On February 12th, 2007, a Royal Air Force Hercules C-130J transport was coming in to land on an improvised airstrip in Maysaan province, Iraq. Insurgents had planted two improvised explosive devices (IED's) next to the runway. As the aircraft touched down, they detonated the IED's, blowing off the left wing from the outer engine to the wingtip and driving the aircraft off the runway. Amazingly, the flight crew were able to bring it to a halt with only two minor injuries to those on board. You can read the accident report here.
The RAF decided the aircraft was too badly damaged to be recoverable, despite its pre-incident value of more than $70 million, so it was decided to destroy it in place. The plane was duly prepared for explosive demolition, producing this grand slam finale to its military career.
Perhaps a tad too generous with the old det cord there, old boy?
Peter
"Think ya used enough dynamite there, Butch?"
ReplyDeleteYa think??? They won't be buffing THAT out! :-0
ReplyDeleteMore C-4 is always better than not enough.
ReplyDeleteGerry
You'd think they'd remove salvageable parts, like engines, etc.
ReplyDeleteYeah, what Dirk said.
ReplyDeleteI feel a great disturbance in the force, as if millions of hippies suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced.
ReplyDeleteoops wrong post
ReplyDelete