In or around 1960, when I had a summer job at Chance Vought
(Ling-Temco-Vought), Time magazine reported that a Vought F8U Crusader had
accidentally taken off with its wings folded and flew well enough that it came
around and safely landed. The Navy supposedly tried to keep this incident
under wraps, but at Vought everyone was happy to see this incident publicized.
There are a number of online articles saying that there later were some similar
incidents involving not only the Crusader but other Navy fighters.
I had a friend who was piloting a Crusader that went way out of control, and
nothing he tried would bring it back under control, so he ejected and landed in
Crater Lake. A Navy helicopter rescued him and returned him to his base, where
he apologized to his squadron commander for being unable to recover control.
The squadron commander said “You don’t know what happened -- you lost both
wings.” The Crusader’s wings were part of a single structure, and that entire
structure had come off of the plane. Not even the Crusader could fly without
wings.
Bob
Randal Craft
Email: randalrobertcraft@gmailcom
Mobile: 646-226-2299 (USA)
From: Michael Rurik Halaby via Mifnet <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 2:27 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: Tom Ronell <[email protected]>; Mifnet The <[email protected]>;
Michael Rurik Halaby <[email protected]>
Subject: [Mifnet 🛰 75199] Re: flying on one wing
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxJcEz3h4tU> F-15 Lands with One Wing
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxJcEz3h4tU> youtube.com
Michael Rurik Halaby, FRAeS
UK mobile/WhatsApp: +447711298408 <tel:+447711298408>
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
instagram: halabyaero
www.halaby.aero <http://www.halaby.aero/>
On 21 Jan 2026, at 07:11, Tom Ronell via Mifnet <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> > wrote:
This is where "on a wing and a prayer" comes from.
TR
_____
From: ERIC Smith via Mifnet <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> >
To: Jack Keady via Mifnet <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> >
CC: ERIC Smith <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
Date: 2026-01-21T01:12:20Z
Subject: [Mifnet 🛰 75195] Re: flying on one wing
Uh...no. I don't know how much wing can be shot off before the a/c becomes
uncontrollable but an entire wing? Ha!
Giving that idea more attention than it's worth, there is a consideration
beyond the mere asymmetric lift.
https://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Stories1/001-100/0016_A-10-battle-damage/story0016.htm
Above is the story of Capt. Kim Campbell who performed the first A-10 manual
reversion landing after sustaining damage to her jet in the Persian Gulf War.
Notice from the pictures that she still had both wings but the a/c became
uncontrollable immediately upon losing all hydraulics.
If half or all of your wing disappears your entire hydraulic system will
likewise vanish. If only half your wing leaves the a/c and you can find the
manual reversion switch despite the violent roll, maybe you could recover if
you had enough altitude. I don't know if there is enough rudder and aileron
authority to do that. You would certainly have to punch off all your external
stores and go zero g for a bit as you try to stop the roll.
I saw some of the comments from the bros flying desktop A-10 flight simulator.
They were entertaining. They certainly have no idea of what it's like to be
slammed with rolling moment beyond what the control surfaces could generate.
With training the human body can tolerate at least 9 Gs as long as they are
directed from the head to the seat or maybe front to back but side loading the
G forces or directing them from the seat to the head it does far less well. The
head would sustain high side loads as it accelerates into the roll. Without
knowing how fast the roll would be, I estimate that the head would experience a
high enough centrifugal force to produce "red out." If you can think with all
that going on and find the manual reversion switch then you really have it
going on.
By the way, the blast that separated part of your wing probably took out the
engine on that side. Good luck.
Eric
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 03:11:52 PM EST, Jack Keady via Mifnet
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote:
keady heard this and thought it was w rumor. True?
Search Assist
Yes, the A-10 Thunderbolt II is designed to be able to fly with one wing
missing, thanks to its robust construction and backup systems. It can also
operate with one engine and half of the tail or wing missing, showcasing its
durability in combat situations.
<https://www.techeblog.com/a10-warthog-thunderbolt-ii/> TechEBlog
<https://forum.dcs.world/topic/129603-a-10-flying-on-one-wing/>
forum.dcs.world
A-10 flying on one wing?
So obviously we know that in real life, the A-10 is built like a tank and it's
SUPPOSED to be able to fly with h...
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