RAAF EA/18G destroyed at Red Flag 18-1

[snafu]

A RAAF EA/18G has aborted its take off due to an engine fire, pilot and crew are uninjured at this time. A joint USAF/RAAF investigation is to take place, imagine USN will sit in as well.

I'm expecting all RAAF flights to be grounded till a cause is known which may effect flight operations here in Australia as the F/A-18F  use the same airframes and engines, how this effects USN operations is TBA 

australianaviation.com.au/2018/01/raaf-growler-catches-fire-after-nellis-afb-takeoff-incident/

The incident also shows the need when buying aircraft the need for attrition replacements, it will be interesting to see if we will replace with a new airframe or wait till we have sufficient numbers of F35A and convert the prewired jets to G configuration 

[kiwithrottlejockey]

An Australian who was over for the weekend to watch the flying at TVAL in Masterton showed me a photo of the aftermath on his phone. He said it had just happened.

[mcmaster]

australianaviation.com.au/2018/01/new-image-shows-extent-of-fire-damage-to-raaf-growler/

Latest images show how badly damaged the Growler is. Mostly it was great to hear the crew was OK. I read this Red Flag was going to be special with stuff like GPS signals being blocked. Hopefully they can get back into the air soon with the remaining A/c.

[mcmaster]

www.flightglobal.com/defence/usa-clears-australian-buy-of-single-ea-18g-to-replace-jet-lost-at-nellis/145727.article

The US State Department has approved the sale of a former US Navy Boeing EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft to Australia, to replace an almost-new example lost in a runway incident in the US in 2018.

Under the US$125 million deal Australia will acquire one EA-18G in Lot 38 (or later) configuration from US Navy stock and it will then be modified to RAAF specifications to enable commonality with the remainder of the fleet.

“The proposed sale will allow Australia to effectively maintain its current force projection capability that enhances interoperability with US forces well into the future and maintain their original primary lave of aircraft authorised,” the Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) statement reads.

"This aircraft would replace Australia’s EA-18G (A46-311) aircraft lost in an accident at Nellis Air Force Base."

[lesterpk]

I guess the one they banged out of on the runway in Qld will be repaired then.

[mcmaster]

Oct 2, 2021 1:17:49 GMT 12 lesterpk said:

I guess the one they banged out of on the runway in Qld will be repaired then.

Assume so as full fleet of 24 Supers recognised in ADF budget. Not sure though if .223 has been seen out and about yet.