Todos
← Back to Squawk list
World War II-Era TBM Avenger Ditches Off Cocoa Beach During Airshow ‘Warbird Parade’
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA – Airshow fans got more than they expected on Saturday afternoon about 1:15 p.m. when a World War II era TBM Avenger was forced to ditch off Cocoa Beach due to mechanical issues. (spacecoastdaily.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
This video should be shown at all Navy/Air Force training commands depicting a textbook water landing.The pilot was obviously checked out on the procedures for ditching in water.He brought her in parallel to the shore avoided swimmers/surfers,landed nose up, impacting the water with the fuselage, thus avoiding the AC flipping. He chose shallow enough water to make salvage possible and probably waded onto shore. A real Pro.
It wasn't the first Avenger to ditch in the ocean but it may be the last.
I was there.. the pilot did a great job and avoided a crowded beach. Being this was the ocean, I'm sure the salt water will if not scrap the plane or cause a very costly and extensive rebuild.. glad No one was not hurt
Decisions have to be made very fast with no "go around" option. Everybody went home. Good job.
some other sites had comments that the pilot endangered swimmers (and a surfer) by ditching so close to the shore(based on the cell video) or he should have landed in some field to save the aircraft and it bothers me that everyone knows how to fly an aircraft from their living room. I can imagine that without power, that aircraft is a flying brick and the pilot had little or no time (Sully) to figure out the best plan. There is no money in the world that brings back a life, but there is plenty if they want to bring back the plane
I grew up in Cocoa Beach, pretty near Patrick Air (I mean, "Space") Force Base, and I will tell you there are no fields nearby. Just busy roads, lots of tourists and residents, power lines and light poles, and buildings. The ocean was the best place to land.
Yes, WAY too many armchair pilots around these days. It's funny how none of them have any training but they seem to know better than real pilots.