The F/A-18E crash can result in restricted flights or even a shut down of the whole training area.
As we have reported earlier a single-seat F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the ‘Vigilantes’ of Strike Fighter Squadron 151 (VFA-151) based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, Calif., crashed on Jul. 31, 2019, in the morning at approximately 10 a.m. PST, east of Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, California.
The aircraft came down in or near the famous Canyon of Death Valley’s “Star Wars Canyon.”
It is reported by a spokesman for DeathnValley National Park (CA) that the Super Hornet went down on the west side of Death Valley National Park, near the Father Crowley Overlook. He reported thisnfrom the Panamint Springs Resort.
This is extra bad news as several people onnthe ground are reported wounded and possibly worse. Father Crowley Overlook isna parking spot from where people walk up the hill for the best views.
The status of the pilot is still unknown.
“At approximately 10 a.m. PST, a F/A-18EnSuper Hornet assigned to the ‘Vigilantes’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151nbased at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., crashed east of Naval Air WeaponsnStation China Lake, Calif.,” read a statement from spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. LydianBock provided to USNI News.
“Search and rescue personnel is on scene and the status of the pilot is currently unknown. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.”
As reported by Scramble Facebook News Magazine, a crash like this can result in restricted flights or even a shut down of the whole training area. But that is not the worst part, hopefully, everybody on the ground as well as the pilot is okay.
The area is known as the Sidewinder Trail,nJedi Transition, or Star Wars Canyon. The place to be for low flying actionnphotography.
The canyon – which was carved by an ancient lava flow – is located near NAWS China Lake and Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), deep in the Californian desert. The area has been used for low altitude flight training since World WarnII, with the narrow rock walls too alluring for fighter pilots to pass up.
This creates the side benefit of givingnobservers and photographers the unique ability to look down on the jets as theynscream by, afterburners lit.