An RAF pilot who lost his sight in the middle of a training flight was talked down through a safe landing by a comrade who flew behind him, it has been disclosed.
The dramatic rescue happened last week at RAF Leeming during a routine training flight in a Hawk jet.
The unnamed pilot radioed to base after he was suddenly lost vision because of a suspected medical problem while flying solo above North Yorkshire in the BAE Systems single-engine training jet.
At one point the pilot’s vision was so bad that commander’s considered having him eject into the North Sea because there was little chance he could land safely, sources said.
But the prospect of him suffering ejection injuries, as well as losing the plane led them to dispatch another pilot, Flt Lt Paul Durban, to try to talk him down.
Flt Lt Durban, a 39-year-old father of two who flew Tornados in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming an instructor at RAF Leeming, flew close behind the stricken pilot to talk him down.
A source said: “They think he had an infection in his eye and he just couldn’t see. The other pilot flew behind him and talked him down. They got him down safely and the plane is OK. Flt Lt Durban is fine too, though I think he was pretty exhausted.”
The RAF on Sunday confirmed the incident on January 28, but refused to comment on the condition of the stricken pilot. Sources said his vision was thought to have been affected by the sudden deterioration of an eye infection.
An RAF spokesman said: “During a routine training sortie on Thursday, one of our pilots temporarily suffered a partial loss of vision. To assist in the recovery of the aircraft to RAF Leeming, the pilot used the radio to request the assistance of a wingman and was promptly joined by another aircraft from the same squadron.
“The impaired pilot flew in formation back to RAF Leeming with the other aircraft where the pilot landed the aircraft uneventfully. Flying in formation, and conducting an approach to land as a formation, is a skill practised daily by RAF fast jet pilots.”
The RAF’s 100 Sqn use Hawk jets at RAF Leeming, near Richmond in North Yorkshire, to train forward air controllers and to act as enemy jets in practice missions. They are also flown by the RAF’s aerobatic team, the Red Arrows.
'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
An impressive account of bravery and ingenuity :
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Re: 'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
Yes, indeed an impressive account of bravery and ingenuity. But not this part:
At one point the pilot’s vision was so bad that commander’s considered having him eject into the North Sea because there was little chance he could land safely, sources said.
Eject into the North Sea? A newly blind man floating around in the North Sea? A death sentence that would have been.
At one point the pilot’s vision was so bad that commander’s considered having him eject into the North Sea because there was little chance he could land safely, sources said.
Eject into the North Sea? A newly blind man floating around in the North Sea? A death sentence that would have been.
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Re: 'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
It might have been the least bad option. The fact that he was blind wouldn't have made it any harder for a serach and rescue op to find him.
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Re: 'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
From the article "The RAF on Sunday confirmed the incident on January 28,"
Does that mean the RAF now work weekends?
Does that mean the RAF now work weekends?
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Re: 'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
Capetonian wrote:It might have been the least bad option. The fact that he was blind wouldn't have made it any harder for a serach and rescue op to find him.
Agree, but landing in the sea blind, it's hard enough when you can see what you are doing, and then to get out of the rig
while being dragged along.
Anyway, a good outcome.
Can't wait to see if the Daily Wail write an article, I reckon Terrifying and a few other death defying words
will be used to "hype" it up.
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Re: 'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
I hope he gets back to flight duty (or whatever the term is) really fast.
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Re: 'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
Not without president. Sharpend on TOP got talked down in a Hawk by his backseater after a bird strike blinded him. He lost one eye but got back flying. He got a jolly big gong for that one. For goodness sake don't mention it to him you will get the story ad infinitum.
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Re: 'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
That's right, I remember that, it was a good story though.
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Re: 'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
Not without 'presiden't
Umm, precedent,... maybe?
You only live twice. Once when you're born. Once when you've looked death in the face.
Re: 'Blind' RAF pilot saved by wingman who talked him down
Maybe we can let him have president after all he's set the precedent.