F-15's Boarding Ladder Deployed Accidentally During 4th Of July Flyover (Updated)
It's not clear exactly when or how the ladder deployed.
By Tyler RogowayJuly 5, 2018
Our friends over at the always great Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page posted shots from @stuffinmyairspace of 144th Fighter Wing F-15Cs executing a flyover of Dodger Stadium on July 4th. If you look closely, the lead jet's boarding ladder is deployed, which is not a normal or good situation. If the apparatus were to break off it could smash into the jet, or worse, be sucked down its left side air intake.
It's not clear at this time exactly how the incident occurred or why the flight continued with the flyby with jet in that configuration. We also don't know what speed the ladder is rated for, but one would think it isn't speed rated at all. If it is, maybe the pilot just decided to keep their airspeed below its maximum number and to continue on with the mission.
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/21973/f-15s-boarding-ladder-deployed-accidentally-during-4th-of-july-flyover
