A close call in the Yellow Sea and remembering the first flight of a bomber Chuck Yeager flew
Aggressive actions by a Chinese J-10 fighter, remembering the British bomber marvel Canberra, and a fire suppression device that could save many lives.
"The first time I ever saw a jet, I shot it down."
-Chuck Yeager
Mission Briefing
In a recent high-stakes encounter, an Australian pilot had to quickly maneuver to avoid danger when a Chinese military jet launched flares close to an Australian Navy helicopter. This incident occurred in the international airspace over the Yellow Sea, near South Korea.
The Australian Defense Department has criticized the actions of the Chinese J-10 fighter jet as "unsafe and unprofessional." The confrontation happened over the weekend of 3 May when the Australian MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, deployed from the HMAS Hobart, was on a United Nations mission to enforce sanctions against North Korea.
According to a statement released by the Defense Department on Monday evening, "The People's Liberation Army-Air Force (PLA-AF) aircraft executed the release of flares directly in the flight path of the Australian Defense Force (ADF) helicopter. This maneuver was not only unsafe but also posed a significant risk to both the aircraft and its crew."
Despite the potential danger, the incident did not result in any injuries to ADF personnel or damage to the helicopter. The department emphasized that the safety and well-being of their personnel are of paramount importance.
The Australian government, underscoring the need for professionalism in military conduct, expects all nations, including China, to adhere to safe practices. Defense Minister Richard Marles has voiced Australia's concerns directly to the Chinese government, highlighting the severity of the incident. Marles detailed that the Chinese fighter jet dropped flares approximately 300 meters (985 feet) ahead and 60 meters (196 feet) above the Seahawk, prompting evasive maneuvers from the pilot to avoid a potentially disastrous collision.
The incident not only raises safety concerns but also adds tension to the already strained interactions between the PLA and the ADF. This event follows another recent confrontation where Australian divers were injured in a sonar attack by Chinese forces, also in international waters.
Defense Minister Andrew Hastie has condemned the encounter as "provocative and dangerous," marking it as part of a continuing pattern of aggressive behavior by the PLA towards the ADF. He urged the Australian government to advocate strongly for the safety of its forces in discussions with China.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges and tensions in military interactions in the region, emphasizing the need for stringent adherence to international norms of safety and professionalism.
This week in aviation history
Celebrating a Milestone in Aviation History: The Maiden Flight of English Electric A.1 VN799
13 May 1949: a significant event unfolded at Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire. The distinguished Chief Test Pilot Roland Prosper "Bee" Beamont, adorned with honors such as C.B.E., D.S.O and Bar, D.F.C. and Bar, took the helm of the English Electric A.1 prototype, VN799, marking its first test flight. This aircraft, destined to carve its niche as a very high-altitude light bomber, was powered by dual turbojet engines, setting a precedent in aviation.
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The VN799 was not merely another aircraft; it was the leader of four prototypes, with three equipped with pioneering Rolls-Royce engines. Introduced to the world on May 2, 1949, it soon underwent rigorous static and taxi tests, cloaked in a distinctive "plate blue" paint.
This initial flight on 13 May, which lasted about thirty minutes, was mostly successful despite a minor yaw issue, promptly addressed in subsequent flights. The innovative design and promising performance of the VN799 had already secured its production straight from the drawing board months before.
By January 1950, this trailblazing aircraft was christened 'Canberra,' after Australia's capital—a nod to British tradition of naming bombers after cities. The Canberra was not just any aircraft; it featured a twin-engine, mid-wing design, operated by a pilot and a navigator/bombardier. Spanning 66 feet in width with a length of nearly 64 feet, its design incorporated a symmetrical airfoil and slight wing dihedral, optimally structured for its roles.
The Canberra's prowess was showcased globally, notably at the 1949 Farnborough Air Show, where its later squared-off vertical fin was a point of interest. Powered by the robust pre-production Rolls-Royce Avon R.A.2 engines, it marked the British foray into axial-flow turbojets.
Despite its groundbreaking achievements, the prototype met a tragic end in August 1953 near RAF Woodbridge due to fuel exhaustion during an automatic landing system test, fortunately with only minor injuries to the crew. Nevertheless, the Canberra’s legacy was far-reaching, evolving into various roles such as bombers, intruders, and photo-reconnaissance platforms across nearly 20 nations.
As we remember the Canberra, we also acknowledge its extended lineage, like the U.S.-built Martin B-57A Canberra, and notable missions such as those flown by then Colonel Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager during the Vietnam War. Today many people don’t realize that Yeager flew bombing missions in Vietnam, let alone in a Canberra. Chuck Yeager, a World War II Ace would go on to cement his legacy in the X-1 by breaking the sound barrier in 1947. He would fly an incredible number of distinct aircraft in his flying career including the Canberra, the P-39 Airacobra, the P-51 Mustang, the Me 262 Schwalbe, the F-100 Super Sabre, the F-104 Starfighter, and the F-20 Tigershark. He told Men’s Journal in a 2009 interview: “I’ve flown 341 types of military planes in every country in the world and logged about 18,000 hours,” “It might sound funny, but I’ve never owned an airplane in my life. If you’re willing to bleed, Uncle Sam will give you all the planes you want.”
This story of the Canberra exemplifies innovation, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of advancement in military aviation—a testament to the spirit that drives our exploration of the skies. The Canberra still flies for NASA as the WB-57:
In case you missed it
Normally I post a YouTube video in this section, but for this week, I’d like to share with you a podcast interview I did with Nick Dunbar of Lithium FireGuard. We we discussed the harrowing yet necessary topic of lithium battery fires in aviation. Trust me you’ll want to listen, it will give you awareness about the everyday risks of rechargeable batteries, and what his company is doing to help safeguard all of us. Every day, our personal electronic devices carry the potential for thermal runaway, a destructive reaction within lithium cells that can lead to fires and explosions. These aren't just risks to our gadgets but to the lives aboard aircraft. Through this episode, you'll grasp the gravity of the situation and the innovative measures being taken to contain it, such as the Lithium Fireguard PG-100 containment box. It's a dialogue that promises to ignite awareness and arm you with knowledge about this invisible threat that flies with us.
We go beyond mere discussion, scrutinizing the PG-100's design elements, from its cost-effective approach to its robust construction, ensuring its adaptability across various aircraft. Hear firsthand how this device could mitigate the substantial financial and operational repercussions of in-flight emergencies. Our exchange with Nick also extends to the Racklin box, exploring its potential in altering safety protocols in urban environments, much like it aims to do in the skies. The growing dependency on electronics calls for intuitive emergency procedures, which we are pushing to become as common as the household fire extinguisher. Engage with us as we examine the proactive steps being taken to safeguard our increasingly digital lives against the volatile nature of lithium batteries.
You can hear the full interview here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1555784/15042135
Photo Outlet
The Thunderbirds put on an incredible show. Every time. I was able to catch this shot just after the two solo jets crisscrossed - I like vortex smoke you can see on the right smoke trail - it gives you and idea of the wind currents these jets generate as they zip through the air:
Post Flight Debrief
This issue marks the first full year of Hangar Flying with Tog. Thank you for joining me on this aviation journey, the comments, feedback, and connections I have made from writhing this newsletter have gone way beyond my expectations when I started. This week I will have a special issue for my paid subscribers, as my way of saying thank you for supporting me financially. If you’d like to become a free or paid subscriber, you can use the email form below. To be clear, this newsletter will always be free to everyone, however if you’d like to go above and beyond and become a paid subscriber, you can use the same form below. Thank you and now you know!
-Tog