F16 Crashes In Chaiyaphum

[Macmundi]

No doubt someone will blame the cambodians or thaksin for this

It must be Thaksin who shot those fighters down.

[Cnxforever]

No doubt someone will blame the cambodians or thaksin for this

hahahaha

what a loss of face that is !!! The Cambodians must be laughing their as.. of - this Cobra thing was supposed to frighten them - I bet they are frightened now - they turn airplanes into rockets here that fall out of the sky!! Just confirms to me that nations who have not gone in their own technical development beyond the Tuk-Tuk - should not fly around in fast planes developed by other nations! I mean in all fairness seeing the way older cars are repaired - and the electrical wiring needs special mentioning here - would you fly a plane repaired and serviced by local mechanics??

but if they used only transport, communications and weapons with "technologies" developed here - would of course mean they would fight with slingshots, arrows and bows, swords and knifes - communicate with smoke signals and ride horses or donkeys - and of course - Tuk-Tuks!

Remember when several air force planes crashed outside Bangkok on their way to a flyover?? Was it in 1987? Lucky they never made it over the city!!

Maybe the glorious armed forces here should focus more on being a professional army instead of playing politics and running business enterprises!!

[oldsailor35]

"friendly fire" from some poorly trained but trigger happy fellow soldiers from a "friendly army"?

on some military exercises they do use real (sharp) munition

Nahhhhhhh ! Thaksin must ave dunnit !

[oldsailor35]

JET CRASH

Pilots of two F16s crashes in Chaiyaphum are safe

By The Nation

Chaiyaphum

Chaiyaphum - Pilots of two F16 jet fighters which collided in mid-air during the Cobra Gold war exercise in Chaiyaphum province Monday morning ejected safely.

The Two F16 jet fighters taking part in the Cobra Gold war exercise collided mid-air and crashed on a mountain in Chaiyaphum Monday morning.

TV reports said pilots of the planes ejected themselves out of the planes in time.

The authorities have been trying to locate and recue the two pilots from the forest.

Local villagers said they saw a plane crashed on the Lankha Mountain in Muang district.

The villagers said the planes were seen going down in the area of Wang Phone village in Tambon Thahin-ngo, next to Kaengkro district.

The planes were taking part in the Cobra Gold exercise in Nakhon Ratchasima but they collided over Wang Phone village.

Air Force spokesman AM Monthol Satchanukorn told The Nation that two F16 fighters disappeared from the radar screen at 10:20 am. The two were among four F16 jets from the Wing Command 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima, which joined the Cobra Gold exercise.

Monthol said Air Force Commander-in-Chief ACM Itthaporn Supawong had dispatched a helicopter and some vehicles to search for the two pilots.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14

FLASH ! Going to have a crackdown, from now on, only one aircraft allowed in the air at a time. That should save us a few .

[whybother]

hahahaha

what a loss of face that is !!! The Cambodians must be laughing their as.. of - this Cobra thing was supposed to frighten them - I bet they are frightened now - they turn airplanes into rockets here that fall out of the sky!! Just confirms to me that nations who have not gone in their own technical development beyond the Tuk-Tuk - should not fly around in fast planes developed by other nations! I mean in all fairness seeing the way older cars are repaired - and the electrical wiring needs special mentioning here - would you fly a plane repaired and serviced by local mechanics??

but if they used only transport, communications and weapons with "technologies" developed here - would of course mean they would fight with slingshots, arrows and bows, swords and knifes - communicate with smoke signals and ride horses or donkeys - and of course - Tuk-Tuks!

Remember when several air force planes crashed outside Bangkok on their way to a flyover?? Was it in 1987? Lucky they never made it over the city!!

Maybe the glorious armed forces here should focus more on being a professional army instead of playing politics and running business enterprises!!

Are you suggesting that 80% of the world's countries shouldn't have their own air force?

[bangon04]

hahahaha

what a loss of face that is !!! The Cambodians must be laughing their as.. of - this Cobra thing was supposed to frighten them - I bet they are frightened now - they turn airplanes into rockets here that fall out of the sky!! Just confirms to me that nations who have not gone in their own technical development beyond the Tuk-Tuk - should not fly around in fast planes developed by other nations! I mean in all fairness seeing the way older cars are repaired - and the electrical wiring needs special mentioning here - would you fly a plane repaired and serviced by local mechanics??

but if they used only transport, communications and weapons with "technologies" developed here - would of course mean they would fight with slingshots, arrows and bows, swords and knifes - communicate with smoke signals and ride horses or donkeys - and of course - Tuk-Tuks!

