SomebodythatIusedtonope
36742
836
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During an air-show in Idaho today two US Navy F/A-18 fighter jets collided mid-air. All pilots ejected and were seen descending safely under parachutes. https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article315790106.html
jointdawg94
This is where I like my tax dollars
AdroitCudgel
This crash is an epitome of the USA current state.
torokunai
just like the F-16 Thunderbirds pilot deciding a loop was OK 1000' too low back in '03, also at Mountain Home AFB
DefinitelyaHumanNotanAlien
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1dHh6b3V6cXdubDh6bnZ6cGhndGZ6NGJxbzhodW5lbWFxNDVjNXlzNSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/l2JeayE1sqOc1f1i8/200w.webp
lamontcranston
E/A, they're Growlers. Irreplacable electronic warfare platforms. Who thought that would be a good idea to use them for aerial demonstrations.
JackieTreehornProductions
Were they giving rides in the back seat? Still - use a trainer.
AtLeastImWearingUnderwear
Thanks Obama
swedeonamoose
Almost looked like a slow dance there for a while
IfOnlyICouldUseMyPowersForGood
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1OTg5MmI0ZWJtcDhvMGl0OTgyeXE1YmMyeHVyeGVraXEycW5zZ3gwZyZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/jOzNV8sEuxk6ChATDB/200w.webp
akambe
Yes... A Danse Macabre!
Jamesstin
They almost did not survive those ejections. Really not an ideal direction to be facing when the ejections occur. There's been pilots that have ejected just a second too late or early & ejected straight into the ground
Fentex
I was thinking about that - how fast they had to decide to go, because facing down you want to be as high as possible, no time to waste.
pushingchildrenintotraffic
here you see the two fa18 participating in their mating ritual. It is common for both male and female to connect in one glorious moment then almost instantly a litter of up to 4 new borns may appear. A joyous occasion - David Attenborough
madanthonywayne33924
Maybe spend more money on training instead of speed spending on lobster
MissMeaniePie
So, how's that "not" war going?
NoneOfYoBiseniss
That's alot of tax payer money down the drain for a airshow.
FlatPlutoSociety
These stupid things are inexcusably wasteful under the best of circumstances.
vatroslast
kimwimgoddess
You made me giggle.
hgfurgyhauh4uhghghuhgiqguhniij
I don't think it counts if you're not a mile high.
Neednoggle
The might of the American military in action, so efficient they down their own planes!
B0ardski
it's ok, the dow's at 50,000
EmeRgencyDrD
"Just let me love you!" - top plane prolly
DukePhelan
Every damn time.
BebeJeebies
Every year.
Profozpin
https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1NTkxbmFwaGh2eXhiMDBjd3Ruam9qa2NlZDV1b2YwbGtqb2I2c3M4eSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/l0Iy3MTOJNVLjEiRi/200w.webp
IncoherentApplesauce
Ooooh, that's EXPENSIVE.
ufoara
And these are our hopeful Flight instructors for the next generation of pilots. facepalm
DALLASLAVOWNER
Malak224
BaloneyBob
flordelasantillas
The U.S. Navy figure for the Block III Super Hornet was listed at $60 - $67 million each.
lamontcranston
Growler, not Hornet. Much more expensive. An Australian replacement was $125m.
GayBondageMaster
150 million dollars just disappeared in an instant.
hellvis
Maybe they can give up avocado toast for a while to replace them.
lamontcranston
250
sakm
If you're going to report breaking news, cite a source. https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article315790106.html
spontaneous9
thank you
SomebodythatIusedtonope
Fair enough.. I apologize for the lack, just added.
Doctorfatherson
Dont apologize to assholes that talk to you like that. A firm throat punch is whats called for
EmergencyDonut
You're integrity is rare. I appreciate you. Golf clap
https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1bWpiY3I2bTAyeGppODEwcHB0bWJtNTBzbDlobXVqcGkya3k0aDYzZiZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/Zf2tIG0ZuVhboPLY9I/200w.webp
Ps991
Thank you for acknowledging your mistake and fixing it. I've said the same thing and had OP tell me it's my responsibility to find a source and when I corrected them on why it's not, they called me a Nazi. So thank you for being a reasonable person.
