A USAF Thunderbird just crashed at an airshow at the Mountain Home AFB. I am really bummed that I had to stay home sick. My family was there, but are not home yet. I will get some more details from them and post them here when they get home.
Latest word on the pilot is that he's ok, just going through an evaluation at a local hospital.
I just saw video of the crash, it looked like he was lucky to eject when he did, it was a hell of a fireball when the plane hit the ground. In slow motion, there was about 3 seconds between the ejection and when the plane hit the ground. Looks like he just barely made it out alive.
Full story from a local news site follows:
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho - An F-16 from the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds crashed south of Boise on Sunday during an air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base. Witness Phil Arledge said the pilot appeared to be having engine problems during the squadron's demonstration.
"The pilot looked like he was attempting to resolve the issue but he got down to around 100 feet off the ground and he pulled the ejection handle and ejected from the jet," said Arledge. The pilot then parachuted safely to the ground.
"He was down for about two minutes ... when he stood up and waved to the crowd and we all knew he was OK," said Arledge. The crash occurred during a demonstration at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show. The event includes static displays, exhibits and aerial demonstrations. Due to security concerns and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it has been three years since the last air show on the base.
<img src="http://www.ktvb.com/news/topstories/L_IMAGE.f6fae7d570.93.88.fa.80.a786d09a.jpg" alt=" - " />
<small>[ 09-14-2003, 08:29 PM: Message edited by: 1st_oboe ]</small>