Talon Down

[DWCAce]

Fro the USAF site:

 

5/1/2008 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Air Education and Training Command officials suspended flights of T-38C Talon aircraft May 1 following a fatal crash at Sheppard AFB, Texas.

 

The crash was the second in two weeks involving a T-38, following an April 23 accident in which two pilots were killed when their T-38 crashed at Columbus AFB, Miss.

 

General William R. Looney III, AETC commander, directed the stand-down.

 

"We have no evidence that these incidents are related," General Looney said. "But until we have a more complete understanding of the causes of both accidents, it's prudent to stand down the T-38's."

 

The causes of both crashes are under investigation.

 

The Air Force has approximately 500 T-38 aircraft in its inventory. The T-38 is used in AETC to prepare student pilots for future training in fighter and bomber aircraft.

[eraser_tr]

oh s**t! Didn't fastcargo fly them out of Texas too? has anyone talked to him?

[rovert97]

that base is where i went to tech school in '99.

[FastCargo]

That's 2 T-38Cs, 2 instructors and 2 students we've lost in the past 8 days...both incidents occured in the same general phase of flight, but at 2 separate bases.

 

The incidents may have absolutely no relation to each other. But it's prudent to 'take a break' and at least get the initial reports figured out.

 

FastCargo

[JediMaster]

Sometimes a coincidence is just a coincidence.

[+Typhoid]

That's 2 T-38Cs, 2 instructors and 2 students we've lost in the past 8 days...both incidents occured in the same general phase of flight, but at 2 separate bases.

 

The incidents may have absolutely no relation to each other. But it's prudent to 'take a break' and at least get the initial reports figured out.

 

FastCargo

 

my daughter's fiancee is starting the T-6 shortly and hoping to go to T-38's. Needless to say, this caught her and Mom's attention this morning.....

 

quite a rash of accidents lately with the E-9, Typhoon, and two T-38's. Definitely time for a safety standdown and reset.

[sparkomatic]

dudes...the Talon has been around since before dirt and sunlight...this just happens...every one is a little too keen to jump on the sky is falling bandwagon of late (especially Congress).

 

aviation is an inherently dangerous business, period...besides, how many people were killed just driving to work on American roadways in the same time frame? bet it was more than 4

 

not diminishing their sacrifice, but it happens...also it is SOP to do a safe stand down post accidents, that is normal

[GASCAN39]

The -38 has some age on it, but overall, hasn't it had a good safety record? Especially factoring in all of the noobs that strap it on in training. I don't know if the pace is as high as it once was, but in the 70s when the old man flew them, everybody in the squadron got three flights a day, sometimes six days a week. (This was fighter lead in training at holloman, UPT units may have been different.)

 

Regardless, stand downs will be conducted I am sure, but I doubt anyone's confidence will be shaken that badly. It is still one sexy bird, despite it's age.

[Nesher]

sorry to hear about the pilots!

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