Alconbury Ejection

[tc2324]

First one of the year from me after an enforced 3 month break, so lets start off with a famous photographed incident. 

 

RAF Phantom FG.1 XV589 flown by Flt. Lt. P. R. Watling and Flt. Lt. S. L. James was detached from RAF Leuchars for training purposes and was on a routine flight to Alconbury.

As the aircraft neared the airfield and lined up for the runway at approximately 350 feet altitude the nose section radome was seen to open. This sudden resultant drag factor caused the aircraft to roll and yaw. Despite attempts to correct the situation, the pilot and navigator had no option but to eject. They both landed safely and suffered slight injuries.

 

 

 

 

..... and for comparison, here are the actual photo`s 

 

Revell 1/48 kit and built for fun and the challenge of it.

Thanks for looking.

Edited January 25, 2020 by tc2324

[CJP]

Nicely done - your model really captures the drama of the incident

CJP

[stever219]

Very unusual and eye-catching.

 

One small point though; roll control on the Phantom uses the outer flaps coupled with spoilers on the upper wing surfaces as the flaps do not travel upwards past the “neutral” position so for a right roll input by the pilot the spoiler on the starboard wing will go up whilst the port outer flap will go down and vice versa for left roll demand.

 

 

[JohnT]

Very nice 

I expect to see a follow up with a Lightning, tractor and driver 

[Scimitar F1]

Always have wondered how the nose actually opened against the dynamic air pressure

[desert falcon]

What a great idea, hope your pilots are fine as well 🙂

[canberraman]

An excellent and unusual diorama. I well remember the dramatic photos in Aircraft Illustrated.

 

Mark

[Richard E]

41 minutes ago, Scimitar F1 said:

Always have wondered how the nose actually opened against the dynamic air pressure

It was as simple as a worn radome locking bolt and a loose locking handle: the radome had been correctly locked before the flight and had been checked by both the pilot and ground crew.  The subsequent investigation concluded that the lock had worked loose during the sortie where the aircraft had been exposed to manoeuvres exerting between 0 and 6 g; smilar wear was found on a number of other aircraft resulting in a modified locking mechanism being introduced.

 

@tc2324 a very different and imaginative way of displaying your model.

Edited January 25, 2020 by Richard E

[spitfire]

What  great idea and build, nice one

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[petetasker]

Remember it well - if memory serves it made the front cover of Aircraft Illustrated

[chris148]

Very different,Very nice

[RMCS]

Brilliant 

[F-32]

Superb idea and wonderfully executed

[Sky Keg]

I echo what F-32 has posted. Outstanding attention to detail!!!!!  Congratulations on an inspiring subject. 
 

Mike

[fewr9fkr9595]

That is awesome! 

[Vulcanicity]

Wow - brilliant and very different diorama idea! I am amazed the radome didn't instantly fly off in the slipstream once opened...

[exdraken]

Great result!

Never seen this photo before... very dramatic!!