888 A-4G Pilot Ejects - Arrestor Wire Break HMAS Melbourne

23 May 1979 A-4G 888 is lost after the wire breaks during arrest on HMAS Melbourne. Pilot was a USN exchange pilot on VF-805 who ejects succesfully as shown in this video with many camera angles and slow motion replays. The pilot was rescued uninjured promptly by the rescue helicopter. One 'hook runner' of the pair managed to jump the whipping wire whilst the other was slightly injured by it. Flight operations were filmed by RAN Photographers with soundless greyscale cameras. The film was not developed unless necessary.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• A-4G
• Ejection
• Low
• Altitude
• zero/zero
• Skyhawk
• HMAS
• Melbourne
• Deck
• Landing
• Catapults
• Cold
• Catapult
• Carrier
• Qualifications
• Royal
• Australian
• Navy
• Fleet
• Air
• Arm
• Aviation

[bushpigification]

When is Aus gona get another aircraft carrier, they would be so useful to border security and we have a massive coastline, getting aricraft around without flying them around would be so much easier + the JSF's we are getting would be brutal deterent if they were on carriers.

Also... any news on those helicopter carriers? When are we getting them?

[bengello]

HMAS Canberra (LHD) is set to be launched in Spain during March 2011, and expected to arrive at Williamstown dockyard in 2012. The hull of HMAS Adelaide (LHD) is expected to arrive in Australia in 2014. Perhaps a third future LHD may carry JSF-Bs? Once the utitily of the new LHDs is seen the shift to JSF (when utility of that seen also) then the shift to both working together will be unstoppable. Google RN CVF and JSF-B/F-35B to see how both will work well together, with a 'ski jump' no less. :)

[bengello]

Comments column at top right has this to say: "23 May 1979 A-4G 888 is lost after the wire breaks during arrest on HMAS Melbourne. Pilot was a USN exchange pilot on VF-805 who ejects succesfully as shown in this video with many camera angles and slow motion replays. The pilot was rescued uninjured promptly by the rescue helicopter. One 'hook runner' of the pair managed to jump the whipping wire whilst the other was slightly injured by it. Flight operations were filmed by RAN." Missed the comment

[WinzoIsAEpicFail]

@00andJoe Just to clarify I am a big advocate of splitting the F-35c and F-35a development away from the F-35b. I also think the c version should replace the b version if development issues with the b persist (the marines can cry me a river).

Also I believe the Super Hornet is adequate substitute for the F-35.

[00andJoe]

@WinzoIsAEpicFail The trouble is, there's nothing to substitute for the F-35. (Aside from, as the RN did, switching out Dave-B for Dave-C.) It's killed off all competition. =/

[Buggsy61]

All in a days work for the Melbourne - they would normally be sawing destroyers in half so this pikot got off lightly LOL

[WinzoIsAEpicFail]

Helicopter Landing Docks are not aircraft carriers. Also we will not be getting F-35B's and if things keep going the way they are no one will as they'll get scrapped due to all the problems that are occuring with their development.

[336kgf]

@bengello The Aussies are getting carriers again? AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!!!!!!!!!

From an American and one time Aussie resident.

[stubbsy1959]

@bengello Hi my name is Col Stubbs I was the hookman that day, my off sider was Hugh Fraser.  I mangaged to jump the cable, hughy copped it in the shinns, he was OK thankfully, it certainly was one interesting day. Skyhawk in the morning and a seaking in the afternoon. I remember comodore Martin saying after the skyhawk crash, oh well we have just started our 2 week work up, we might not be able to fly fixed wing but we have plenty of helicopters to carry on with. that lasted all of 5 hours.

[stealthchaser]

I was on duty in flying control when this happened. The pilot was Lieut Cmdr Finan USN. He was ok. The accident was caused by an hydraulic malfucfunction on the "spline Valve" of that particular wire. We went into re-fit shortly after this. It was on this deployment we had several accidents, not all flight related. The media had a fielday. We were told not to comment to the media on anything!

Iain N ex Aviator HMAS Melbourne