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Date: | Wednesday 29 October 1980 |
Time: | |
Type: | Lockheed YMC-130H Hercules |
Owner/operator: | United States Air Force - USAF |
Registration: | 74-1683 |
MSN: | 4658 |
Year of manufacture: | 1976 |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
Category: | Accident |
Location: | Valparaiso-Wagner Field, FL -
United States of America
|
Phase: | Landing |
Nature: | Military |
Departure airport: | Valparaiso-Wagner Field, FL |
Destination airport: | Valparaiso-Wagner Field, FL |
Narrative:Lockheed Hercules 74-1683 was modified so it could take off and land almost like a helicopter. The aircraft was equipped with lift rockets slanting downward, slowdown rockets facing forward. The aircraft was intended for use in Iran to rescue American hostages. During a STOL demonstration flight on a disused airfield the pilot fired the upper set of slowdown rockets at a height of 40 feet, instead of 20 feet at usual. The navigator was trained to fire the lower slowdown rockets three seconds later, just after touchdown. When he fired the rockets, the plane was at a height of 20 feet and came almost to a standstill in the air, falling down onto the runway. The right wing collapsed and a fire erupted.
Sources:
Location
Images:
photo (c) USAF; Valparaiso-Wagner Field, FL; 29 October 1980
photo (c) USAF; Valparaiso-Wagner Field, FL; 29 October 1980
Revision history:
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