Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2022 23:26:44 GMT 12
PILOT WRESTLES JET TO SAFETY
(New Zealand Press Association—Copyright)
SYDNEY, June 27.
A young pilot attached to the Royal New Zealand Air Force almost bailed out twice as he wrestled his crippled Skyhawk jet fighter to an emergency landing at Williamtown air base near Newcastle, New South Wales, last night.
For five tense minutes the pilot, Captain Ed Carter, an American, did not Know whether he would save the aircraft or crash in a ball of flames.
At the height of his struggle to control the jet, it rolled upside down and dropped to 200 ft above the ground. A Fokker Friendship aircraft was forced to circle near Williamtown for more, than half an hour, its passenger unaware of the drama, taking place below.
The Skyhawk was taking part in operations about 24 Kilometres off the coast when its hydraulic system failed. Captain Carter jettisoned his fuel tanks at sea, and radioed to the R.A.A.F. control tower that he would try to land the crippled aircraft. Emergency crews at the base were positioned at several points along the runway. Captain Carter had to fly the supersonic jet using only manual controls because the fault had knocked out most of the flight systems.
“I had my doubts about making it back to the base,” Captain Carter said. “Twice I was within a split second of ejecting out of there. I almost ditched the aircraft when she rolled 90 degrees and then banked to 200 ft.
"I thought I had lost it,” he said. Captain Carter is a United States Air Force officer on exchange with the R.N.Z.A.F. He has been in New Zealand for 12 months and has a wife Teresa and two children at Ohakea. He is attached to No. 75 squadron.
PRESS, 28 JUNE 1975
(New Zealand Press Association—Copyright)
SYDNEY, June 27.
A young pilot attached to the Royal New Zealand Air Force almost bailed out twice as he wrestled his crippled Skyhawk jet fighter to an emergency landing at Williamtown air base near Newcastle, New South Wales, last night.
For five tense minutes the pilot, Captain Ed Carter, an American, did not Know whether he would save the aircraft or crash in a ball of flames.
At the height of his struggle to control the jet, it rolled upside down and dropped to 200 ft above the ground. A Fokker Friendship aircraft was forced to circle near Williamtown for more, than half an hour, its passenger unaware of the drama, taking place below.
The Skyhawk was taking part in operations about 24 Kilometres off the coast when its hydraulic system failed. Captain Carter jettisoned his fuel tanks at sea, and radioed to the R.A.A.F. control tower that he would try to land the crippled aircraft. Emergency crews at the base were positioned at several points along the runway. Captain Carter had to fly the supersonic jet using only manual controls because the fault had knocked out most of the flight systems.
“I had my doubts about making it back to the base,” Captain Carter said. “Twice I was within a split second of ejecting out of there. I almost ditched the aircraft when she rolled 90 degrees and then banked to 200 ft.
"I thought I had lost it,” he said. Captain Carter is a United States Air Force officer on exchange with the R.N.Z.A.F. He has been in New Zealand for 12 months and has a wife Teresa and two children at Ohakea. He is attached to No. 75 squadron.
PRESS, 28 JUNE 1975
