I saw this The Register article and thought that i just had to share you know how it is.
A hapless US Air Force pilot had to be physically cut free from the cockpit of his F-22A Raptor when the canopy resolutely refused to open, Flight International reports.
The mini-drama unfolded on 10 April at the 27th Fighter Squadron’s base at Langley AFB, Virginia, when the canopy "became stuck in the down and locked position and could not be opened manually after the pilot cycled the mechanism several times, following a pre-flight warning that the canopy was unlocked".
Accordingly, an emergency team of ground operatives moved in after five hours and attacked the $134m Raptor with a decidedly unstealthy and low-tech chainsaw with which they unceremoniously sawed open the offending canopy. The estimated repair bill is a whopping $180,000.
I wonder how long until the pilot lives the experience down and ceases to be the butt of his friends and work collegues jokes? Never is the likely answer!
Tags: news, humor, planes, airforce, machinery, malfunctions
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