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Post by pat perry on Mar 9, 2014 8:23:29 GMT 9
All F106 Troops, From Jim McNab, Thanks Jim, Bobski I stumbled across it on the internet. I believe this is in the Gulf of Mexico and is part of a program to build up the reef ecosystem. In the past, I saw photos of several F-106s on a barge that were being lowered into the water for that purpose. I can only guess they are drone program survivors that were no longer needed. It's kinda different to see fish swimming in and around the cockpit of an F-016. Jim McNab  More interesting comments from Paul Grignot and Bill Lees, Thanks! Bobski From: pgrignot@gmail.com To: Bobski9933@aol.com Sent: 3/7/2014 11:51:48 A.M. Eastern Standard Time Subj: Re: "Reef Six" They are Damaged Drones that could not be put back to even fly as a drone. Actually the AF made a big mistake after the QF-100 program and about 1/2 way into the QF-106 program and started calling Drone accidents - A/C accidents with full Safety team investigations like a line A/C. This cost them many A/C that could have been flown as drones or put on what we called a one-way flight as a drone. As the Drone Contract operations officer and chief test pilot for over 17 years, i tried to fight this "coming out of the Woodwork" mistake but did not succeed entirely. A good example of the mistake was the Engine work; we used to repair and replace as necessary the engines; from the nozzles to burner section, to fuel control etc. Then FCF them as before but when the QF-4 came along, all of that was stopped and full engine change no matter what. you can imagine how the expense went up and the so called cost of a Drone skyrocketed. Shot themselves in the foot. By the way for the maintenance guys all of the reef drones were "de-fueled & de-puddled" before dropping them into the gulf. All of the dive shops were given the GPS co-ordinates as well. Canopies were removed to prevent anyone from getting into the cockpit and getting trapped. Armament bay doors were either opened or secured, i do not remember which. By the way, as the FCF Pilot as well. The last one (which would have been the last one), i flew made Mach 2.0 at 37,000 feet on my last run from the south of W-470 to almost land. I had to stop for supersonic flight rules and turn west to decelerate and then of course land as i was at BINGO. hehe.. It was still accelerating a small amount when i stopped. Legal speed limit in the Dash-1 was 2.0 or Max skin temp.. The temp bar was at 2.03 Mach that day.. I am not sure of the tail number but it was not 59-0074 or the Minot bird with my name on it that we took back to DM and i think some said is on display somewhere. Sent my a picture as well. Thank you. Blessings to all. Paul Grignot - DART - 74 Bill Lees wrote: Bob, the drone program at Tyndall has taken most of the single/dual seat fighters going back to the 50’s. I know they have shot down or deep sixed the following: and I have seen the VOODOO’s on the barge also.. T-33 F-100 F-101B F-102 F-106 A-6 F-4 And NOW the F-16 Bill Lees Daphne, Al leesurtyme@bellsouth.net See the Reef Sixes here being sunk www.f-106deltadart.com/photo_gallery/index.php/Drones?page=4Pat P. |
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