That's not gone well.

by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 08/07/2017 at 18:04

Tags: Planelopnik
STARS: 7

De Havilland test pilot George Aird ejects from his stricken BAC Lightning P.1 at the end of a test flight. An engine fire had burned through the elevator actuator rods on landing, causing a loss of control. Aird came down through the roof of a greenhouse next to the airfield, breaking both of his legs, but he returned to test duties after he healed up. The remarkable photo below was taken by Jim Meads, and you can read the whole story about it here .

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Replies (8)

"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
08/07/2017 at 18:30, STARS: 2

Balls of steel or bat shit insane, I can never tell which with these test pilots. Probably both. God bless them.

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
08/07/2017 at 18:31, STARS: 1

Especially back in the day. Nowadays, new a/c are so heavily simulated and flow dynamic-ed and everything that there’s little doubt that they will fly safely. Back then, I wonder how many of those guys said, “You want me to fly that ?”

"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
08/07/2017 at 18:38, STARS: 1

Without these guys, smart and fearless, we would have never reached the Moon.

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
08/07/2017 at 18:40, STARS: 1

True dat.

"Birddog" (maintmgt)
08/07/2017 at 18:53, STARS: 3

Some of the stuff they went through in the name of progress is unbelievable.

I just saw the video behind the B52 that lost it’s tail in turbulence and continued flying from New Mexico to Arkansas.

"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
08/07/2017 at 21:00, STARS: 1

This wasn’t that long after the string of other de Havilland wrecks we were talking about the other day. Seems the curse was still holding.

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
08/07/2017 at 22:14, STARS: 0

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/flight-without-a-fin-1501301979

:D

"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
08/08/2017 at 09:42, STARS: 1

This photo is the epitome of “better late than never”.