The doomsday aircraft, E-4B, used by the US Air Force was hit by a tornado on June 16th in Nebraska. Damage was reported to two E-4Bs and 8 other aircraft on the ground at the Air Force base. Six of the other 8 aircraft (RC-135s) have since returned to service. Luckily the primary E-4B was away on assignment during the storm that caused the damage.
Talk about a rare chain of events. While tornadoes are common this time of year in Tornado Alley, it is quite a 1 in a million chance of hitting an airport. Reminds me of when St. Louis International was hit a few years ago by a tornado. I find it more ironic that the E-4Bs were included in the damage. They are prepared to survive a nuclear explosion in the air but cant stand up to a tornado on the ground. Looks like Mother Nature still is the most destructive force out there.
It’s more important for the President to survive and sort everything out than it is for you or me to survive. However, in saying that, if there was an “apocalypse,” it would probably result in 2012 (the movie) ;)
If it is, then that will be the day when I have to steal a 787 or 747 even if I don’t know what im doing lol. And I literally mean that. Got to do some crazy stuff to survive.
Such critical aircraft yet we don’t keep them in hangars? Hm… I don’t know the circumstances, but I assumed the only time they weren’t in a hangar would be when going for a flight.
Well, I guess they should do research on Materials which are:
stronger
cheaper
same weight as the alloys originally used in the planes (if it is too heavy, fuel wastage occurs. if it is too light, the aircraft will be harder to control in storms.