RAF
US F-15 And RAF Plane In Near-Miss
An RAF training aircraft and an American fighter jet have avoided colliding by just 100ft.
The King Air twin-engine aircraft was eight miles from RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire when it almost crashed with one of two USAF F-15s.
The training plane was being flown by 45 (Reserve) Squadron when one of the US jets, which has a top speed of 1,600mph, turned into its path.
An RAF King Air B200
The near-miss, which took place in January this year, was investigated by the body which investigates reports of breaches of air safety, Airprox.
They recommended British Air Command set up an air traffic control service around RAF Cranwell after finding the F-15 pilots did not see the aircraft and only realised how close they came to disaster when they were told after landing.
The Airprox board said: "Turning to the cause and risk, it was noted that the King Air pilot had seen the F-15s well before the incident, and was monitoring them.”
"But he had been caught out when one of them had unexpectedly turned towards him. Some members thought that the King Air pilot could have built in more separation to the obviously manoeuvring F-15s, but others thought that, in the busy airspace this was probably a moot point.”
Last month an F-15 Strike Eagle was forced to make an emergency landing at Brize Norton after getting into difficulties.
Cover image: F-15 Courtesy: Gerry Metzle
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