Earpiece 1

View the latest

Movie Trailers

here

FEEDS |

Pilot killed in fighter jet crash identified

Nov 14, 2009 5:44 PM | By Nashira Davids

AN ex-military fighter jet has crashed killing the pilot at an air show in Bredasdorp, Western Cape.The pilot has been identified as Dave Stock.

Current Font Size:

The English Electric Lightning aircraft exploded after crashing near the Overberg Air Force Base in Bredasdorp. The aircraft was operated by Thunder City in Cape Town, which offers thrill seekers trips in ex military jets.

Thunder City CEO Mike Beachy Head said the the pilot reported having hydraulic failure and was preparing to eject shortly before crashing.

One spectator who didn't want to be named said he watched as the aircraft spiraled towards the ground then disappear in the bushes. "A second or two later I saw a big black smoke mushroom," said the man.

Anzelle Smit, spokesman for Metro EMS in the Western Cape said after almost two hours of searching the pilot's body was found. "He was found outside of the plane not too far from the air force base," said Smit.

Other Articles in 'Local'

 Loading...

Sign in
 or 
Sign up
 to comment

Comments

Nov 14 2009 03:21:35 PM
Rockspider
user name
Was one of the first planes to really knock the crap out of Russian MIG's
Nov 14 2009 03:24:15 PM
august rain
user name
the pilot returned to dump fuel over the sea it is believed he ejected before the jet crashed on land.
Nov 14 2009 03:24:24 PM
jones2000
user name
always thought it was the F 86 Sabre in the Korean war. I'm not aware that the Lighting was involved in any "hot"conflict with Mig's mainly escourting Bears out of NATO air space.
Nov 14 2009 03:25:45 PM
august rain
user name
sorry to report his body was found
Nov 14 2009 03:34:12 PM
Warrior
user name
Sorry man!
Nov 14 2009 03:35:51 PM
Rockspider
user name
Damn...... The Electric was used to patroll the NATO area. The SAbre had clashes with the MIGS in Korea, but it was a 55~45 situation. The electric scared the crap out of Nakita Chrushev and the USSR, as there were contacts but not globally reported. An Astronomer friend of mine was head of MI Misinformation during the cold war and the Electric really did it's thing and could fly with the high flying Rusky bombers. THAT it could fly so high for prolonged periods made it a fearsome weapon. Only the Canadian Starfighter, that never came to be because of Sputnik, was reportedly faster than Black Bird.
Nov 14 2009 03:53:51 PM
Rockspider
user name
http://www.military-aircraft.org.uk/jet-fighter-planes/english-electric-lightning.htm
Nov 14 2009 04:18:37 PM
DonovanJackson
user name
What's a figther? Very sad.
Nov 14 2009 04:22:10 PM
jones2000
user name
USAF had the F104 starfighter which was brought into production, charles yeager used the YF 104 version to attempt to break the altitude record.

canada had the CF 105 which was scrapped.

The UK has the TSR 2 also scrapped.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-104_Starfighter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_CF-105_Arrow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSR-2

Nov 14 2009 06:17:40 PM
snakebite
user name
I was there , saw it happen.Just as in the report. Scary stuff.
There was a raffle, whereby one lucky winner could win win a trip in this exact plane. It would have been it's second flight for the day. Imagine winning a raffle like that, get a ride of a lifetime, and then the plane crashes..
eina


Read all 30 comments

Popular

Opinion

Pixie Lott- Gravity (official music video)

Today's Topics