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RAF Top Gun Pilot Hits Lamp Post!

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  • RAF Top Gun Pilot Hits Lamp Post!



    AN RAF Top Gun pilot was facing the high jump last night — for flying so low he hit a lamppost. The ace clipped the airbase light at 54ft with a wing tip on his Jaguar attack jet while doing 600mph.

    He wrestled control of the crippled single-seater and headed straight out to sea from the coastal base in Cyprus.

    Ground crews went into a full-scale emergency — but the pilot swooped round over the Med and headed back to base before slamming the plane on a runway.

    RAF police immediately impounded the £25million Jaguar and the ace was grounded pending an investigation.

    He faces an official carpeting and court martial, which could cost him his wings.

    The Top Gun from RAF Coltishall, Norfolk, decided on a low-flying celebration run after completing a week’s hard training on bombing ranges near the base at Akrotiri.

    He was cleared by the control tower for the pass, but ordered NOT to go below 200 feet.

    The jet reached 500ft over the sea before turning for the run.

    But ground crew were horrified as it just kept getting lower and lower as it hit 600mph — before clipping the light stanchion on the edge of the plane parking area.

    The collision ripped off the left wing tip containing navigational lighting and wiring. Repairs could cost £2million.

    Investigating officers found the damage to the post was exactly 54ft above ground level.

    An RAF source said: “It is traditional to do a farewell ‘beat up’ of an airfield when you leave after a detachment.

    “The usual form is for the pilot to fly low over the base and waggle his wings.

    “If this Top Gun had not actually hit the light he would have got off with a severe rollocking.

    “As it is, he’s lucky to be alive. And he’ll be lucky to keep his wings if he is convicted at a court martial.”

    Another source said: “There is a public road to the beach just a mile away.

    “The Jaguar could easily have flipped over and exploded, scattering burning fuel for hundreds of yards.”

    Last night the Ministry of Defence confirmed: “There is an ongoing investigation into the incident.”
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  • #2
    A 54ft lamppost, wow.

    Comment


    • #3
      That's something to be proud of!
      Click Here to view my aircraft photos on here!
      Click Here to view my aircraft photos...over there!

      Comment


      • #4
        gaining control after hitting a lamp post......thats good
        He who expected nothin......aint gonna be deceived-JR

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by cal99
          gaining control after hitting a lamp post......thats good
          I guess thats why is a Top Gun

          Comment


          • #6
            Wow, thats skillful, crashing into a lamp post.


            Thats got to take one hell of a pilot to gain control again.
            Sam Rudge
            A 5D3, some Canon lenses, the Sigma L and a flash

            Comment


            • #7
              I don't know which is lower...his plane, or his IQ...

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by YWGJoe
                I don't know which is lower...his plane, or his IQ...
                Sam Rudge
                A 5D3, some Canon lenses, the Sigma L and a flash

                Comment


                • #9
                  I'd love to buy that guy a beer!!!
                  Bite me Airways.....

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    If cleared to keep flying, he will paint a street-lamp shaped kill on his next mount !!!!
                    Alain
                    Thanks for visiting
                    *Avimage's Monthly Slide list *
                    *JetPhotos*
                    Airliners*Pbase.com

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      RAF Top Gun Pilot Hits Lamp Post!

                      To quote the theme song from Top Gun, "Highway through the light-pole Zone" :P .

                      -Colin

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        To quote the theme song from Top Gun, "Highway through the light-pole Zone" .

                        -Colin
                        He who expected nothin......aint gonna be deceived-JR

                        Comment


                        • #13


                          Colin, that's hilarious. Does the song go like that?


                          I wonder how many lamp posts he would have hit if he did that stunt in an A380?

                          And now for his next trick......hitting a lamp post at 40,000 ft.
                          Happiness is flying at FL400 and over 1000kmh

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            RAF Top Gun Pilot Hits Lamp Post!

                            Originally posted by beyond 1000


                            Colin, that's hilarious. Does the song go like that?
                            Almost, original text is "Highway through the danger zone", now if I only knew the title of the song...

                            -Colin

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by beyond 1000
                              And now for his next trick......hitting a lamp post at 40,000 ft.


                              Love to see that happen.
                              Sam Rudge
                              A 5D3, some Canon lenses, the Sigma L and a flash

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