I am commercially and instrument and type rated in a very light jet aircraft. The moral of this story is that automation can be deadly. The three pilots kept trying to understand computer messages when they should have simply flown the airplane. In fact, if they all would have put their hands up in surrender, the airplane would have recovered, since the design of all modern aircraft is inherently stable. The copilot in the right seat apparently panicked and kept pulling back on the controls, i.e. climbing, although the plane was stalled and sinking. The Airbus controls are not mechanically linked and so the left seat pilot control was not the same as the right seat. Burt Rutan did a great analysis of this this accident on line some time ago. He was not complimentary of the pilot skills exhibited.
I was in the 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Korat AB. 24 aircraft per squadron and 3 squadrons of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing TDY from Myrtle Beach SC. Every pilot in the wing had already flown a combat tour in an F-100 or F-105. Few pilots in the wing were happy to be back but nobody quit. This was the first and only time to date the Buffs (B-52s) had to fly into the teeth of integrated air defenses with SAMs and AAA. They earned their combat pay flying on autopilot in that environment.
Thanks Dave. I found the rest of the segments on Youtube. As it happens the next day, I flew an Air Force A-7D over Route Pack 6 as part of fighter attack force striking and destroying a Hanoi power plant.
I have received the Imprimis publication for years. Although there have been many outstanding pieces, the Pence speech was the first which caused me to write for additional copies to hand to my friends and family. It was a wonderful explanation of why limited government and particularly, a limited executive, is so crucial for liberty.
Re: The Limits of Technology, A Chilling Reminder
I am commercially and instrument and type rated in a very light jet aircraft. The moral of this story is that automation can be deadly. The three pilots kept trying to understand computer messages when they should have simply flown the airplane. In fact, if they all would have put their hands up in surrender, the airplane would have recovered, since the design of all modern aircraft is inherently stable. The copilot in the right seat apparently panicked and kept pulling back on the controls, i.e. climbing, although the plane was stalled and sinking. The Airbus controls are not mechanically linked and so the left seat pilot control was not the same as the right seat. Burt Rutan did a great analysis of this this accident on line some time ago. He was not complimentary of the pilot skills exhibited.