>> The pilot then maintains control of the vehicle
This seems to have been a training flight. Im sure the black box (if there was one) heard an excited "i have control" from the senior pilot once the grinding noise started.
sidewndr46•1h ago
Is this the same one that was randomly in the middle east for an extended duration with no explanation?
heyflyguy•1h ago
What a bummer. We helped map the Kerrville floods for support of the state. Same day we mapped it, so did this WB-57 - only 35K feet above us. Such a historic and unique aircraft - I feel bad for the pilots onboard knowing it will likely total that aircraft even if it was a mechanical failure.
dylan604•8m ago
Was it flying at the same time? Maybe your plane is visible in the WB-57's imagery?
tester756•1h ago
What will happen to the vehicle after such crash landing?
Is it possible (reasonably) to repair it? or it will never fly?
HPsquared•1h ago
That depends on a lot of factors. What is the damage, how much would it cost to repair, and is spending that much considered worthwhile by NASA or whoever owns it? (Or whoever buys it after this)
dylan604•13m ago
So the exact same thought process for any one dealing with insurance companies after an auto accident. This isn't really ground breaking analysis.
thomasjb•44m ago
One of them was returned to service after 40 years in the boneyard in Arizona, back in 2011, I would expect they'll look at the other airframes there to see if they're suitable sources for a rebuild. Wouldn't be surprised if this is the end of this one though, it was already doing pretty well for a design that first flew in 1949 (the English Electric Canberra design that was then built by Martin)
altmanaltman•36m ago
It depends, but NASA has 2 more of these (currently under inspection, so not in flying condition). Given its importance, its most likely they will find a way to make it fly again.
xattt•32m ago
I’m surprised that there are no airframes that can be rebuilt to support a similar function.
ekianjo•27m ago
That's not a crash, that's a controlled landing
Retric•19m ago
As neutrally as possible, a gear up landing is suboptimal.
dylan604•9m ago
That's the smoothest landing I've ever seen including normal ones on landing gear.
sandworm101•1h ago
This seems to have been a training flight. Im sure the black box (if there was one) heard an excited "i have control" from the senior pilot once the grinding noise started.