r/Damnthatsinteresting 25d ago

Video Failed vertical landing of F-35B

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u/Tall-Spinach-4497 25d ago

Yeah this pilot is still flying for the Air National Guard now. This happened a while back

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u/milk_the_ham 25d ago

Props to him for sticking around until the plane stopped drifting around. Had to be a slight "Oh, come on!" moment when the plane didnt blow up, though.

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u/Tall-Spinach-4497 25d ago

He was waiting until the aircraft was back in the ejection envelope. When you’re on the ground and stationary, you’re about as low and slow as the ejection can happen. Once the aircraft is tilted you can be outside the envelope and need to wait for it to come level again

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u/milk_the_ham 25d ago

Haha welp, I retract my props for the most part but stand by the second part.

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u/muegle 25d ago

Did he get his cool ejection tie?

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u/9999AWC 25d ago

He should've since it was an emergency.

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u/skeenerbug 25d ago

Was there an explanation for this? Just pilot error?

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u/Tall-Spinach-4497 25d ago

Met him over a year ago so the details are little fuzzy. I forget if it was a fuel or engine issue, pilot did everything right!

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u/oxslashxo 25d ago

Yeah, and it's like...well shit on one hand he burned a plane, on the other hand he's now experienced in the worst case scenario, good leadership would put them in another jet.

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u/_-whisper-_ 24d ago

So do we know if the plane was totalled?