The Greek Air Force has just salvaged one of its Mirage 2000 fighters. The aircraft crashed on June 9th, very near the coast of the island of Samos, in relatively shallow water (apparently sustaining remarkably little damage in the process). A team of divers and a recovery barge brought it to the surface. Here, posted by the Greek Air Force, are a series of photographs illustrating the recovery.
Love that clear blue Mediterranean water! In the height of summer, I bet this was one job the salvage divers thoroughly enjoyed!
Here's a brief video clip of the crashed aircraft and its recovery.
Congratulations to all concerned on what looks to have been a very neat and successful job of work.
Peter
EDITED TO ADD: I should have mentioned this, but as Bob points out in Comments, the crew ejected safely. That's why those two almost-vertical rails are sticking up out of the front and rear cockpits; they're the rails up which the ejection seats rode as part of the bail-out process.
Beautiful water, and I too am impressed with the condition of the aircraft. Probably tremendbous salt water damage/corrosion, however.
ReplyDeleteThe good news is that according to an article at http://english.sina.com/world/p/2011/0623/378857.html and others, both crew members ejected safely and were rescued by a military vessel.
Have found nothing definitive, but engine failure seems to be the consensus (investigation ongoing).
Amazing story and photos.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the Mirage 2000 for some reason.
The electronics must have been destroyed by the salt water. Amazing that the plane wound up where it did just short of a rocky collision.
ReplyDeleteWrong bale (cotton, hay)
ReplyDeleteBail (empty, leave i.e. pool, plane)
Nice job, but they're NOT gonna put that one back in service...
ReplyDelete@Anon 1.37: Fixed it, thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhy does this remind me of a James Bond movie?
ReplyDelete