F-16 straffs school in New Jersey

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Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
The pilot was a professional. I do know how hard it is to become a F-16 pilot and the reason why it's so hard is because this kind of mistake can't be tolerated. He failed to do his job right and could've caused major chaos. He had his chance and failed it very bad. There're many other guys who can take his spot. Let him move on. The military isn't a place where this kind of mistake can be forgiven.

Actually, it is. Dozens of allied forces are killed every year by American military forces with little or no recourse. Things are stolen and looted from invaded countries, cars are run over with tanks as punishment, etc. The military allows for far more mistakes than the business world.

This mistake wasn't the pilots fault. The story leads us to believe that an enemy soldier actually triggered his cannon. I bet the pilot is given a slap on the wrist.

In the war, in that chaos...yes, it can be forgiven because of its extreme circumstances. If this incident happened during the war, I would've said something different about it because I know how crazy it gets. However, the pilot was NOT in the war. It's that simple. A pilot who can't even do the job right when in a training cannot do anything right in the war.

Dude, that pilot was actively involved in the war on terrorism. How can you say he wasn't in a war?

Such disrespect for the brave people of our armed forces, putting their lives on the line. It makes me sick.
 

Babbles

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2001
8,253
14
81
On one hand sure I see how and why the pilot is held responsible. On the other hand though I think one thing that is significant here is that there seems to be no sense of gross negligence on the part of the pilot. At that altitude going however fast he was going at night firing his cannon at a target, it does seem quite reasonable that a honest mistake can be made. It is not like the ammunition to that cannon has a video camera in the nose of each round so the pilot can see where it is going. Performing that kind of attack has to be one of the more difficult things to do.

I would find the school district to be negligent in realizing that there was a practice range that has been there since WWII and still building a school nearby.
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
The pilot was a professional. I do know how hard it is to become a F-16 pilot and the reason why it's so hard is because this kind of mistake can't be tolerated. He failed to do his job right and could've caused major chaos. He had his chance and failed it very bad. There're many other guys who can take his spot. Let him move on. The military isn't a place where this kind of mistake can be forgiven.

Actually, it is. Dozens of allied forces are killed every year by American military forces with little or no recourse. Things are stolen and looted from invaded countries, cars are run over with tanks as punishment, etc. The military allows for far more mistakes than the business world.

This mistake wasn't the pilots fault. The story leads us to believe that an enemy soldier actually triggered his cannon. I bet the pilot is given a slap on the wrist.

In the war, in that chaos...yes, it can be forgiven because of its extreme circumstances. If this incident happened during the war, I would've said something different about it because I know how crazy it gets. However, the pilot was NOT in the war. It's that simple. A pilot who can't even do the job right when in a training cannot do anything right in the war.

From the way you wrote that, it seems you expect people who are "training" to do something already be sufficiently prepared and have the ability to act in actual combat?
 

Deadtrees

Platinum Member
Dec 31, 2002
2,351
0
0
Originally posted by: Nebor
I tell you what, let's judge who's right by the punishment he gets, ok? If he loses his wings, you win. Otherwise, it goes to me. But we know what's gonna happen, right? The reason he won't lose his wings is because it's not a big deal. It's actually pretty funny!

What I've been saying comes from an experience of my time in the service. Making that kind of mistake, having newspapers talking about this kind of issue is considered VERY bad, not to mention he was a freaking F-16 pilot who was supposed to be well trained. Unless it was a fault of the figther itself, I have no doubt he'd be discharged from his job. I guess he'll have to work on the ground. It's blurry up there? He was moving too fast? All the buildings look the same up there? That's just what you think and that's something that pilot would never say as that'd be the most shameful line coming from a F-16 pilot.
 

Deadtrees

Platinum Member
Dec 31, 2002
2,351
0
0
Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
The pilot was a professional. I do know how hard it is to become a F-16 pilot and the reason why it's so hard is because this kind of mistake can't be tolerated. He failed to do his job right and could've caused major chaos. He had his chance and failed it very bad. There're many other guys who can take his spot. Let him move on. The military isn't a place where this kind of mistake can be forgiven.

Actually, it is. Dozens of allied forces are killed every year by American military forces with little or no recourse. Things are stolen and looted from invaded countries, cars are run over with tanks as punishment, etc. The military allows for far more mistakes than the business world.

This mistake wasn't the pilots fault. The story leads us to believe that an enemy soldier actually triggered his cannon. I bet the pilot is given a slap on the wrist.

In the war, in that chaos...yes, it can be forgiven because of its extreme circumstances. If this incident happened during the war, I would've said something different about it because I know how crazy it gets. However, the pilot was NOT in the war. It's that simple. A pilot who can't even do the job right when in a training cannot do anything right in the war.

Dude, that pilot was actively involved in the war on terrorism. How can you say he wasn't in a war?

