[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
re: Chinese Fighter Pilot
> I apologize for taking up APD bandwidth on this non-plant related topic. It would be far better to stick to plant
> related discussions. However a couple of posts on the Chinese Fighter Pilot thread are misinforming.
>
> 1. Our aircraft was an EP-3. This is an electronics intelligence gathering aircraft not an AWACS.
> (Yes, the distinction is a big deal) The EP-3 is a big 4-propeller aircraft based on the old Lockheed Electra.
> A typical mission would have them fly safely beyond the 12 mile limit. This is not an arbitrary number.
> That is the universally accepted distance worldwide. Yes the Chinese could fly their aircraft 12 miles off
> our coast and yes, you could be sure they would have US fighter escort the entire time.
>
> 2. The EP-3 while on station, would most likely be on autopilot but would most definitely be flying at a constant
> airspeed/altitude. If they were focused on a particular area they may be flying "racetracks" but their turns would
> be measured and consistent. Believe me, if the pilots were doing any kind of "Hot dogging", the 20+ guys/gals
> in the back would straighten them out real quick.
>
> 3. The Chinese fighter pilot, on the other hand, was doing much more than escorting the EP-3. He was engaged
> in the practice of "thumping" the slower, larger aircraft. Thumping involves a high speed pass where the fighter
> comes up from behind and below the slower aircraft and pulls up sharply to pass directly in front. The result is
> that it scares the c**p out of the EP-3 pilot and as the slower plane passes through the fighter's jet wash it roughly
> shakes the thumped aircraft jostling around every one in the back.
>
> Unfortunately the Chinese pilot was not very good. In fact he personally had a reputation of erratic flying and
> several close calls with this and other EP-3 crews. On the fatal thumping run he misjudged his pull up and
> hit the EP-3.
> So, you can and should feel sorry for the Chinese fighter pilot and his family,
> but in this case, the big, bad, meanie U.S.A. is not at fault.
> Lyndle Schenck
> USN, Ret.
> 1,200 hours S-3A, 500+ hours P-3C
>
> Now can we get back to plants?