Remember when several air force planes crashed outside Bangkok on their way to a flyover?? Was it in 1987? Lucky they never made it over the city!!

Maybe the glorious armed forces here should focus more on being a professional army instead of playing politics and running business enterprises!!

Are you suggesting that 80% of the world's countries shouldn't have their own air force?

Well if the country's cabinet was given machetes and put into a confined space with the cabinet of the opposing country, don't you think that a few lives would be saved?

[silp1979]

This must have been a setup so that the military can demand a new F16.

Seriously though, glad the pilot & co-pilot are safe.

I bet you they survived only cuz the boardcomputer was ejecting them 100% I bet....look how they drive a car and then with Mach 1....

[TAWP]

Listen, yes, the average Thai driver sucks -- but these pilots are highly trained and skilled. My [former] brother-in-law was a F16 pilot, trained in the US and later an instructor back here in Thailand, before he retired. These are professionals that most likely would outperform any and all of you posting above.

Just a note.

[planemad]

2 young airmen have today qualified for the caterpillar club! 2 families will be able to welcom home these young men who would otherwise have perished, yet TV members have nothing more constructive to do than to mock those involved (and Thailand in general) with their rather insensitive and uninformed comments. Sad really!

TAWP, just seen your comment, thanks for that note of sanity!

Edited February 14, 2011 by planemad

[JimGant]

Local media reports suggested the two planes may have collided but Monthon said it was too early to speculate about what happened.

Dear Monthon. The probability of two aircraft, flying in the same airspace, having simultaneous engine failure -- is zero (unless a volcano had just cooked-off). So, it's not too early to speculate.

At least one, maybe both, pilots have just seen their last promotion. Welcome to TG, where straight and level is the price you pay. And where TCAS will now go a long way in preventing any more metal-to-metal join-ups.

[swillowbee]

... the US should put training wheels and speed governors on those things ... for Christ's sake, they are not toys to be shown-off to other Cobra Gold participants!

[davejonesbkk]

Years ago when I lived in Korat, whenever the US forces were in town there would be tons of jets flying very, very low, would wake me up early in the morning (even on Sundays) and scare the shit out of me sometimes as often sounded like they were heading right for my building!

Anyway one Sat night I was in a pub and bumped into a US officer having a drink and asked him why him and all his pilots had to wake me up like that, he said none of them flied at all when they were there it was only the Thai airforce/pilots and they were often showing off......

[soihok]

Very worrying.

These fighters are flying over my house in Korat almost daily.

I hope that the pilots are ok. As well as the people on the ground.

[Credo]

I apologize to those who are taking offense to some of the remarks. I only made one smart alec post. The thing is, two jets crashed, both pilots are safe, so a major tragedy was averted. No one was hurt and planes can be replaced. Pilots can be replaced as well, but a son, a brother or husband can't.

Glad they're safe, but what on earth were they doing? It's not like it's really crowded up there!

[Bagwan]

hahahaha

what a loss of face that is !!! The Cambodians must be laughing their as.. of - this Cobra thing was supposed to frighten them - I bet they are frightened now - they turn airplanes into rockets here that fall out of the sky!! Just confirms to me that nations who have not gone in their own technical development beyond the Tuk-Tuk - should not fly around in fast planes developed by other nations! I mean in all fairness seeing the way older cars are repaired - and the electrical wiring needs special mentioning here - would you fly a plane repaired and serviced by local mechanics??

but if they used only transport, communications and weapons with "technologies" developed here - would of course mean they would fight with slingshots, arrows and bows, swords and knifes - communicate with smoke signals and ride horses or donkeys - and of course - Tuk-Tuks!

Remember when several air force planes crashed outside Bangkok on their way to a flyover?? Was it in 1987? Lucky they never made it over the city!!

Maybe the glorious armed forces here should focus more on being a professional army instead of playing politics and running business enterprises!!

Are you suggesting that 80% of the world's countries shouldn't have their own air force?

