This video, apparently dating from 2014, shows a Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-24 (a Soviet equivalent to the US F-111) making a very low, very fast pass over other Ukrainian aircraft at the Starokostiantyniv air base.
At that speed, and that (lack of) height, one slip and he’d have been a smear of metal and strawberry jam on the earth . . .
Peter
Ay Caramba!! That was one brave and very lucky pilot.
That was a "Hold my vodka and watch this comrades!" kind of low pass.
Ballsy. Despite living near Farnborough, I've never seen a pass quite that 'in the weeds'.
If you liked that, you'll love this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXwUlKG9aN8
French Mirage pilots in Chad.
That's not as low as it looks. I saw videos 10 years ago where the cameraman looks down on the pilot. (No, I don't have them.)
regarding the Mirage pilots' video – notice the scene where the pilot was casually checking his nav chart while hurtling along? We can joke all we want about certain aspects of French society and their lamentable domestic policies, but they do produce some bad-ass warriors who are great allies in the war on terror.
The lowest pass seems to have been by a Harrier pilot or two in one of the videos I linked to from the Mirage video. Looked to be only about 5 feet off the deck! Crazy…
Gotta admit, my pulse quickens and pride swells when I see the Angels performing, even in video.
I might be wrong by a couple of feet but while I was stationed at NAS Key West back in '68, I saw one of the Blue Angels make a pass lower than that…..inverted.
I recall reading a tale of a Naval aviator who got in a argument with a railroad Co., Back in pre-Amtrak days. Being robbed on a ticket price, or some such.
Anyhoo, the fly-boy lost a case, and a fair amt. of money,to the RR Co's delight.
It wasn't too long after that that one of their trains came out of a tunnel, the driver saw the headlight of another train coming right down the track, head-on, and slammed the brakes on, flattening most of the trains wheels, at great expense. Funny thing, there WAS NO ON-COMING TRAIN…. But Our Hero WAS out on night manuvers, couple counties over….
And there's not much difference between a trains headlamp, and the landing light of an A-4…. 😊
Hi Pete!!!!,
I know ya' liked that vid!!! Try this one… go to my cover page on fb "Bill Deli" and check out the "Buzz Job" by the Beech 18!! My friend larry found it at "David Garrett> Beech 18/C45/AT-11/SNB Group" It's posted right below the one you posted!!
Blue skies!!,
skybill SCR-2034, SCS-680
PS As an old Skydiver I can say I have seen many!! As the Sun sets, the last load is out of the plane, the Pilot wings his way down and before he brings the bird to the barn he has to do a "Gear Check" before landing!!! 'KnowwhatImean???