BeachsideBarghest
Too many motherfuckers posting any damn thing without any fucking sources these days. This is Imgur, we still have SOME standards here.
Mezinov
I haven't found a source that mentions exactly what they were doing at collision - but given the speed, altitude, closure angle, and stated distance from the runway my guess is it was shortly after a twin takeoff. I suspect the crash investigation will find both crews at fault; they clearly lost visual of eachother. While most folks are bemoaning the cost of the crash I can't help but be relieved at how unbelievably lucky the fuselages aligned the way they did to allow both crews to escape.
Carl99
They looked to be descending to me, i'd assume coming in for a landing close behind each other.
Valleyofwaves
Tbh I didn't think everyone would get out of that dance and was surprised they actually managed to do that in the right moment.
Also very nice none of those machines fell on any people.
MapleSyrupMafia
They were trying to demonstrate the leadership of the US.
wadatahmydamie
stryhf
https://idahonews.com/news/local/two-f-18-fighter-jets-have-crashed-during-an-airshow-at-mountain-home-air-force-base
"The aircraft were performing an aerial demonstration when the crash happened, Umayam said in a statement. She said the four crew members from both jets safely ejected and were being evaluated by medical personnel. "
PhurbuMukpodom
And they won’t fly again for a while…
stryhf
I found this alternate angle that makes more sense of what happened. The original perspective was weird.
rubypilgrim
I don't understand this collision. Both aircraft had high tech radar on board, they're in communication - the pilots are presumably trained on these maneuvers, this isn't combat - why wouldn't they know where the other craft is? Any fighter pilots here? I don't know that those fuselage alignments were a mistake. Those craft are highly maneuverable, those pilots may have done that deliberately.
Swordguy
It's not a video game with a 360-degre radar arc. Fighter radar can "see" in a relatively narrow cone in front of the aircraft, and modern fighters can slew the cone around from side to side or up and down a bit, but when you're close to the aircraft ("close" in miles, not feet), that doesn't help much. Essentially everything in the red circle would be invisible to the fighter's radar. So if you lose visual contact or get disoriented, radar won't help.
rubypilgrim
thank you, that's very helpful. I'm trying to understand how this error happened in an airshow scenario, with practiced maneuvers. As my instructor said "learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make them all yourself." One thing that was clear - good decision making on those prompt ejections.
Dawgsarethebestpeople
Airplane sex is weird
YouRadicalizedMe
Suckers and losers
stryhf
brings whole new meaning to scissoring...
tzahtman
Rockageddon
They make love like eagles falling out of the sky.
FreeReason
Damnit. +1
nainfort
Could you sexplain it?
oldguyexlurker
And usually ends in ejections...
aeroldoth
Sadly these were premature ejections
Dawgsarethebestpeople
I mean.. It's better than after they hit the ground
Dawgsarethebestpeople
At least they ejected together
VoidForScreaming
"What are you doing step-pilot?"
hiyo365
But we gotta keep making them man.
13579rocket
No doubt, there’s some Rule 34 shit out there just for this.
Hypothesist
if not... there is AI for that now
ShoulderDeepWithinTheBorderline
As a matter of fact, there is!
SlayerOfGoat
There goes more healthcare.
JohnnyLawlessEsq
Until the beginning of 2025 anyway, the US spent more *PUBLIC MONEY* per capita on healthcare than all but two other countries IN THE WORLD, and one of those (Norway) is an oil state. There is PLENTY of money for public healthcare, but it is not in the politician's interests to see that it is spent on us.
FelonyRaptor
Yep, USA always seems to have money for "patriotic" shit like this but not for the actual citizens trying to stay alive.
Orionsdick
In the end, isn't flying around in multi-million dollar jets what life is really all about?
JasonWaterfaIIs
Don't they realise how much less healthy they'd be _without_ the jets!?
FelonyRaptor
I think it's the second most important thing for national health, right after a decent ballroom.
nik282000
vindik8or
US Military should invade America and build bridges, schools, and hospitals to win the hearts and minds of the people.
Zetor
Lisa needs braces!
thxcolm2
DENTAL PLAN!
