RNLAF F16 for Guinness

[Tony Kearns]

I recall a question arose about a visit of RNLAF F16 to Baldonnel. Eventually dug up the attached.

[Tony Kearns]

Sorry finger trouble wrong one.

[Fouga]

How is it the yanks wont land their F16's there but the dutch will not a bother!

[pym]

isnt it to do with the lack of arresting gear in baldonnel, coupled with the relatively short runway?

if i remember right, the dutch were surprised by the lack of gear too

still it's funny that over the years drakens and f/a-18s have landed there

[Silver]

When you guys say "arresting gear" do you mean arrestor wires as used on a ships landing deck ?

[pym]

yup, the f-16 has an arrestor hook which it can use in an emergency

although i could be completely and utterly off the mark as to why the USAF dont fly f-16's into baldonnel

[John K]

Most military runways have a RHAG (Runway Horizontal Arrestor Gear) that can be flipped up at the end of the runway, it's just a cable that stands up about 10ft with loads of bungies that suspend from it to the floor which will retard the progress of an aircraft that's lost it's brakes.

[John K]

Mind you a trench dug along the threshold does a good job of retarding a HS125s progress that's lost it's brakes!
I remember that 'cos I was on Stand Too and had to guard the wreckage!

[Frank]

Hi John,

I think you're confusing two different pieces of equipment, what you described is basically a net that catches the entire aircraft, but the cable is also strung along the runway but at a lower level and catches the arrestor hook that drops down under the aircraft.


Regards,

Frank.

[Tony Kearns]

Now WHO, has gone off thread ?

[Frank]

Hi Tony,

I haven't gone off thread, the whole debate about the RNLAF F-16's at Baldonnel the first time around concerned the requirement for / lack of arrestor gear at Baldonnel.

By posting the F-16 pictures it was shown that the F-16 could land without the gear being present the question was bound to pop up again, so I think the questions / talk about arrestor gear and the various types of said equipment is valid in this thread.


Regards,

Frank.

[Tony Kearns]

Hello Frank,
I posted the pictures to show that the particular F16 of the The Netherlands Air Force did in fact land at Baldonnel and not to show "that a F16 could land without arresting gear etc" and it was in respect of a doubt expressed that the particular aircraft had in fact gone to Dublin Airport.
Tony K

[Fouga]

F1 Mirages have no probs getting into Bal either, the Spanish F1 that did a very spirited display at Salthill years ago had no probs getting in or out, Col Sanchez i think? He was on fumes when he came back to Bal so im told.

[Frank]

Hi Tony,

I appreciate your reasons for posting the pictures, but the original post (which I can't seem to find) did have a discussion about arrestor gear as well as whether the F-16 went into Dublin or Baldonnel.


Regards,

Frank.

[Irish251]

And a picture of this F-16B on the Baldonnel ramp has been posted here previously too, I think.