FURTHER SPECTACULAR ACCIDENT FOR RAFs TROUBLED JET
There was another crash involving an RAF Hawk trainer jet last month (August 2008).
The main base for Hawk trainers is at RAF Valley on Anglesey and the aircraft is used extensively in training exercises over parts of the Irish sea, N. Wales and SW Scotland. It also utilises the civil airport at Ronaldsway on the Isle of Man for simulated approach and take-off training.
The Celtic League have frequently questioned the safety of the aircraft having established that over 25% of the RAF fleet have been lost in accidents. However, the accident statistics do not tell the complete story as when the Celtic League pressed the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence on the aircraft's safety record they admitted there had been an astonishing 93 incidents in three years (see link):
The MoD have also refused to carry out safety upgrades suggested following a fatal accident enquiry in 1999.
The latest crash occurred on August 20th 2008 and involved an aircraft attached to the RAF Red Arrows aerobatics team. The crash occurred at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. The MoD say that the cause of the crash is not known but the aircraft appears to have lost power and crashed in the car park adjacent to the control tower. Both aircrew ejected from the aircraft safely.
The incident is similar to a crash at RAF Mona (on Anglesey) in April 2007 when an aircraft lost power shortly after take-off. In addition, in September 2006, a Hawk had to make a forced landing at the Isle of Man civil airport at Ronaldsway when its engine started to disintegrate.
Related articles on Celtic News at:
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Also some items in the older Celtic League archive at:
J B Moffatt
Director of Information Celtic League
27/09/08
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