50m31AW
DENTAL PLAN!
DukePhelan
Don't be silly! It was never going to be healthcare! At best this is more shareholder value for the MIC being produced!
chinesemario
There's too...
thebigbaka
Air shows function primarily as recruitment and public relations tools for the military. While organizers often use ticket and concession sales to turn a profit, the military's involvement is largely a taxpayer-funded investment meant to inspire enlistment.
merxman
Eh only $150m or so. We could blow up 10 or so a day and still cost less than a day of bombing in Iran.
FeralFarter
That's like 76 million United states dollars or something, right?
thedudeman519
x2 since there are 2 jets.
FeralFarter
Yea, sorry I was specific. Aren't they like $36m a pip?
ThingsThatDontJustifyGenocide
Pretty sure that could have paid for the healthcare of an entire red-state
OralSuperhero
You underestimate the need for teeth down south
TheDirtySanchezBros
FML, that was like 1500 of my lifetime’s worth of a salary, but probably more!
khora
I think you make more than $100k during your life.
thedudeman519
Sure but a quick google says these jets cost from 65-75 million.
khora
So two are $150m and 1/1500 of that is $100k.
TheDirtySanchezBros
Sorry, no, this person is right. It would only be about 50 of my lifetimes. Just 50 of them, in the blink of an eye. A simple mistake! Hardly worth crying over spilled milk like this, especially when we all have universal healthcare and great public educations. 😉
ElasticFireCracker
Each f-18 jet costs about $65 million to build. $20 million if you buy one thats retired
DaveSamsonite
Looks like those two jets decided to bang in mid air
LateNightBunnyParty
Ivalicenyan
Silly American, you weren't gonna get any anyway 🙂
Makerofroads
Airshows are MASSIVE wastes of money anyhow. From broken parts, to spent fuel, to paying the pilots, to shipping the groundcrew/AGE, I would estimate $50k-$100k a show, more if you count preparing for it (training the pilots, probably in the millions). Source: former USAF amxs guy who coordinated some aspects of airshows overseas.
bingotown
They are pretty awesome to watch, though.
PorterPickUp
A show? Weekly maintenance on each of those birds is probably 100k.
Makerofroads
If you don't fly it, it's fine. You don't know stuff on it is broken. It might leak a little gas, but it's fine. Doing multiple turnovers a day, I don't doubt it. But at least if the pilot is doing training on how to fly combat missions or whatever, the reason we have them in the first place, it at least makes more sense than flying in pretty circles so you can convince kids to join the military later in life.
fartyandbloated
It comes out of the DOD marketing budget. Same for the big American flags they put on the field at NFL games. The pentagon pays teams to do that.
Abizuil
You already spend enough on healthcare (highest per capita of any 1st world country), it's just so corrupted in corporate favour you don't get anything out of it. This idea that you need to just dump more cash into healthcare instead of reforming it is practically a corpo position.
SpotlightKryptonite
Yes
TheVillageGrouch9000
We know. The needless insurance industry owns congress so here we are. I hate it here.
WholeWheatBunnyHugger
So we can have universal Healthcare for -less- money within our current budget.
AtmaDarkwolf
correction. 99% of that goes to some random middleman, 1% goes to actual healthcare.
mardukkur
It’s not really the middlemen. It’s the providers. The regional medical group monopolies that own all the clinics and hospitals in an area. They charge wildly more than almost every other country for the same services. All the middleman costs are basically a rounding error.
SpamYarBlockers
Like highway lanes…
malbec
This one time these two fa18 heats were in the sky making babies and one of the babies looked at me
Larktonguesinadicecup
The pointy birdie took it
thedudeman519
twoamartist
Did I just watch $150 million go boom?
youresomoney10
Yeah but they saved money already by gutting the department that would have stopped this happening.
mcalughl
You forgot to factor in the jet fuel... maybe like 200 million?
twoamartist
Uh, wow.
TheVillageGrouch9000
So much winning.
clubpingu
Will nobody think of the ballrooms?!
lamontcranston
$250 million. These are E/A-18 Growlers, electronic warfare craft. Much more expensive.
