Thunderbird and Blue Angels crash on same day

Thunderbird jet was just after the USAF graduation ceremony with Obama in attendance

pilot ejected safely. plane looks remarkably intact.

Air Force Thunderbird plane goes down in southern Colorado Springs | FOX21News.com

Blue Angel crash in Smyrna TN, practice for show in Nashville this weekend.

edit: looks as though pilot died in this crash. RIP.

One dead after Navy Blue Angel jet crashes in Smyrna

 

You beat me to it Guy was just about to post about the T-Bird crash.

 

Wow. This gives me chills. We just watched the Blues yesterday at their practice in Pensacola. They were signing autographs afterwards in the museum....surreal that a guy I just saw 24 hours ago is now apparently gone. Sounds like it was one of the solo pilots. Very sad.

 

Sad...I hope they figure out what went wrong in both cases..

 

Thunderbirds fighter jet crashes in Colorado Springs after flyover at Air Force Academy graduation ? The Denver Post

 

One thing I will mention is that when we watched them yesterday they were one airplane short. They only flew with three aircraft in the main formation. One initial report I read stated the victim was a solo pilot, but with initial reports often being incorrect, I hope the missing aircraft yesterday does not point to a possible maintenance issue that could be involved in today's accident.


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What is this, crash day?

Two F-18s collide and crash off the coast of NC. All crew rescued.

2 F-18 jets down off North Carolina coast after "in-air mishap" - Indian Defence Research Wing

 

That was last weeks crash

 

Both number sixes, one of the solos. Quite a coincidence.

 

Glad to hear that Major Turner is okay. But sad to see him as he "reports to the ol' Man".
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Oops!

 

The Blues took off this morning and came right over my house on the way to Tennessee. I live right in line with the runway and anytime the take off going west they buzz me. I sit outside and watch every practice when I am off. Pensacola is there hometown and people all over this area love those guys like family. Very sad news..RIP #6

 

Matt-

Any idea what the deal is with them restricting public access to the naval station to only the west gate? We tried to come to the practice yesterday through the main gate (like we have for years), and they turned us around and sent us to the west gate, where traffic was backed up at least an hour to get in. It was nuts. I think most of the people who wanted to go to that practice were stuck out on the highway watching from their cars. The guard told us they started it about three months ago but had no idea why.


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Thunderbirds were scheduled to perform here at Kirtland AFB, NM this weekend. Understandably, performance is cancelled. 75th Anniversay of KAFB. My father flew here in WW-II.

 

I was going to drive down to watch. Saw them there a long time ago.

Grew up at the N. end of the N/S runway in the 50's and 60's.
B-36's landing over our house. Pictures falling off the wall.

 

Yup, same thing when I was in San Antonio in the early 50s. Six turning and four burning make a lot of racket, plus they blocked out the sun on a mass launch.

 

sad days,,and with the troops killed in ft hood floods,,,

was the blue angles jet taking off? or in flight ,,people on the ground said the pilot stuck with the jet to keep it away from the homes,,sad -but he was/is a hero R.I.P.

 

Also, Pic of pilot under silk.

Some were asking if he ejected after the plane was on the ground.

He did not, was approx a half mile from the wreckage.

Crews Move Thunderbird From Crash Site « CBS Denver

 

Nathan....Nobody I talked to really knows what caused the change. Over the years the base has slowly had section after section of it become off limits to the public. The only places I think the public really has access to is the museum, lighthouse, campgrounds, and the runway only during airshows and practice. A friend of mines neighborhood that he grew up on is now covered in trespassing signs warning prosecution if your caught in the area. It has made airshow practice days pretty tough for me to get to work some days. All military and base workers can enter the front but they see the most traffic when the Blues practice. You really do got to head that way extra early and I can't imagine how many tourist they turn away on those days. I'm sure they have a reason for it but they definitely are not explaining why.

 

Very sad day here in Pensacola as Fat Albert brought home Jeff Kuss body escorted by one of the jets. They are having a candle light vigil tomorrow night on the base I am going to try to attend. A Gofund me account for his family has reached $270,000. Prayers for him and his family.

