Jun 052011
An incorrectly titled video. The actual story is that an Iranian “Simorgh” AWACS plane, formerly an Iraqi “Adnan” AWACS plane, a modified Illyushin Il-76, collided in September with an Iranian F-5E fighter jet, lost its tail and plummetted to the ground (as opposed to plummetting into orbit, I suppose). Here is a recently released video taken from a tanker that just happens to catch the crash and fireball:
[youtube w_Cp2anHN3U]
6 Responses to “Whoops…”
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Shit, that’s something to see, isn’t it? Do they have any idea why the collision occurred, given it was daytime in good weather?
Also, what’s the Phantom got mounted above the inboard port wing pylon?
The object above the pylon is the TISEO (Target Identification System, Electro-Optical) system and on the wing tips are the antenna for AN/ALR-46 radar warning receiver.
And we sent those to the Shah exactly when?
The Imperial Iranian Air Force was one of the largest operators of Phantoms with well over 200 received. When the country became the Islamic Republic outstanding orders for approximately another 50 aircraft was halted and, of course, so was the delivery of spare parts. First aircraft delivered were F-4Ds in 1968.
Also, what’s going on with the outer wings on that Phantom? They look like they can swivel down several degrees to maintain lift at low speeds, and have something on the wingtips I’ve never seen before.
The aircraft looks like a “Phantom III” by the time the Iranians got done working on it.
The Iranians claim that the accident was caused by an engine fire in the right wing. While manuevering for an emergency landing they exceeded the aerodynamic limits of the rotordome which broke away, taking the tail with it. I don’t know which version is correct.