Why not? They might be able to feed their people then. Look at the many nations who wanted their own national airline. Most went broke and/or merged with others. Face and status stop them from doing the right thing.

[Pib]

The Royal Thai Air Force will conduct as accident investigation to look at all the possible causes of the accident. For those who have been in the air force they know the Operations folks will initially suspect (try to blame) aircraft maintenance, but when two aircraft bump into each other while in flight it's almost always pilot error. Somebody won't be getting promoted for quite a while.

[Bagwan]

Listen, yes, the average Thai driver sucks -- but these pilots are highly trained and skilled. My [former] brother-in-law was a F16 pilot, trained in the US and later an instructor back here in Thailand, before he retired. These are professionals that most likely would outperform any and all of you posting above.

Just a note.

I'm sure that Thailand has a few brain surgeons that could perform everybody here but does that make them competent? You want us to believe that Somjai is a candidate for Top Gun? Best of luck with that notion.

[johnch12111]

it is them Cambodians again throwing chickens

[meom]

Glad they're safe, but what on earth were they doing? It's not like it's really crowded up there!

Probably putting their attention to a Drool Bucket.

What is a Drool Bucket? It is any item that steals away a good crosscheck in the jet and draws you into anomalies of attention. Of all flight mishaps influenced by human factors, channelized attention is the most prevalent human factor in Class A and B flight mishaps.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBT/is_8_61/ai_n15979440/?tag=content;col1

[spud1]

it is them Cambodians again throwing chickens

[/quote

Yes and that equates to Cambodia 2,Thailand's finest 0.

[Diablo Bob]

Listen, yes, the average Thai driver sucks -- but these pilots are highly trained and skilled. My [former] brother-in-law was a F16 pilot, trained in the US and later an instructor back here in Thailand, before he retired. These are professionals that most likely would outperform any and all of you posting above.

Just a note.

I'm sure that Thailand has a few brain surgeons that could perform everybody here but does that make them competent? You want us to believe that Somjai is a candidate for Top Gun? Best of luck with that notion.

I too know of two Thai pilots who could be considered the best of the best. One with the Royal Thai Navy who was invited to attend Top Gun when it was at Miramar Air Station and the other attended Red Flag at Nellis AFB.

To participate in either Top Gun or Red Flag puts them on par with the best the US Forces have to offer. Sorry Bagwan, TAWP is not blowing smoke up your A--, like the USA, Thailand also has some good aviators.

[jackinbkk]

it is them Cambodians again throwing chickens

Take your pick. All those Cambodians, Burmese and Malaysians wishing bad thoughts grrrrrrrrrrr!

I once watched a programme about how the Japanese motorbike racers learned to fall off so they wouldn't be afraid of crashing. Could it be that kind of training?

p.s. To, Random

Were the Pilots wearing helmets? LOL! Thats the funniest thing i've seen in ages!

[rakman]

General Dynamics are going to be happy about this. I feel a couple of replacements coming up!

Just for accuracy, GD sold out to Lockheed in 1993, now Lockheed Martin when they merged in 1995. Aircraft is still in production for foreign export.

[hedonist44]

Every airforce has crashes...

Did someone suggest they don't?

I love reading what you guys with too much time on your hands can come up with. Do you take nothing seriously? Please do us all a favor and the next time Teso-Lotus has humor on sale, save your money please....

[StasD]

Better Thailand would have used our MIG or SU

[rubl]

Better Thailand would have used our MIG or SU

Maybe correct, not my area of expertise, but up to 1990 a bit difficult with Thailand on the side of the USA.

ADD: I'm not sure when the RTAF got it's first F-16's, maybe late 80's, early 90's?

Edited February 14, 2011 by rubl

[JimGant]

Better Thailand would have used our MIG or SU

Yeah, those protruding rivets and spot-welds might have influenced the trim enough -- to have avoided the mid-air.

Nice design, 'tho lousy (but cheap) construction. (Belenko's Foxbat to Japan gave us all a laugh....)

[transam]

Every airforce has crashes...

Yes but they now have lost, in a short time, 2 of their 5 air force planes. Not a good average eh.

[transam]

Better Thailand would have used our MIG or SU

They want better survival odds than that.

[TBWG]

Haven't the RTAF recently ordered some Swedish jobs? Viggens I think?

TBWG