F-15 Accident: Fallen Fuel Tank

An ASDF F-15 fighter jet flying out of Komatsu base in Ishikawa Prefecture seems to have dropped part of its fuel tank in a field near the base:

The fuel tank, which measures 6.6 meters long, 0.8 meter in diameter and 155 kilograms in weight, fell at around 8:45 a.m. at a place some 4 kilometers north-northeast of the Komatsu base, according to the local kyodo news citing officials.

Parts of the fuel tank were scattered over some 10 locations, such as the roof of a sewage facility and empty lots, in the city of Nomi, near Komatsu, according to firefighters.

According to NHK, the pilot says he heard and saw an explosion from the tank. All 202 of the ASDF’s F-15 fighters have been grounded until authorities figure out more information about the cause of the accident.

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4 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - October 7, 2011 at 7:26 pm

Categories: General Japan Tags:

TonyD

It’s not an accident, it’s a new green initiative by the government. By shedding unneeded weight, the planes don’t use as much fuel so are much better for the environment! Genius!

https://profiles.google.com/havill Eido Inoue

Actually, if they get involved in combat, F-15s will jettison (non-conformal) fuel tanks if necessary to lower their weight and give them better aerodynamic performance. But during peacetime in training? No, never. Besides, I believe the tank was empty to begin with (and the missiles were dummies) — probably attached to add realism (added drag to the airplane) for the training.

yankdownunder

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111004005485.htm

“The governments have also agreed to move some Kadena Air Base F-15 fighter jets training exercises usually conducted near Okinawa Prefecture to Guam. ”
…
“Japan will pay 75 percent of the expenses incurred by U.S. forces–such as fuel costs–to conduct such training exercises in Guam instead of in Okinawa Prefecture.”
I guess the USA

Of course Japan should be happy to pay the costs(not just monetary) because ….?

http://twitter.com/mrquadrant4 MrQuadrant4

Almost anything to appease the discontent when American Military and Okinawa are in the same sentence.

F-15 Accident: Fallen Fuel Tank

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