• Random Thunderbird clips from about a decade ago

Posted: **Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:17 pm**

Granted, some of these videos have been posted and seen before in our forums, but it never gets old!

Video by "Gus" Bartels, Left Wingman, from 1999 with clips from the cockpit cameras of all 6 jets.

@ 2:14 into the video above you can see the 1999 mishap mentioned in the excerpt below:

Aerobatic Display Teams S.I.G. News Archive wrote:The USAF Thunderbirds have been temporarily grounded following an incident in which two of their F-16C's touched in mid air.

The incident happened on 25th April 1999 at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, and occured during the Diamond Take Off. As the team began their aerial demonstration during the Air and Space Expo '99, Thunderbirds 3 and 4 came into contact with each other, reportedly the left horizontal stabilizer of the No. 3 jet touching the right wing of the No. 4 jet. The result was minor damage (said to be "paint chipping and bent metal") to each airframe. The display was immediately cancelled and all the aircraft landed safely, with no injuries to anyone. In fact, it was reported that the public didn't realize anything was wrong until ambulances rushed to the runway as the team landed. The team's spokesman,1st Lt. Guy Hunneyman, said it's the only time he can remember the team having to cancel a show after such a mishap. The two pilots involved were Maj. Russell Mack and Maj. Scott Bowen, who have a combined total of 4,200 flying hours between them.

Video by "Wilbur" Wright, Lead Solo, from 2000 as a "going away" video with Wilbur and Joker as the mighty Solos. I've always liked the "salute" to #6 following the "yardsale" comment @ 1:21.

Another favorite from the same timeframe. Not quite the same anymore...

Posted: **Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:34 pm**

Trading some paint in the first video at 2:14!

Posted: **Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:39 pm**

Yes, see my edited post above.

Here's another mishap video from the 1994 training season involving a maneuver called the Solo Spiral.

This accident brought back the Wing Walk to the show, which was then replaced by the High Alpha in more recent years.

Posted: **Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:47 pm**

Wow.

Well at least Capt. Lewis survived it.

Posted: **Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:52 am**

Thanks for posting this Lawndart, I've been wanting to see the mishap at 2:14 for some time now.

Posted: **Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:55 pm**

Wish they'd go back to flying that tight in the diamond.

Posted: **Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:16 am**

Is this the video of Tommy Lewis's accident. Tom's a friend of mine and is a 737 Captain at my airline. Where did you fine the video?

Metro

Posted: **Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:38 am**

Yes this is Lewis' accident, and it's been on YouTube for a few years now, (but as you can tell the news clip is from a foreign country).