TheGreenGoblin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 1:40 pm
Der verrückte Major's routine must have been something to behold. Is he still extant?
"Bill tragically passed away, in of all things, a car accident, well before his time."
In 1966-1967 Commander "Bill" Ongena was the official demo-pilot on F-104 for the Belgian Air Force being member of the "Slivers" demo team. Later William "Bill" Ongena was promoted to a higher rank and was assigned to the ministry of defense.
Lieutenant Colonel William "Bill" Ongena was an Belgian Air Force pilot and flew on F-104G starfighter. "Bill" Ongena was one of the few and the first to be able to perform a "Touch-Roll-Touch" in a F-104G. A maneuver deemed impossible even amongst F-104 test-pilots. Lieutenant Colonel Ongena unfortunately died in a car accident near Bierbeek after his active career in the Belgian Air Force.
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Bill was the first of a small cadre of pilots that ever attempted this ultra-intense manoeuvre, of which many are said to have died trying. One pilot, Ferry Van Der Geest, stated:
This famous touch-roll-touch was only performed in Belgium (note: apparently an American pilot died trying it and other pilots from other air forces did it or died trying to do it as well), one day a pilot had an afterburner (AB) blow-out and he crashed on the second touch, killing himself in the process. It is an extremely dangerous manoeuvre with no room for error whatsoever. The average touchdown speed is at around 175 knots and the use of AB is totally mandatory. So far no one has ever done something like this afterwards.
Another pilot, Wolfgang Czaia, said:
This one shows Belgian Air Force pilot Bill Ongena doing the so-called ‘Touch-Roll-Touch’, but other pilots of other air forces have done it as well. He approaches the runway with gear and take-off flaps extended, touches down briefly, applies full power and pulls up to about 50 feet while initiating a roll on his upward trajectory. Then comes a power reduction, possibly speed brake extension to slow down, and descent to another touch-and-go. With the landing gear down, full aileron travel (20°) is available, producing a sufficiently good rate to complete a 360° roll without the nose dropping dangerously low. (With landing gear up, the aileron throw is only 10°). It was strictly a “show” maneuver to demonstrate the controllability of the airplane, and had no practical application. After Belgian pilot Jacobs was killed during a practice flight, the maneuver was prohibited.
https://fighterjetsworld.com/air/video- ... vers/5887/
https://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-articl ... euver.html