F-111 Belly Landing

[Matzos]

Some more images of the F-111 Belly Landing at RAAF Amberley

http://www.militaryimages.net/imagehost/images/Matzos/00018174205070.jpg

http://www.militaryimages.net/imagehost/images/Matzos/00018174203081.jpg

http://www.militaryimages.net/imagehost/images/Matzos/00018174203085.jpg

http://www.militaryimages.net/imagehost/images/Matzos/00018174205084.jpg

http://www.militaryimages.net/imagehost/images/Matzos/00018174203090.jpg

[Reloader]

Matzos, is that an arrester wire of some sort in the first pics? Never noticed that in the video.

[Matzos]

Yes mate, you can see it in the first two shots, but there is no sign of the it or the aircraft hook in the third shot.

The system in use in the RAF is the Rotary Hydraulic Arrester Gear (RHAG), which relies on large paddles at the end of the cable rotating in liquid for it’s braking effect.

Where space permits, areas beyond the ends of the runways are provided for accidental or emergency use by aircraft over-running or under-shooting the runway. These areas also have barriers consisting of large strong nets made of nylon rope. The nets are designed to 'catch' the aircraft, stopping it with minimum risk of damage to the aircraft or injury to the crew.

[Bombardier]

I think the hook is in the horizontal and difficult to see in the third shot?, although you can see what looks like the arrester wire. (Y)

[Matzos]

Great spot mate, my eyes are not working to well the last couple of days, too many nights in the mess bar!! hallucinat

[Bashabasher]

Was it done on purpose?

There was also a Naval F-111B Aardvark, Cancelled being too bulky and heavy, It lead to the F-14 Tomcat.

http://www.ausairpower.net/F-111B-USN.png
http://www.f-111.net/t_no_B.htm
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ausairpower.net/F-111B-USN.png&imgrefurl=http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-F-111-Supercruise-2001.html&h=435&w=600&sz=13&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=-bZnOYEhdlRq-M:&tbnh=98&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3DF-111B%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

http://www.anft.net/f-14/grumman-f111b.htm

[Matzos]

A rookie pilot and a navigator who landed their stricken F-111 on its belly after losing a wheel on takeoff say the emergency has boosted their confidence in the ageing strike fighters.

The pilot, who only left training 2 weeks before, Flying Officer Peter Komar, 29, and navigator Flight Lieutenant Luke Warner, 32, made the dramatic emergency landing at the RAAF Amberley Base west of Brisbane, ending a tense, three hour midair emergency.

As the disabled jet came down, a hook picked up a cable that helped bring it to a halt, creating a plume of sparks as it slid on its belly along the tarmac....

[deepwoods]

very coolsolthum