SomebodythatIusedtonope
All this will cost approx 200 millions counting all systems on board and the clean up, probably even more
twoamartist
Wow
Blud4BludGod
I can't believe Joe Biden would do this.
TheFoodBaby
Thanks Obama
FelonyRaptor
It's almost as if air shows like this are useless and maybe even a bad idea?
Valleyofwaves
Ramstein. That's why they are named that way.
torokunai
ayup 'sick' but fitting https://imgur.com/QbcA9Im
Trunkmonkay
Me when I suck and hate fun things
zombiejedediah
How are we going to get uneducated morons to accept the enormous military budget if they don't at least get a little circus out of it?
phuey200311337
68 million dollars..... https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1YTR0a2hoemNnbHd2aHYwNDduMGthMDBndWd1ZWxuNHl5YnpwaWxpaSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/XqpnXaeZPnupy/200w.webp
pandajack
Worship of military killing machines is wrong.
TheSovietUnion
I bet you're fun at parties
STGxDante
Why have anything when paint drying exists
michiyl
Not as such, but stunt performances can have unforeseen outcomes
FelonyRaptor
So what's the good part? To flex and show off 'murican military might and burn fuel like it's never gonna run out?
Niagaran
"We use these things to launch missiles at civilian infrastructure thereby committing war crimes"
michiyl
I thought it was about airshows in general because some other nations crash their planes during airshows just the same.
Valleyofwaves
Sure, we didn't like when it happened in Germany! Stupid, dangerous propaganda.
FelonyRaptor
Well sure. Ignore the part about 'muricans.
brainkandle1
Air shows are dangerous as fuck, I refuse to sit in that crowd
miklethertrac
Ramstein
ptrimg
Actually, no, they're not.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5070662/
1993-2013, among airshow attendees...10 injured, 2 fatalities
brainkandle1
Crashes. Crashes happen all the time at air shows. So I don't go.
foreverinchains
Car crashes happen all the time, too.
ptrimg
If you don't want to go, fair enough. I was just supplying actual numbers, instead of feelings and "all the time".
brainkandle1
rossimus
Oh come on. Demonstrations of cool vehicles handled by skilled operators is cool and fun. Cool and fun things are not, and should not be, merited based on how Useful they are. You're just being a wet blanket.
zombiejedediah
These machines in particular have no purpose outside war.
HEARTS0FSPACE
Shit's extremely expensive. Especially when things go wrong...
BlackDragoness
Sometimes everything is burning and what you need is a wet blanket
Harm
All that and a recruitment room,too.
Harm
Tool*,dammit. And I wonder if the downvoter thinks pilots just ask to borrow their jets to go show off here & there and the heads just go 'Cool idea,here's the keys! There's nothing to gain for the force anyway.'
FelonyRaptor
I think we have different qualifications for cool and fun.
I can't see machines of war made for killing and bombing people and places cool or fun even when they're just flown around for no real purpose than flexing.
BubblesTheFish
Generally I agree but also keep in mind this is what we have instead of healthcare.
NussKnuspermix
Nope, Iran war, taxfree billionairs and ICE is what you've got instead of Health Care.
RyvaTheRenamon
We could have both at the same time, we already spend enough on both.
captainnewbi
Technically, we can have both. Republicans are the reason we don't have health care.
rossimus
The British and French and Italians and Chinese and Japanese all have air shows and also have healthcare.
You're just confused about how money is spent.
Atomic2
No, we were never going to get healthcare. We already can afford healthcare AND the military budget. We spend more in FEDERAL MONEY FROM TAXES on healthcare programs to get the janky broken ass system of spotty selective coverage for SOME as other countries do (as % of their taxes) for their entire universal health cares for ALL.
VictusVonGuyver
In other words, get rid of the private companies leaching off the money that is supposed to be spent on us.
Atomic2
Almost there. Get rid of the healthcare lobbyists and/or the politicians in their pockets.
Leaps
It’s really easy to justify doing cool and fun things with other people’s money. Don’t spend our tax dollars on crap like this.
Sonicschilidogs
I'd rather have the planes doing these instead of dropping bombs on brown children on the other side of the planet.
