June 2, 20169 yr Thunderbird crash in Co...He got out. Blue Angel Crash in Tenn...He did not get out.
June 2, 20169 yr Just announced the obvious, Blues will not fly the airshow here this wknd. Prayers for Capt Kuss and his family
June 3, 20169 yr 7 hours ago, Azimuth said: One way to meet the POTUS... "hey, sir....I know we're in a budget crunch, so I just really wanted to apologize for the $20 million aircraft in the field over there."
June 10, 20169 yr Rough week for demo teams. Related story, Russian Knight Su-27 crashed and the pilot did not survive https://theaviationist.com/2016/06/09/su-27-flanker-of-the-russian-knights-aerobatic-team-crashes-in-russia-pilot-killed/ Edited June 10, 20169 yr by Clark Griswold respect
June 10, 20169 yr Rumor mill says that Nellis has been told not to expect the T-Birds at this year's November show. Has the T-Birds season been canxed?
June 10, 20169 yr 39 minutes ago, Clark Griswold said: Rough week for demo teams. No kidding. The Swiss Demo team had a mid-air today too. https://www.airlive.net/breaking-swiss-f-5-fighter-jet-just-crashed-near-leeuwarden-air-base-in-the-netherlands/
June 10, 20169 yr 21 minutes ago, Ram said: Rumor mill says that Nellis has been told not to expect the T-Birds at this year's November show. Has the T-Birds season been canxed? Most likely, that rumor would only be true if #1 was released from the team. The other positions can be replaced in short order. When Smack Mack was fired, they brought Lefty Arlinghaus back. Movers were at his house, and everything came to a stop. He got back up to speed pretty quick, even though he went from 2 years as a Solo, and into the Diamond. That happened late April, and I seem to recall they were back on schedule in mid June. Edited June 10, 20169 yr by HuggyU2
June 10, 20169 yr 42 minutes ago, HuggyU2 said: No kidding. The Swiss Demo team had a mid-air today too. https://www.airlive.net/breaking-swiss-f-5-fighter-jet-just-crashed-near-leeuwarden-air-base-in-the-netherlands/ Damn - had not heard of that crash, very rough week. Canadian Snowbirds did a great line abreast missing man formation for Blue Angels #6 https://www.avgeekery.com/no-greater-friend-canadian-snowbirds-fly-missing-man-formation-honor-fallen-blue-angels-6/ One other addition: Fat Albert flew him home with a fly over of P-Cola and down the beach with #5 on the wing, Godspeed... https://www.pnj.com/story/news/military/2016/06/07/blue-angels-fat-albert-fly-pilots-body-home/85550446/ Edited June 10, 20169 yr by Clark Griswold
June 10, 20169 yr 2 hours ago, HuggyU2 said: Most likely, that rumor would only be true if #1 was released from the team. The other positions can be replaced in short order. When Smack Mack was fired, they brought Lefty Arlinghaus back. Movers were at his house, and everything came to a stop. He got back up to speed pretty quick, even though he went from 2 years as a Solo, and into the Diamond. That happened late April, and I seem to recall they were back on schedule in mid June. Smack will still make sure you know he was a Thunderchicken within 5 mins of meeting him, at least as of a few years ago. No shame and no humility whatsoever. Someone please tell me he's not around anymore.
June 10, 20169 yr 1 hour ago, ViperStud said: Someone please tell me he's not around anymore. Sorry to disappoint. His 2d star is enroute. https://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/467062/brigadier-general-russell-l-mack.aspx
June 10, 20169 yr Looking at his bio, it would appear that he washed out of the demo upgrade. ETA: This is merely speculation
June 10, 20169 yr I heard he banged wing tips in the Diamond during a show. I've flown with a couple guys hired onto the Team and worked for a couple more and the hiring process leaves me baffled.
June 10, 20169 yr Yes, he hit another jet in the Diamond at the Patrick Airshow early in the season. I have no idea if there was a documented problem earlier, or if it was a one mistake policy. Edited June 10, 20169 yr by HuggyU2
June 10, 20169 yr 11 hours ago, ViperStud said: Smack will still make sure you know he was a Thunderchicken within 5 mins of meeting him, at least as of a few years ago. Can confirm this from his time at Vance. That being said morale seemed to be pretty good (not sarcasm) while he was the wing King.
June 12, 20169 yr He was a great sq/cc at xl when I was there back in 04. Never let me know he was a t-bird until I asked him how it was (ignorant of events) Me- how was the Thunderbirds? Smack- good deal I enjoyed the time there.... So you wanna fly vipers? Me- Fvck yes. And fvck yes were the last words I spoke to him. Seems like those words carried him through the rough times in to high end leadership jobs. You're welcome. Why can't I cuss yet. I'm old balls and it's what we do
June 12, 20169 yr On June 9, 2016 at 7:33 PM, HuggyU2 said: Most likely, that rumor would only be true if #1 was released from the team. Which is one I've heard.
June 13, 20169 yr Some pictures from the memorial for Capt Kuss here in Durango, CO: https://www.durangoherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=DU&Date=20160611&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=610009999&Ref=PH/Marine-Capt-Jeff-Kuss-comes-home#/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DU&Date=20160611&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=610009999&Ref=PH&Item=1&NewTbl=1&MaxH=400 https://www.durangoherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=DU&Date=20160611&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=611009999&Ref=PH/Kuss-memorial#/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DU&Date=20160611&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=611009999&Ref=PH&Item=22&NewTbl=1&MaxH=400 I just happen to be here in Durango on a fire assignment and missed the memorial because we were out flying a fire, but word from those were around is how respectful everyone was as the precession made its way through town. It is a big deal to the people here even during the busy tourist season. Fat Albert just left today and I think the Hornets staged out of GJT. RIP Capt Kuss
June 14, 20169 yr https://afthunderbirds.com/site/2016/06/13/thunderbirds-return-to-2016-demonstration-schedule/ All is well, return all "jump to conclusions" mats to the closet. Hate to say I told you so.....
June 14, 20169 yr EXCELLENT news! Thanks for posting. In this case, it's perfectly fine to say "I told you so". Edited June 14, 20169 yr by HuggyU2
June 14, 20169 yr 1 minute ago, HuggyU2 said: EXCELLENT news! Thanks for posting. In this case, it's perfectly fine to say "I told you so". Absolutely, agree 100%!
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