Such disrespect for the brave people of our armed forces, putting their lives on the line. It makes me sick.

What I said is that He WAS NOT in the war when he made that mistake. And, as I said before I've been in the service. I was a squad leader of special forces and once was in a combat. It doesn't matter if he's brave or not in this case. A brave man without right skill can cause more damage to US. Would you trust a brave sniper who shoots your own people by mistakes?


P.S: I do not disrepect the man. I respect him. I just don't think he should be in that position as he made a mistake that pilots shouldn't make. Don't forget that you need to see this issue in the eyes of military, not in the eyes of a civilian. A pilot is damn freaking hard to become. A pilot is such an important position and they're required to NOT make this kind of mistake and that's the reason why those pilots go through series of tests and tests.
 

Deadtrees

Platinum Member
Dec 31, 2002
2,351
0
0
And....he isn't just a newbie in traning. Do you think a newbie can be on a F-16 hitting a target with real ammunitions? He was tested, tested and tested to be there so he wouldn't make this kind of mistake. Say there's a sniper in training and he shoots his own men, would you put him in the position because it was a mistake and it's okay as nobody got hurt? A man who's not steady in training can never ever do the job right in the chaos called the war. Maybe, military can be nice for a guy with a mistake but then again that guy might kill his own people in the line of fire. That's why this kind of mistake can't be tolerated in the service.

This reminds me of this guy who was in my squad. A very nice guy who was hard working and trying his best all the time. I liked him having in my squad. However, I never gave him an important mission as I know he may get me and my men hurt and himself.
 

Deadtrees

Platinum Member
Dec 31, 2002
2,351
0
0
Oh well, I've said enough about this situation. I guess it's just different when we see this matter in the eyes of a civilian or military. I hope any (ex)military personnel who (were)are in a leader position could give out different opnions than mine. I'll just wait and see what happens to the pilot.
 

element

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,635
0
0
Commercial:

Two kids shooting spitballs while the teacher has her back to them writing something on the chalkboard

"Bet you can't hit teach from here"

"Can too" spppppt

Air force ad slogan "We've been waiting for you..."

Cut to two pilots flying over the school years later after they join the AF.

"Bet you can't hit teach from here"

"Can too!" rat a tat tat tat tat tat

 

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
0
The jet that fired the rounds was assigned to the 113th Wing of the District of Columbia Air National Guard, based at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. It returned there after the shots were fired, an Air National Guard spokesman said.
Oh oh. I used to be a part of the 113th Guard unit. :Q

 

Orsorum

Lifer
Dec 26, 2001
27,631
5
81
Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
The jet that fired the rounds was assigned to the 113th Wing of the District of Columbia Air National Guard, based at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. It returned there after the shots were fired, an Air National Guard spokesman said.
Oh oh. I used to be a part of the 113th Guard unit. :Q

:Q
 

Svnla

Lifer
Nov 10, 2003
17,986
1,388
126
I gotta say this.... PWNED!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL.

The pilot, ground control, and whoever else involved in this will be in big trouble. How could you screw up like that?

On a side note, I live near a big AF base. A few months ago, some guy was cleaning the big gun from the A-10 and somehow, it discharged live ammo. Nobody was hurt but someone did get into big trouble for that (there was suppose to be no ammo in that gun).
 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
The pilot was a professional. I do know how hard it is to become a F-16 pilot and the reason why it's so hard is because this kind of mistake can't be tolerated. He failed to do his job right and could've caused major chaos. He had his chance and failed it very bad. There're many other guys who can take his spot. Let him move on. The military isn't a place where this kind of mistake can be forgiven.

Actually, it is. Dozens of allied forces are killed every year by American military forces with little or no recourse. Things are stolen and looted from invaded countries, cars are run over with tanks as punishment, etc. The military allows for far more mistakes than the business world.

This mistake wasn't the pilots fault. The story leads us to believe that an enemy soldier actually triggered his cannon. I bet the pilot is given a slap on the wrist.

In the war, in that chaos...yes, it can be forgiven because of its extreme circumstances. If this incident happened during the war, I would've said something different about it because I know how crazy it gets. However, the pilot was NOT in the war. It's that simple. A pilot who can't even do the job right when in a training cannot do anything right in the war.

Dude, that pilot was actively involved in the war on terrorism. How can you say he wasn't in a war?

Such disrespect for the brave people of our armed forces, putting their lives on the line. It makes me sick.
You are now just being sarcastic right?
 

element

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,635
0
0
Originally posted by: Svnla
I gotta say this.... PWNED!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL.

The pilot, ground control, and whoever else involved in this will be in big trouble. How could you screw up like that?...

Ever seen aerial photography? All you see is trees, roofs, roads, fields, basically just the top of everything and they all look the same. You can't tell one building from another that easily.