Cowboy of the month July '25.....?

[IBob]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360773615/fighter-jet-performs-nail-biting-low-pass

[facthunter]

Link didn't work.  Nev

[onetrack]

It worked initially, but it's gone now. Maybe the Spanish Air Force chiefs had it taken down? - because it reflected badly on them?

 

The fighter pilot got VERY low, and pretty slow, AND inverted, over a public beach crowded with people. Not exactly the done thing.

 

EDIT: I found a news item on YooToob with the footage ....

 

 

Edited July 31, 2025 by onetrack

[facthunter]

Show OFFs are self eliminating.  They are ADRENILIN Junkies.  Nev

[facthunter]

More Arse than Class there. Lucky to recover that. Nev

[onetrack]

I guess the advantage he's got, is huge amounts of power. He can certainly handle his machine, he probably does the same thing a dozen times a day on training ranges.

[BrendAn]

Wasn't he avoiding a bird strike.  Thought I read that somewhere 

[skippydiesel]

Bird Strike.

 

Not sure why - have always been concerned about the possibility. Tend to think about this on descent, climb out & in circuit. Just heard that Wedgetail Eagles have been GPS tracked to 5000M (16,500ft) - No Transponder / Transceiver!!  Scary! 😈

[facthunter]

They can be anywhere. They catch the thermals. Nev

[onetrack]

This raptor researcher in the Outback of W.A. has fitted trackers to wedgetail eagles, and has recorded them going to 21,300 feet!! One would ask why, and as the researcher says, "because they can, and because they obviously enjoy soaring".

 

Biologist discovers wedge-tailed eagles fly more than six kilometres off the ground - ABC News

WWW.ABC.NET.AU

---

A biologist has discovered wedge-tailed eagles in Western Australia's outback are flying at extraordinary heights.

 

Edited September 21, 2025 by onetrack

[rgmwa]

Quite a bit cooler up there too! They must be well insulated.

[IBob]

4 minutes ago, rgmwa said:

Quite a bit cooler up there too! They must be well insulated.

That or hypoxia: 'It's all cool, man.................'

[rgmwa]

Probably still up there. Were there any reports that it came down again?

[facthunter]

30degrees @ 10,000. ft  Nev

[facthunter]

That's the standard atmosphere  difference from MSL. Actual rate may differ, The higher the rate the More unstable the atmosphere is. ie a rising parcel of air will keep rising. Nev