Leaderboard

For those calling for the chain of command to be fired for the capital crime called "they should have known"...be careful what you wish for. This can be exactly the kind of knee jerk reaction that can ruin a unit/wing/base. Good luck to you with the next guy who will surely be in your chili all the time, doesn't trust anyone, and treats everyone like children because he doesnt want anyone to ever say that he didn't know absolutely everything going on in the entire wing.

Need a kid-friendly-yet-funny-for-the-adults-in-the-room flick? Can recommend "How to Train Your Dragon" Not Disney or Pixar sugary, but good enough we bought the DVD.

I've been following this thread since the mishap, as a guest, and decided to register for this post to possibly clear up some misconceptions, or maybe just to add my $.02 with my close personal insight to the crew. I've flown probably 200 hours with the MP, at least that many with the MSO, and a hell of a lot more with the MLM. They were all close personal and professional acquaintances. To give you an idea of the kind of guy the MP was: He flew that jet 99.9% of the time in a VERY conservative manner. He was a big fan of the "tactical ILS." During low levels, tac arrivals, and tac departures, he was one of the less aggressive guys I flew with (certainly less aggressive than some Altus IP's). He was however, a perfectionist to a fault. He wanted to fly the absolutely perfect demo profile. In this, is where he unfortunately deviated from procedures, and cut it too close. With AIB only information, there is no one thing that caused this mishap (on the technical side). If he had called for slats retract when he was ready for it, rather than prebriefing speeds for uncommanded retraction, then this may not have happened. If he had extended just a little farther on the base leg, it might not have happened, whatever... this could be debated to death- I have no idea why he thought that full rudder inputs and a skidding turn was a good idea... but I digress. As far as the stall warning: I have flown with a few WIC guys who (previous to the mishap) had no problem with the stall warning... "it's just a warning of an approach to a stall." Some holier than thou C-17 guys who seemed incredulous to the idea of flying in the stall warning really piss me off. A couple days before the mishap, I asked the MSO which profile they were going to perform. My family was in town, and I wanted to be able to explain to them what was happening, and what would be next. I don't remember my exact words, but is was something to the effect of "gonna take it right up to the stall warning?" (I made the comment in a joking manner). The MSO responded "oh, we hear that through the whole thing." There is (or was) obviously some confusion or sense of complacency with hearing bitchin betty (which I personally believe is a systemic issue, not a localized one). Back to the MP... he was one of the most respected, calm, unassuming, intelligent, and humble guys I knew. One story that was told at the memorial (but I had heard previously) was that on a trip through Hickam, he and the crew were having a few drinks at either the Hale Koa, or the Shorebird. On that big sidewalk on the beach, a purse snatcher took off with some lady's purse. The MP jumped over the fence, and took off after the guy. He tackled him, and held him down till the police got there... a real class act. As far as leadership... the MP was so respected, and flying outside of the box was SO out of character for the MP, I honestly don't think they thought anything of it. He was THE SME for the C-17 in our unit. He was regarded as incredibly intelligent (had a physics degree.) That something like what happened and they way the profile was flown was not even remotely expected. No one came to leadership to complain about previous practice sessions that I'm aware of. Should they have been more proactive? possibly. I won't argue that in hindsight... but arguing in hindsight is always easier than ahead of time isn't it?

Here is a what the drone sounded like right before it crashed. It was taken by an innocent bystander.