This one was really close. Big post flight hose-down. Check out the speed brakes fully deployed on the F-16 on the left!

These guys are better than this, but close calls do happen. Obviously the timing was off in this maneuver. In a crossover, both planes try to cross each other at the same altitude going different directions.

The lead plane flies a constant airspeed, and the second plane adjusts his airspeed (relative motion) to stay as close possible without having a mid-air.

In the photo, the second plane was going too fast and pulled his speed brakes (panels sticking out on tail) and idled his engine (decreased contrail). He also was changing his altitude, based on the aeronautical law that states that two planes cannot occupy the same airspace at the same time.

The altitude change was what saved his butt. I still can't believe they didn't swap paint.

Nice shot but...



http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/t/tbirds.htm

BULLSH!T.

22 years in the Air Force, and over 100 airshows later, maybe 50 feet (more like 5). I have seen them do this often, and not just the thunderbirds. That statement came from the chief of media relations for the Thunderbirds, of course they are going to say that.

with the burner shuting down and the brakes out i would guess a SNAFU was going on

I'm gonna hafta side with Ace on this one. As a spectator and worker at many airshows (thanks to the Air Force), I've seen the same thing many times as well.

And while the content of the e-mails and commentary that's being circulated around the 'Net may be hokey, I can assure you that those planes aren't nearly as far as 500 feet apart. 50 at most, as Ace said. They do that to give the impression that they're THAT close, and at 350-400 mph, it certainly FEELS that close I'm sure.

Since the wingspan of those planes is in the 35 ft range, it's easy to see that if you add another 500 feet to the equation, the plane in the foreground would look much larger in comparison.

It's a case of half and half - half bullsh!t on the internet rumors part, and half truth on the maneuver being staged to look as such.

*EDIT* My mistake, I typed '75 ft' when I meant '35 ft' for the plane's wingspan. A quick look at F-16 specs set me straight.

SO do you think it is a normal manuver or they just got too close?

They got too close as the speed brakes wouldn't be deployed or the obvious throttle down.

Well, yes and no... and I have no idea.

Yes - it's a normal maneuver. Depending on the crowd perspective and particular stunt, it can be either a crossover from left to right at stage center flying towards the crowd. Or, it can be a crossover at the top of their opposing loop stunt. I'd bet on the first one, based on the shadows - most Thunderbird shows take place beginning at either 1 or 3 PM. Which puts the sun pretty much straight up to cast the shadows as they are in that pic.

No - it's not 'normal' for them to get too close... although they are people and make mistakes. I'll show you why I say that in another thread about the same thing.

I have no idea - if they were too close or not... I'm not a Thunderbird pilot with the 'stunt handbook.' I'm pretty sure they were in minimal danger in that stunt though. They do that all the time.

One thing I have to note though - there's no evidence of throttled-down or up. The F-16 doesn't leave a smoke trail when it's on the gas - normally. The Thunderbird regularly use smoke devices during their shows - which is what's making the trails.

I have no idea about Aeronautics, but if those pics are not fake, they're pretty impressive.

The pictures aren't fake. The question here is whether or not the pilots were in any danger of colliding.

200+knots, 20/30 feet apart, sounds pretty dangerous to me. If this is matter of fact, everyday flying, then I bow to them.

Roger that.