Mig-21/Cheyenne mid-air near PRC

[MikeD]

yeah, we do them it the tweets, too. ( <---See the avatar). And nose-tail separation is a BIG deal. There is a warning in the air-refueling manual for tankers (KC-135's) that says something along the lines of:

"Two airplanes flying in close veritical proximity is inherently dangerous due to a low pressure area resulting between the two aircraft that tends to move them together".

That same damn low pressure area I had to fight through to get to the boom in the Hog.

 

[SteveC]

Effing A! The people I know that own MiG's live in Washington State...

Word that I have is the MIG pilot is Bob Ray of Graham Washington, UA pilot.

More word on some of the Cheyenne occupants:

The pilot of the Cheyenne was Billy Friedman, an ERAU grad who stayed after graduation and flew locally rather than chase an airline career (he may have been from Prescott originally, I don't know). He was the primary pilot for a C47 based at the airport and I've also seen him flying a Citation, a Baron, a T-28, and a T-6, as well as the Cheyenne. I believe he told me that the Cheyenne was owned by the fellow that owns The Outdoor Channel, <snip> but don't hold me to that. Billy served as Flight Operations director for the Prescott air show, was an experienced formation pilot, and was in charge of our warbird formation operations.

The photographer killed in the crash was Warren Parkes. Warren was Executive Director of the Prescott air show (aka, Arizona Airfest) and, with Billy, was the driving force behind the event.

The third identified victim is Don Morris. All I know about him is that he was a retired Southwest Airlines pilot and formerly lived in Coppell, Texas.

Ironically, Billy and Warren became the prime movers for the Prescott air show in the wake of a midair just prior to the 2002 show, in which the then-organizers of the show (Robert W. Sweginnis, chairman of the Aviation Science Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Prescott campus, and Michael E. Corradi, chief flight instructor), were killed while practicing an aerobatic routine.

 

[Fly4Pay]

That same damn low pressure area I had to fight through to get to the boom in the Hog.

Yeah, well try it with a big jet! Talk about a PIG!!!! Filling a heavy jet to full tanks in weather is like roping a steer (at least mine is/was). I flew BOTH ends of the boom (started as a tanker pilot, then moved to JSTARS) and the first time I got to the contact position, I said, "I used to let guys get this close to my airplane? WHAT WAS I THINKING!"

Definitely some "funny" airflow back there, whether a large or small jet. If ya ain't trained, don't do it!

 

[MikeD]

Yeah, well try it with a big jet! Talk about a PIG!!!! Filling a heavy jet to full tanks in weather is like roping a steer (at least mine is/was). I flew BOTH ends of the boom (started as a tanker pilot, then moved to JSTARS) and the first time I got to the contact position, I said, "I used to let guys get this close to my airplane? WHAT WAS I THINKING!"

Definitely some "funny" airflow back there, whether a large or small jet. If ya ain't trained, don't do it!

I can imagine. The only thing that ever unnerved me was once riding in the boom's station on a 135, and having an EC-130 receiver come in. Those 4 props that close to our plane......not comfortable, lol.

Filling in WX for as long as it takes to top off a heavy...I can imagine. Lol, why do the TOADs always find every cloud to go through, lol?

 

[Fiziks]

This is very sad indeed, I happened to fly over the crash site yesterday as it was in one of our practice areas and simply could not believe that this had happened so close to our airport yet again...RIP to all those killed and peace to their families.

There has been a lot of discussion around the airport lately, with news cameras and vans taking up most of the terminal parking lot and I have heard rumors that the tail was found 1/4 mile from the wreckage, but looking at this picture:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1126752/L

It seems the aircraft was mostly intact, and landed flat with little or no skidding or sliding on the ground, even the bushes directly behind the aircraft show no damage, what would something like that mean as far as aircraft control at the time of the crash? I know speculation of any sort is unhelpful, but I am just curious about what I see in this picture.

Stay safe out there!

 

[MikeD]

It seems the aircraft was mostly intact, and landed flat with little or no skidding or sliding on the ground, even the bushes directly behind the aircraft show no damage, what would something like that mean as far as aircraft control at the time of the crash? I know speculation of any sort is unhelpful, but I am just curious about what I see in this picture.

Stay safe out there!

Likely not much in the way of control, especially with the tail missing. Whether it would have separated from impact damage, pilot input, or some other aerodynamic phenomenon, will be meted out in the investigation and examination of the tail section itself, as well as the underside of the MiG