Comments on: The hail with it http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/ The unbearable lightness of Lex. Enjoy! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:43:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tailspin http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-423374 Tailspin Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:31:25 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/#comment-423374 Wrote to a friend, a TPS grad to see if he knew anything about this incident. His reply: Yes, I know the guys involved in this. Happened the class before I went through TPS. The T-38 has a nasty tendency to flameout when AB is selected above around 35k, and it's easy to get underpowered up there anyway. Those little wings get really draggy at the higher AOAs required (even at cruise airspeeds), and the engines don't have much poop to start with. These fellas knew the thunderstorms were there and had a decent plan to go over them, but they got a little slow in the climb. End result was that they couldn't select AB because they were in the "black stripe" region (the "don't select AB here or you'll flameout" altitude band), and they were behind the power curve from the slow climb. So, they couldn't maintain both airspeed and altitude. They milked it as long as they could and involuntarily descended into the top of the T-storms. I believe the airplanes were struck because we had a couple that had Columbus AFB markings on them in our class. I don't remember hearing anything about them wanting to ferry the airplanes home... Wrote to a friend, a TPS grad to see if he knew anything about this incident. His reply:

Yes, I know the guys involved in this. Happened the class before I went through TPS.

The T-38 has a nasty tendency to flameout when AB is selected above around 35k, and it’s easy to get underpowered up there anyway. Those little wings get really draggy at the higher AOAs required (even at cruise airspeeds), and the engines don’t have much poop to start with.

These fellas knew the thunderstorms were there and had a decent plan to go over them, but they got a little slow in the climb. End result was that they couldn’t select AB because they were in the “black stripe” region (the “don’t select AB here or you’ll flameout” altitude band), and they were behind the power curve from the slow climb. So, they couldn’t maintain both airspeed and altitude. They milked it as long as they could and involuntarily descended into the top of the T-storms.

I believe the airplanes were struck because we had a couple that had Columbus AFB markings on them in our class. I don’t remember hearing anything about them wanting to ferry the airplanes home…

]]> By: Mike M. http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-423379 Mike M. Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:24:36 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/#comment-423379 Remember, those are TPS T-38s. Which means they're flown by students. Breaking the airplane is not a good way to make it to graduation...and you aren't a test pilot until you have the graduate patch and diploma. Remember, those are TPS T-38s. Which means they’re flown by students.

Breaking the airplane is not a good way to make it to graduation…and you aren’t a test pilot until you have the graduate patch and diploma.

]]> By: GM Cassel AMH1(AW) USN RETIRED http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-423373 GM Cassel AMH1(AW) USN RETIRED Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:24:51 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/#comment-423373 When I was in VT-26 Airframes a long time ago, you could always tell who had get-homeitis. It was time for intake leading edge and radome repair!!!!!!!!!!!!!! South Texas, Thunderstorms and Hail. Especially fun with a 70 ship squadron. When I was in VT-26 Airframes a long time ago, you could always tell who had get-homeitis. It was time for intake leading edge and radome repair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
South Texas, Thunderstorms and Hail.
Especially fun with a 70 ship squadron.

]]> By: Austin G http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-423358 Austin G Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:20:43 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/#comment-423358 They should have been in T-28's... http://www.ias.sdsmt.edu/institute/t28/plane.htm They should have been in T-28′s… http://www.ias.sdsmt.edu/institute/t28/plane.htm

]]> By: Jessica http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-423359 Jessica Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:45:44 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/#comment-423359 Maybe the pilots could smooth things over with the MaintControl guys with a Pops a Dent Kit. (As seen on TV) "It really Works Just Stick Twist and It's Gone!" Hey, I'm just sayin'... Maybe the pilots could smooth things over with the MaintControl guys with a Pops a Dent Kit. (As seen on TV) “It really Works Just Stick Twist and It’s Gone!” Hey, I’m just sayin’…

]]> By: ELP http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-423361 ELP Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:08:33 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/18/the-hail-with-it/#comment-423361 Sad. Those are nice looking classic jets. Sad. Those are nice looking classic jets.

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