F-117A Nighthawk
- Thread starter MikeD
- Start date
PositionAndHold
Well-Known Member
I worked barrier maint at Hill AFB for about 3 years. I had heard down at Holloman they had the nets attached to their BAK-12's. The reason I heard was the hook was behind an explosive door that was a PITA to fix. Any truth to the rumor from the mid 90's?
PositionAndHold
Well-Known Member
Approach end or departure end?
I've done two arrested landings in the Strike Eagle. Not a fun experience.
Edit: If that's your pic then approach end.
Yes, we had tail hooks on the 117s I flew. Just a regular tailhook like most other USAF tactical jets. It's never regularly used, and for good reason, as explained below.
The 117s tailhook is located within the fuselage. The red outline on the aft rear end of the fuselage bottom is where it is located. That panel has detonation cord which is where the red outline is marked. Upon pressing the tailhook button on the lower-left part of the instrument panel, the det cord blows the panel off and the hook drops. Problem is, deploying the tailhook is a runway FOD nightmare with the panel parts everywhere, as well as a national security problem with the RAM coating parts that covered that panel now all over the runway too.
The departure ends at KHMN had a BAK-12 cable only, but there was also a BAK-15 (61QSII) barrier....much like an aircraft carrier barrier, for two reasons: the F-117, like you mention, but more importantly, the T-38, which has no tail hook. As there was no MA-1A barrier system for the departure ends...the only other barrier system the T-38 could use.....the BAK-15s were also there for them.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
That's actually not me in the photo -- that is a squadronmate of mine (now, 12 years later, a Test Pilot) who had a hydro failure at STL, who missed the cable 2 or 3 times! It resulted in some great photos on the net; I just wanted to post it because it looks cool.
Both of mine were intended approach end arrestments due to hydraulic system failure.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
The rabbit-catchers were likely there for the T-38s.
PositionAndHold
Well-Known Member
Forgot about the T-38's. But that's pretty much the story I got back in the day. I'll still never forget the first time I saw one at Hill. Pretty sweet. In fact the only aircraft I didn't get to see up close was the SR-71. I was on leave when one landed at Hill with an IFE fuel emergency. I had soloed when I was 16 but hadn't done much more. So being able to work barrier maint kept me close to airplane while not having crappy crew chief hours.
Cool. Most of ours at Hill tended to be departure end, unless the navy was tdy at the range. Those guys couldn't go two landings with out hittin the cable.
The F-16’s always seemed to have a hydro issue of some kind, but they'd land, roll out and take the departure end as slow as possible. Had one so slow he hardly moved the cable.
Forgot about the T-38's. But that's pretty much the story I got back in the day. I'll still never forget the first time I saw one at Hill. Pretty sweet. In fact the only aircraft I didn't get to see up close was the SR-71. I was on leave when one landed at Hill with an IFE fuel emergency. I had soloed when I was 16 but hadn't done much more. So being able to work barrier maint kept me close to airplane while not having crappy crew chief hours.
And on weekends, we in the fire department got barrier inspection duty.
Cool. Most of ours at Hill tended to be departure end, unless the navy was tdy at the range. Those guys couldn't go two landings with out hittin the cable.
You'll see approach end arrestments for some things, such as landing gear problems or gear configuration problems.
PositionAndHold
Well-Known Member
Don't get me started with the fire dept. At Hill on the weekends they'd respond to an IFE and mostly get the aircraft out of the cable. At some point who ever in our shop was on call would end up out there to help them with the rewind and to make sure they didn't break our stuff. On a rare occasion they wouldn't page us. We'd show up Monday morning to open the runway and find all kinds of stuff out of place or not reset correctly. It was a fun time. I got out in ’98 and still miss parts of it.And on weekends, we in the fire department got barrier inspection duty.
You'll see approach end arrestments for some things, such as landing gear problems or gear configuration problems.
bunk22
Well-Known Member
I've done the tailhook thing, about 550 times About half a dozen times at the airfield.
MikeD, did you know a Col Juedeman? He was an F-117 and Eagle driver (F-15C I believe). I was winged with his sister, she is now the CO of the Navy's recruiting district in San Antonio.
About half a dozen times at the airfield.MikeD, did you know a Col Juedeman? He was an F-117 and Eagle driver (F-15C I believe). I was winged with his sister, she is now the CO of the Navy's recruiting district in San Antonio.
He was the C.O. of the 9th, our sister squadron, when I was in the 8th.
Pilot Fighter
Well-Known Member
Interesting. I didn't know the deployment was somewhat destructive.
bunk22
Well-Known Member
Well, Beav did come from C-Model Eagles.
But seriously, he was fine with me; though I didn't deal with him much except casually, as I wasn't in his squadron and would only really see him in passing. Kind of reserved, speaks when you talk with him. Seemed fine to me. But as I said, I was in the 8th, he was 9th.
Vector4Food
This job would be easier without all the airplanes
Did you mirror that imagine just to see if someone would catch it?
Or is putting the nav lightson opposite ends intentional?
bunk22
Well-Known Member
Well, Beav did come from C-Model Eagles.
But seriously, he was fine with me; though I didn't deal with him much except casually, as I wasn't in his squadron and would only really see him in passing. Kind of reserved, speaks when you talk with him. Seemed fine to me. But as I said, I was in the 8th, he was 9th.
As you know, some guys are great, as long as you don't work for them.
///AMG
Well-Known Member
Great link, thanks for sharing Mike! As a side query, does taking the barricade at an AFB damage your aircraft? I know when folks have done it at the ship, it supposedly normally is a class A, and potentially a write off of the airframe. Not that anyone (to my knowledge) has barricaded in like 15 years, but that is what they teach new baby paddles at LSO school now.
The actual BAK-15 which is just like the carrier barricade, yes. It's rare to not have airframe damage from it