in straight toward the grandstand from out of sight, slow to a hover about 100 meters in front of us for about 30 seconds, then rotate in place 180 degrees, and just haul ass directly away in the direction from which it came until we couldn't hear or see it anymore. The whole thing took less than 5 minutes. Then they told us about the 25mm cannon etc. and I was pretty impressed.
Still, 47 years later, one of the loudest and most amazing experiences of my life.
One crashed at Iwakuni when I was stationed there. The pilot didn't survive.
ReplyDeleteWas stationed about 30 minutes south west of Lowestoft in the 80’s. Not sure how warm the air was that day but I can tell ya from first hand experience that water is seriously cold. Spent precisely 2 minutes in the North Sea off the beach in Felixstowe.
ReplyDeleteHarriers have a relatively high accident rate and I suspect a fair bit of the trouble occurs during VTOL.
ReplyDeleteIn December 2003, 16 months after the crash, an RAF board of inquiry established that Flight Lieutenant Cann had accidentally operated the controls for the throttle and nozzle direction lever at the same, causing the aircraft to plummet 50ft.
ReplyDeleteStory with vid: https://fighterjetsworld.com/weekly-article/that-time-when-a-harrier-fighter-jet-crashes-at-the-lowestoft-air-show/28778/
ReplyDelete