General Category > Unofficial F/A-18 Acceleration Pack board

Pilot Survives CF-18 Crash at Airshow Practice - Story Video 23 July 2010

<< < (3/3)

SpazSinbad:
Crash pilot praises ejection seat By KATIE SCHNEIDER, QMI Agency July 26, 2010

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/07/26/14835871.html

"CALGARY - Among the people Capt. Brian Bews thanks for saving his life after ejecting from his CF-18 Hornet seconds before it burst into flames, one name stands out.
Martin Baker - the brand name of his ejection seat.
Speaking out for the first time since his plane slammed into the ground Friday during a practice run for the 2010 Alberta International Airshow in Lethbridge, Bews said he credits the ejection seat for allowing him to escape with his life.
"I feel extremely lucky considering the magnitude of the accident; Martin Baker is my new best friend!" he said in a statement.
Bews, 36, a member of 3 Wing stationed in Bagotville, Que., ejected seconds before the crash - about 30 metres off the ground - and sustained compression fractures in three vertebrae.
"I will be concentrating on rest for the next while, but will make a complete recovery," he said.
"I would like to thank the Canadian Forces SkyHawks and the other first responders for their quick reaction to the accident, as well as the staff at the Lethbridge hospital who have taken such great care of me.
" I would also like to thank my family, friends, my demo team and my air show family for their amazing support since the accident."
Maj. Rachel Morrell, Wing Surgeon at 4 Wing, Cold Lake, Alta., said given the amount of force from the ejection, the injuries Bews sustained are consistent with bails from aircrafts.
"We can expect a full recovery and return to duty for Captain Bews," Morrell said.
And Col. Alain Pelletier, Commander 3 Wing Bagotville, said Bews' quick thinking shows his experience and professionalism.
"His timely reactions and successful ejection during the event demonstrate his professionalism and are the outcome of two key elements: thorough training of our demo pilot and the survival equipment of our modernized CF-18," he said.
Born in Saskatchewan, Bews began flying in 1995 in Okotoks, then earned his commercial pilot licence at what is now Mount Royal University.
He joined the Canadian Forces in 1999.
The exact cause of the crash is still unknown."

SpazSinbad:
The 'crashed' Hornet had an interesting paint scheme.

Links start here: http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/cf18/page-eng.asp?id=912
______________________

Photos here:

http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/cf18/i...eng.asp?cat=158
_______________________

"The Design:

http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/cf18/page-eng.asp?id=912

“Featuring classic Canadian Air Force and Navy motifs and a striking paint design, the CF-18 national demonstration jet will be dazzling audiences across North America during the 2010 air show season. The Navy Centennial theme, customized by Mr. Jim Belliveau of 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, is featured on both tails, rendered in freehand airbrush and paint gun murals in subdued blues. The tri-colour Royal Canadian Navy Roundel from the 1950s is featured on the fuselage. As well, the main serial number on the nose, intake safety markings and false canopy on the underside were rendered in navy blue.

The tail art features a stylized anchor, Navy Maple Leaf, and wave graphics. One the left-side (port) tail, HMCS Winnipeg with a CH-124 Sea King helicopter is featured, and on the right-side (starboard) tail the HMCS Bonaventure with a Banshee Fighter jet. The art reflects the intimate and longstanding working relationship shared by the Navy and Air Force.”

SpazSinbad:
CF-18 pilot recalls harrowing tale of survival CTV.ca News Staff Date: Tue. Aug. 17 2010

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20100817/bews-recalls-cf18-crash-100817/

"A Canadian Air Force pilot who ejected from his jet seconds before it crashed to the ground has credited his training for his miraculous survival.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the spectacular CF-18 crash last month, Capt. Brian Bews told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that his instincts saved his life.

"My training kicked in," said Bews as he recalled his harrowing ordeal, which occurred near Lethbridge, Alta., on July 23.

Bews said that only four seconds passed between when he pulled the jet's ejection handle and when he hit the ground hard.

"I feel fortunate that I didn't break my legs upon landing," said the pilot, who nonetheless suffered three compressed vertebrae during the crash landing. "Just the way I landed, it worked out very well in my favour."

The crash occurred as Bews prepared for an air show which was to be held in Lethbridge that weekend.

Bews said that he had been practicing an aerial maneuver called an "alpha pass" when the situation began to deteriorate.

For Bews, the alpha pass -- an exercise where the jet is slowed to 115 knots (212 kilometres per hour) and the nose is pointed slightly skyway -- is something he's done several times.

However, on that fateful day, something was amiss, said the 37-year-old fighter pilot.

"I was feeling turbulence," he said. "My perception was that I had turbulence with a downdraft."

Soon, Bews felt that the jet was possessed by some other force.

He said that he hit the power and attempted to climb out of the maneuver, but something was keeping the jet locked into a dangerous descent.

As the nose started to drop, Bews knew he was in big trouble.

"I tried to fight it, but I was not in control of the jet anymore," he explained.

At that point, the experienced pilot's sixth-sense kicked in. Instead of fighting the multi-million dollar aircraft and trying to save it, he switched gears.

"I knew where the jet was going, and I didn't want to be there with it."

Faced with life or death, Bews said the decision was easy.

"It was pretty obvious to me what I had to do … I pulled the handle and the ride started there."

Immediately, Bews' body was thrown skyward with 5,000 lbs worth of thrust. A split second later, he watched with disbelief as the CF-18 plummeted to the ground and burst into a massive fireball.

He was out of the jet, but the ordeal was far from over.

First, Bews hit the ground with remarkable force. He hit the ground and felt a sharp pain through his neck and back.

The winds in the area were also strong, and his chute -- the apparatus that had save his live -- began to drag him across the open prairie.

His feet were tangled up in the chute and he couldn't get free. Once again, Bews felt powerless.

Luckily, he had the sense to avoid a struggle. Once his feet became free, he knew that he would survive. Still, he wasn't sure if his spine had been permanently damaged.

"I decided the best thing to do was just lie there face down until help arrived," he said.

While the CF-18 was destroyed, Bews suffered relatively minor injuries. Despite the spinal damage, doctors have said that only eight to 12 weeks of recovery are needed for a full recovery.

When asked if the crash had scared him away from flying, Bews didn't hesitate: "I wish I could fly today."

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page