Pete Zacaggino had an off field landing in the Vampire. Plane is totaled, Pete is Ok.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Vampire jet down. Pilot is OK
Collapse
X
-
Re: Vampire jet down. Pilot is OK
Originally posted by De Camara View PostAny landing you can walk away from......
As the saying goes
Any video?
Flame out?
Ingestion??
It seemed that he orbited overhead at least twice, then passed from west to east and then turned northwest; in my humble - NON race pilot - opinion, he seemed a bit low and I wondered if he was setting up a downwind for runway 8 or runway 14. Also, we noticed that the speed brakes were deployed (did he have any control of that?) and we could hear the engine running, though it seemed to be at a low power (idle?). As he continued NW, he turned a bit more northerly and then disappeared from view; the dust cloud emerged shortly thereafter.
Again, we're very glad and relieved that Pete is OK.
Comment
-
Re: Vampire jet down. Pilot is OK
What we saw from the VOS...
Pete exited somewhere between 1 and 3 and made a couple of orbits. I didn't look too serious and I ended up losing track of him as it looked like he was still under power. Next thing I knew he was well past the end of 14, at least a 1/2 mile before he actually touched down. We heard over the radio that he had lost hydraulics. That would explain the lack of landing gear. He came in due north as low and slow as I imagine a vampire could. There was absolutely no chance of making 14 at all. What was kind of strange was the , "I'm going in! Pylon 7!" call on the radio about 1000' before actually going in. Given his approach (right toward 6) he had to know he was going in. He touched down as smooth as you can even imagine although I'm sure it was pretty harry. He jumped right out and walked over to the fire truck which was there directly.Last edited by Fence Sence; 09-16-2016, 09:01 PM.You'll get your chance, smart guy!
Comment
-
Re: Vampire jet down. Pilot is OK
At least it's pretty level out there, by desert standards. As I remember, those Vampires had a reputation as pretty tough birds.
Looking at the results, that seems like it was a pretty ragged Jet race. 5 pylon cuts for 6 airplanes, with cuts on 3 different pylons. These guys are running the Unlimited course, right? At their speeds they must be experiencing some pretty serious G loads. Steve Hinton has said that with the current smaller course he sees some pretty high G at times at his speeds...
Comment
-
Re: Vampire jet down. Pilot is OK
Originally posted by wingman View PostAt least it's pretty level out there, by desert standards. As I remember, those Vampires had a reputation as pretty tough birds.
Looking at the results, that seems like it was a pretty ragged Jet race. 5 pylon cuts for 6 airplanes, with cuts on 3 different pylons. These guys are running the Unlimited course, right? At their speeds they must be experiencing some pretty serious G loads. Steve Hinton has said that with the current smaller course he sees some pretty high G at times at his speeds...
Comment
-
Re: Vampire jet down. Pilot is OK
His crew told us that the emergency started when the glass came out of the canopy. He pulled power and exited the course. When he went to put power back in to head for a landing, the engine quit making power and he didn't have enough energy to make the runway. He had to put it in the desert with the gear up.
Comment
-
Re: Vampire jet down. Pilot is OK
Originally posted by Race5 View PostHis crew told us that the emergency started when the glass came out of the canopy. He pulled power and exited the course. When he went to put power back in to head for a landing, the engine quit making power and he didn't have enough energy to make the runway. He had to put it in the desert with the gear up.You'll get your chance, smart guy!
Comment
Comment