F 35b Fighter Jet Pilot Ejects After Loosing Control

In September 2023, the U.S. Marine Corps F 35b Fighter Jet Pilot Ejects nationwide. It was a pricey, high-tech fighter jet that flew as a pilotless airplane for miles until it crashed. Here’s a simplified breakdown of what happened, why, and what we learned.

What Led To The Pilot Ejecting?

A Marine pilot, flying an F-35B stealth fighter jet over North Charleston in 2023, experienced a series of system failures in stormy weather that plunged him into confusion and had him eject, even though it could still fly.

According to the probe, problems started with an “electrical event” that led multiple systems in the aircraft to fail, such as the jet’s radios, its transponder, and also its navigation system. According to sources, even the helmet display-a $400,000 gadget that shows critical flight data-flickered three times, increasing the confusion.

The accident report stated that the pilot ejecting had made an inappropriate decision since some of the systems worked incompletely and supported the jet remaining airborne for a few moments after the pilot had exited the cockpit. The Marine Corps accident report did not mention his name, but another press article described him as Colonel Charles “Tre” Del Pizzo. Del Pizzo was not punished, but he indicated that this incident forced him out of a command billet at Arizona.

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F 35b Fighter Jet Pilot Ejects Name

US Marine Corps pilot Colonel Charles “Tre” Del Pizzo has been named as the one who was forced to eject from his F-35B fighter jet back in September 2023. After this mishap, information emerged that Del Pizzo had lost command of a squadron in Arizona but faced no punishment over the crash. Thus, the investigation was ended with an opinion saying that the pilot’s intention to eject was inappropriate since the jet was still operational; however, the F-35B continued flying on autopilot for miles of distance after the pilot had ejected.

Did The Jet Continue Flying After The Pilot Was Thrown?

Apparently, the F-35B fighter jet continued flying for around 60 miles because it persisted after ejecting its pilot from the cockpit. 

This is because the F-35B has sophisticated autopilot and flight-stabilization systems, assuming control once a pilot ejects from the aircraft and keeps it stable for some time to fly until it runs out of fuel.

Since the jet had no active tracking signal, it took over a Day to find it. Eventually, with the help of some local authorities, the location of the wreckage was made known by a search team in a distant rural field far from where the pilot ejected. 

This part of the story does an amazing job raising questions about how such jets are tracked and what happens in such an event where a pilot has to leave their aircraft in an emergency.

For more details, please follow the link to read the full article about Jets: crewdaily.com

How Does A Fighter Pilot Get Ejected?

Ejection from a fighter jet is an extreme maneuver, but it is to save the pilot’s life during hazardous operations. When they decide to eject, pilots pull a lever that activates the ejector seat from the cockpit. 

The seat thrusts the pilot upward and forward from the jet and then drops a parachute for safe landing.

In this case, the process of ejecting was smooth, and the pilot landed in the residential area with minor injuries. The process of ejecting from a jet is highly strenuous, and pilots often suffer injuries or pain after it. However, in this case, there were not many serious injuries the pilot was inflicted with, and he could reach people soon after landing.

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How Common Is It To Lose An F-35 Jet?

The F-35 is known to be one of the most expensive military projects in history, running into billions of dollars. However, the F-35 jets; these include models for both the Air Force known as F-35A, Navy called F-35C, and Marine Corps, called F-35B have suffered a few losses over the years.

Since the start of the F-35 program, around a dozen jets have been lost to multiple causes, such as malfunction, pilot error, or accidents during takeoff or landing. The loss of an F-35 costs around $100 million. Still, the F-35 is undoubtedly one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world in terms of rich technology and features, making it quintessential for U.S. military operations.

What is the uniqueness of the F-35B?

What makes the F-35B special is that it has been specifically designed for Marine Corps usage. Most fighter aircraft, unlike this plane, cannot take off or land vertically and require long runways to function properly. 

This is just another reason why this design is quite unique in and of itself-it can operate from most environments where conventional jets barely ever get to fly.

By special equipment and systems, such as an “auto-eject” feature, the F-35 B is provided with a takeoff and landing capability vertically. 

Such a feature automatically ejects the pilot in extreme situations especially when the jet is hovering close to the ground. Though it is still unknown what exactly caused the ejection in this case, lots of conclusions experts have reached regarding this show that the auto-eject function of the F-35 B possibly caused the pilot a need for sudden leaving.

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What Do We Learn from This Incident?

This incident brings out questions upon the system of the F-35, and even how emergencies are handled in this military. 

For instance, people can’t understand why the tracking signal was not active since the jet ejected due to the pilot that would have helped locate it faster.

The U.S. military is investigating the incident for clear reasons as to what made the pilot eject and to learn how to avoid such a situation in the near future. Although this loss, the F-35 remains very important for the air power of the U.S. military.

Conclusion

In the F-35B crash where the pilot ejected and his jet went autopilot for miles without his intervention, strengths and risks of the technology are brought in a high-level advanced stage. The U.S. military further understands these incidents for making further flights of the F-35 safe and reliable.

This is a reminder of how complex modern military aviation is, and how much more technology continues to improve for a safe mission.

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FAQs

Why did the pilot eject from his F-35?

The pilot had to eject because the F-35B jet had a major technical issue during the flight. For safety, he used the ejection seat to escape. The F-35B can keep flying on autopilot, even without a pilot.

Was the F-35 missing after the pilot ejected?

Yes. After the pilot ejected, the jet flew on autopilot for about 60 miles. It took over a Day to find the plane, which finally crashed in a remote area. Local police helped in the search.

What happens to a fighter pilot when they eject?

When a fighter pilot ejects, they are launched out of the jet in a special seat with a parachute to help them land safely. Ejecting is hard on the body and can cause injuries. In this case, the pilot landed safely but was hurt.

How many F-35s have been lost?

Since the program started, several F-35 jets, including different models (F-35A, B, and C), have been lost due to accidents. Around a dozen major incidents have occurred, each costing millions.