SDF fighter jet loses 90-kg cockpit canopy in mid-flight

Most countries don't even report this kind news and more often don't even apologize

That depends on where the object lands. If it lands in the yard of a multi million dollar water front mansion in Southern California it is a leading story on the nightly news.

Yeah, because THAT’s what they would lie about. In order to keep weight down, here’s this new-tangled alloy called Titanium. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?

Nope, titanium isn't transparent. It is some flavor of plexiglass designed for the rigors of supersonic flight in an aluminum frame. 480 kg sounds more reasonable.

Things happen. Latching mechanisms corrode or become weak. The pressure during flight and the g-forces can make the canopy pop-out. Lucky and the pilot is skillful enough to make it back to the ground.

I'd love to see the farmer's face when he discovers an F-2 canopy in his field.

I live in North Carolina in the U.S. Did the plane mistakenly drop an atomic bomb in a field? If not don't sweat it. Things fall off airplanes all the time.

I'm glad the pilot wasn't injured.

The same for the local residents.

Also, I thank the pilot for his service.

Most countries don't even report this kind news and more often don't even apologize, wonder why Japan reports over the news. Find the pieces and apologize or compensate locally.

This Canopy makes a great flowers pot.

480 GRAMS? I highly doubt it; even if it were made of the thinnest carbon fiber, it would weigh in the range of kilograms and not grams. (The metric system is so confusing, isn't it...?)

Yeah, because THAT’s what they would lie about. In order to keep weight down, here’s this new-tangled alloy called Titanium. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?

Security

Defense

Force

"The fighter also lost a ladder weighing about 480 grams, with which the aircraft was equipped."

480 GRAMS? I highly doubt it; even if it were made of the thinnest carbon fiber, it would weigh in the range of kilograms and not grams. (The metric system is so confusing, isn't it...?)

This sort of mishap is common enough in aviation to have an acronym; TFOA which stands for Things Falling off Aircraft. It happens more often than most are aware of with the great majority never being reported by the popular press. You haven't lived until your maintenance chief has to enter a swanky gated community with every TV station in Southern California poking a microphone in his face while he retrieves a panel that fell off of one of your squadron's aircraft and into the yard of someone's multi million dollar waterfront mansion and heaves it into the back of a government pick up truck.

Right. Both parts happen to be defective or loosened at the same time. 

The ladder cones down when the canopy is opened. They are linked electro/mechanically.

Defense force ?

Scrambled lost cockpit and ladder during a possible violation of Japan's airspace.

They are still trying to figure out if anything else was unaccounted that fell out.

They say no damage or injuries were reported .

But they are still looking for the cockpit canopy.

Sounds like Japan violated their own airspace .

Absolutely pathetic and ridiculous !

@JeffLee

They still use the ladder to this day on almost all fighters including the new generation. They have attachments on the plane itself for the ladder to hook on too and detach when not in use.

Some people get their knickers in a twist when bits fall off US helicopters, will they get as steamed up over this?

gakinotsukaiToday  06:41 pm JST

Made in Japan

You really think these kinds of accidents don't occur in countries where they would never make it public?

Made in Japan

TFOA. Things Falling Off Aircraft. Yes, that's a real acronym. I submitted several such official reports during my military experience. You might be surprised to learn that it does happen. Things break. UHF/VHF antennae can snap off in turns and other maneuvers. And, yes, occasionally even canopies pop off. Probably there was a failure of the latching mechanism. Most instances occur during hard maneuvers conducted over water.

Don't get your knickers in a twist, Francis...

How embarrassing.

No problem, as finally all defense is only taking place on the ground. Some better missile equipment there, heavy machine and automatic turret guns at vulnerable and important places installed , as well every household equipped with range and near defense weapons and everything is fine and much cheaper, instead playing around with such old and repair needing flying coffins.

Well if that is the case, why have a canopy at all???? And maybe they don't need wings or the engine either, just stay on the ground and make noises as if you are flying! God dam cheaper that way, but just as useful...

Quoting Sgt. Hulka from "Stripes", "Lighten up, Francis...."

The fighter also lost a ladder.

Im surprised to learn that modern fighters have ladders attached to them

...loosening or defective parts could cause such an incident...

Right. Both parts happen to be defective or loosened at the same time. What kind of "expert" is he? It sounds like the pilot took off before all the proper ground procedures were completed.

But the loss of the canopy would not affect an aircraft's flight functions, he added.

Well if that is the case, why have a canopy at all???? And maybe they don't need wings or the engine either, just stay on the ground and make noises as if you are flying! God dam cheaper that way, but just as useful...

And this is the SDF that we expect to defend us??? And why is the weight of the lost items so important??? My taxes are going to waste!!!