John1 Posted August 3, 2024 Posted August 3, 2024 15 hours ago, CRAZY IVAN5 said: There was a bailout warning light that the pilot activated, a big red light and the tail gunner had one in his compartment also . it was the kind of thing that got your attention real quick like. It had 2 positions [well,3], off, steady and flash. flash mode was the warning to get ready , when it went steady , get the hell out now! My biggest nightmare if the plane is making weird noises and starts heading for the ground - what if the pilot forgot to turn on the bailout light before ejecting?
CRAZY IVAN5 Posted August 3, 2024 Posted August 3, 2024 3 hours ago, John1 said: My biggest nightmare if the plane is making weird noises and starts heading for the ground - what if the pilot forgot to turn on the bailout light before ejecting? The switch is within reach of the copilot also, so the chances of BOTH of them missing it is pretty slim.
Michael931080 Posted August 3, 2024 Posted August 3, 2024 On 8/2/2024 at 8:19 AM, Oldbaldguy said: I’d likely have done unspeakable things in my youth for a seat in a B-52 except for this one. The chances of getting me into the tail gunners position are as close to zero as you can get. Can’t imagine being 140 feet away from the rest of humanity if something went south, waiting on the aircraft commander to tell me: (1) that something was wrong because how would I know? and (2) it was okay/time for me to vacate. And if he wasn’t a talkative guy, then what? Those are good thoughts but I think most BUFF Crews were like a family unit CRAZY IVAN5 1
Finn Posted August 3, 2024 Author Posted August 3, 2024 I read in a Skyraider book the pilot of a family model AD during a pre-flight briefing told his crew, who sat in the back in the fuselage compartment, when they see him go by the window, that was their signal to bailout. Jari scvrobeson, thierry laurent, John1 and 1 other 1 3
MikeC Posted August 4, 2024 Posted August 4, 2024 (edited) From my air cadet days, I recall one pre-flight briefing to a bunch of cadets on Air Experience Flying including " ... the pilot will order 'Jump, jump!' [Carry out the drill] and don't say 'Pardon' as he won't be there to repeat it." (Actually, I have no doubt the aircraft captain would make sure his student got out if it had happened, but it was a good line ) Edited August 4, 2024 by MikeC CRAZY IVAN5 1
John1 Posted August 4, 2024 Posted August 4, 2024 21 hours ago, CRAZY IVAN5 said: The switch is within reach of the copilot also, so the chances of BOTH of them missing it is pretty slim. Good point, but in the back of my (way too overactive imagination), I'd be wondering if the wiring to the intercom and alarm was damaged. "What was that bump?? Are we going down? Should I bail out? I think I will!!"
Oldbaldguy Posted August 4, 2024 Posted August 4, 2024 6 minutes ago, John1 said: Good point, but in the back of my (way too overactive imagination), I'd be wondering if the wiring to the intercom and alarm was damaged. "What was that bump?? Are we going down? Should I bail out? I think I will!!" Thankfully, few aircrew think that way. You choose to do a job, are trained to do it and you do it the best you can even if it seems crazy hazardous to an outsider. Besides, like the man said, if things go south you are likely dead before you know it. Having said all that, I think it would take a special personality to ride all the way in the back for hours on end, all by yourself, with nothing much to do. You couldn’t even share your farts with anyone. CRAZY IVAN5 1
John1 Posted August 4, 2024 Posted August 4, 2024 6 minutes ago, Oldbaldguy said: Thankfully, few aircrew think that way. You choose to do a job, are trained to do it and you do it the best you can even if it seems crazy hazardous to an outsider. Besides, like the man said, if things go south you are likely dead before you know it. Having said all that, I think it would take a special personality to ride all the way in the back for hours on end, all by yourself, with nothing much to do. You couldn’t even share your farts with anyone. Agreed. That said, I think there have been more than a couple incidents of aircrew prematurely ejecting (that didn't sound right..) when they thought the aircraft was going in and decided it was time to step out for some fresh air.
CRAZY IVAN5 Posted August 4, 2024 Posted August 4, 2024 2 hours ago, John1 said: Agreed. That said, I think there have been more than a couple incidents of aircrew prematurely ejecting (that didn't sound right..) when they thought the aircraft was going in and decided it was time to step out for some fresh air. I can recall only one instance[there was probably more] ,where a gunner apparently fell asleep and thought the plane was going down and punched out. The upstart to it all of this was the fact he was in a 'G' model where everybody rode up front! He did survive the fracas but it didn't do the rest of the crew any favors, what with the rapid decompression and all that that entails. I'm afraid that someone would've gotten their rear end kicked if I were on board when I caught up with him. The formal charges would've have been the least of his problems! Oldbaldguy and John1 2
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now