Leaps
I agree, but good thing those are not the only two possible choices.
justfillingthespace
If I could, I would say that my tax dollars *are* allowed to be used for this, *after* everyone has been taken care of.
nik282000
Could make the same argument about wireless earbuds, american pickup trucks, and golf courses.
rossimus
This thread is full of wet blankets lol
MattFierce
I mean, it's a solid point with golf courses; takes up a lot of land, for a sport where the objective is to play the least amount possible
foreverinchains
Yeah, you sure could.
YouRadicalizedMe
Golf courses are trash for the planet!
FelonyRaptor
Yeah, not a fan of those either.
zombiejedediah
So, the sole purpose of those three things is also killing people?
rudejohn
American pickup trucks are absolutely essential for a lot of people. Some work construction and need the payload, Some work with spools of electrical wire or tractors that won't fit in a can. Others tow trailers or boats or RVs too heavy to pull with a Kia.
zombiejedediah
That's 30-40 feral hogs.
DukeDarkwood
There is nothing a pickup can haul that a good box truck can't.
rudejohn
My F150 gets 19.4 MPG and I can tow my 30' camper with it. It fits my wife, two kids, and two dogs at the same time on the inside. And fit in a normal parking spot at work. I can pull up to the local nursery and have them dump a face cord of firewood or a yard of dirt or mulch into the bed of the truck. No other type of vehicle can match that set of capabilities.
nik282000
A minivan with the seats down holds more volume than an F-150, with the seats up it hauls more people, in both cases it gets better gas mileage. The minivan kills less pedestrians, it kills the occupants of other vehicles less often, and it doesn't flip over on the highway when you miss your exit because you were scrolling Freedom Social.
zombiejedediah
But it doesn't make my penis feel larger 😭
rudejohn
To pick a random example: The Honda Odyssey has a maximum payload capacity: 1,537 lbs and maximum towing capacity: 3,500 lbs. F150 maximum payload capacity: 2,445 lbs and maximum towing capacity: 14,000 lbs. Even for a casual guy like myself, carrying a yard of dirt or a face cord of firewood or towing my 30' travel trailer are NOT possible with a minivan, and are no sweat with my truck. Are you going to put a yard of topsoil or mulch into the back of your minivan with the seats down?
Tragopan
Tell me you don't live in the country without telling me you don't live in the country. There's no way I'm putting my trash for the dump, my manure, my plants or my firewood in the passenger cab no matter how much space I have with the seats down. Hating on trucks based on such arbitrary statistics is wild. Just wild. Honestly can't tell if being sarcastic or not at this point.
rudejohn
Everyone who hates on pickup trucks are urbanites who think a Prius meets everyone's vehicle needs and that anyone who buys a truck has a penis size problem and drives it because they want status. Anyone who has ever lived outside of a city knows that there are people (not EVERYONE) who need a pickup truck.
Neednoggle
Do you mind making that argument about wireless earbuds? Kinda lost me on that one..
nik282000
They are a disposable luxury that sends precious metals and manufacturing effort into landfills. The batteries wear so fast that you have to get new ones regularly compared to other types of wireless headphones. The only reason anyone wants them is because Apple told you that you NEED them, wires are now a insurmountable burden, despite 40 years of wired portable listening.
sandmannet
Funny, you’re the first person that mentions Apple. The question was about wireless earbuds, not AirPods.
nik282000
The same applies to all manufactures but Apple is the company that you sheep suck off every quarter.
Neednoggle
Fair reasoning, thanks
I'll be honest though, I am very fond of mine for running
Dalael
Well simple, you're walking around with your wireless earbuds, blasting music in your ears when suddenly BLAM!! 2 US navy hornets crash into you because you didnt hear them collide.
monkeyontherun4
That made me snort.... Thanks
Neednoggle
Aaah, that makes sense now, thank you
sandmannet
Couldnt the same happen with wired earbuds? :)
Dalael
No. With wired earbuds, you'll spend so much time trying to untangle them before you leave, you wont be anywhere near the crash.
DraxxHimUp
Well, no. It's because of the wires.
nik282000
You'd catch them on the wing tip and have some warning.