Thousands Honor Fallen Blue Angel As Remains Come Home

https://www.gofundme.com/jeffkuss

 

Fantastic video of Capt. Kuss' last flight home down the beach.

https://www.facebook.com/pensacolavibes/videos/522492077946283/

Release from the Blue Angels regarding his flight home:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 7, 2016
Release #: 2016-018

Blue Angels Statement from Commanding Officer
Blue Angels Public Affairs

NAS PENSACOLA, Fla. – Good afternoon to all of the Blue Angels friends and supporters in Pensacola, Florida.

Presently, our number six pilot, the Opposing Solo, Capt. Jeff Kuss, is returning to Pensacola aboard Fat Albert, where he will be reunited with his family, friends, teammates, and the Pensacola community. Jeff absolutely loved our Sunday evening arrivals. Flying in over downtown, “smokin’ the beach” from Pensacola to Perdido, and then the hitting the Delta Pitch Up Break at sunset into Naval Air Station Pensacola. The smile I would see radiating under that gold visor was truly spectacular. It emanated the pride, passion, and pure joy that he felt representing the Navy and Marine Corps, flying Blue Angel 6.

Tonight, I hope you will join the team in saluting him as he flies that special route home to Pensacola again. He is flying in Fat Albert – callsign “Blue Angel 6”, and escorted by the Lead Solo, in Blue Angel 5.

As Jeff’s family and the Blue Angels have navigated this immensely difficult time, a constant gift has been the unwavering support from our hometown of Pensacola, and from all across this great nation.

This great city, and also this great nation has lost a Blue Angel. We are all grieving this tremendous loss, and inspired by the life he lived so incredibly well.

Our number one priority now is to assist the Kuss family in honoring Jeff and returning him to Durango, Colorado, where he will be surrounded by his beautiful family. We thank you for your continuous support, and will honor Jeff with you at the Candlelight Vigil.

When you see the Solos overhead tonight, please send him your thoughts, prayers, and a Semper Fi. ~Boss

-- Blue Angels --


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https://www.facebook.com/WKRG.Debbie.Williams/videos/1028545423859952/

 

RIP
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MOSCOW — A pilot of the Russian air force's elite aerobatic squadron died Thursday when his fighter jet crashed near Moscow.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the Su-27 fighter jet went down while returning from a training mission. It said, according to preliminary information, the crash had been caused by a technical malfunction, but wouldn't elaborate pending an official probe.
The Russian Knights aerobatic squadron identified the pilot on its Facebook page as Maj. Sergei Yeremenko.
Related Stories:
Thunderbirds Jet Crashes After Flyover of Air Force Academy Graduation
Fatal Blue Angels Accident Hours after Thunderbirds Plane Crashes
Russian TV stations broadcast images of the wreckage scattered around a forest and a plume of black smoke rising over the trees.
According to news reports, the plane crashed while returning to its base in Kubinka, west of Moscow, after a group demonstration flight marking the opening of a monument to airmen near Moscow. The Interfax news agency said the plane that crashed had recently undergone factory repairs. Emergency crews have already have recovered the plane's flight recorder.
The Russian Knights are famous for their spectacular low passes and synchronized maneuvers. They perform widely at air shows in Russia and abroad.


Sounds like the Su-27 had just returned from a depot level phase inspection, so no telling what was left loose. When I picked up F-111s at McClellan AFB after depot phases, it was often a chance to practice real live emergencies.
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or fours..


Unbelievable coincidence. It’s the fourth incident to a military aerobatic display team in one week, the second today!

On Jun. 9, two Swiss Air Force F-5 belonging to the Patrouille Suisse aerobatic display team collided during a practice display at Leeuwarden air base, in the Netherlands.

https://theaviationist.com/2016/06/09/unbelievable-coincidence-patrouille-suisse-jet-crashes-after-collision-at-leeuwarden-airbase/