Americans had "Top Guna", we had "Slaba" - said Colonel Lukasz Friday on air, mentioning Major Maciej Krakowian, who died in the F-16 crash in Radom. I was at the tower erstwhile "Slab" came, doing a large show. But I besides saw, unfortunately, erstwhile he died," he added. The colonel besides referred to the criticism of the flight controller.
- I'm sorry. Major Krakowian I met in 2015, erstwhile I was already commander of the 6th Air Force Squadron and "Slab" returned from training from the United States, and became the young "tiger" - mentioned the current deputy commander of the 4th School Aviation Wing in Dęblin Col. Luke Friday in conversation with Michał Stela at Polsat News.
Pilot F-16 died. "He was the head of this family"
The colonel confessed that at the time jealous of "Slab" training in the United States. Sam was - as he emphasized - besides old. - I'm sorry. That's the professionalism., the 1 that Americans instill in their officers - explained.
Tiger Demo squad Poland - show band in which the tragically deceased Major Krakowian flew - thanks to the presence of "Slab" He's up on the advanced ground. - convinced the colonel. As he added, "He was the head of this family, the father of those people who were in this team.". "He started there practically from the beginning of this band," he said.
In 2022, the predecessor of Major Luke Krakowian was sent to survey in the United States. The choice of alternate was to be easy for command. - I'm sorry. For me, the choice was natural that this man would be "Slab." There was no better - Colonel Friday confessed.
The plane crash in Radom. "Flying is simply a risk"
When asked how he felt about the thought of no show flights, the colonel replied that the hazard of an incidental exists not only during them. Generally, flying is simply a risk. Flying on combat aircraft is already the highest form of this riskBecause everything is happening Very fast - he said.
SEE: "There was no fault, it was a pilot error". Expert on F-16 Disaster
He besides explained that Shows service to brag about equipment and depict the level of military training. However, as he added, no 1 is obliged to support the air force in specified a role. - I'm sorry. It's never an order, we don't force anyoneTo be that pilot. We choice the best and we say, "Do you want to be that pilot?" Nobody refuses. - stated.
Referring straight to the tragedy of the F-16 fighter, Colonel Friday admitted he was at the control tower at the time. - I saw him die," he said.
"Slab" spoke to the pilot on the ground
When asked about the second pilot who from the ground kept in contact with Major "Slab", the military explained precisely what his function was. - Yes, this function is called "safety observer" or pilot instructorwho has constant communication with this show pilot. And it affects how this show looks, due to the fact that sometimes it says a small left, a small right, a small higher, a small lower. He's got a bunch, the pilot on the plane is holding on to that bunch and that pilot on the ground, Polsat News said.
- I'm sorry. Just giving advice whether it's good or badIs it safe, Whether to choice up a machine - added Friday.
In the later part of the interview, the colonel stated that that teacher pilot was competentAnd at the time of the crash, there were all the essential people in the control tower. - He was an experienced man, very good controller. (...) "Slab" was practically the last 1 to rehearse on that day. (...) We were waiting for his training, so everyone was on the tower - those functionaries that should be there - he said.
SEE: Accidents at Radom Airport. Prosecutor's Office confirms reports of Polsat News
The colonel was besides asked if there were errors in radio communication, it could complicate Major Slab's flight. It shouldn't, due to the fact that "Slab" was a combat pilot. He was prepared for many more hard challenges than coming to Radom and performing the show. He was prepared to command groups of 70, 80 aircraft, he replied.
VIDEO: Colonel pilot Luke Friday at Polsat News
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Could there have been communications interference?
Friday later stressed that "Slab" as the commanding pilot had to "in real time control, delegate tasks". Therefore, the bulk of communication was enormous, but he - emphasized the colonel - was tamed with it. - I'm sorry. It's not like the radio communication in Radom may have amazed him somehow.. We learn to fly not in radio silence, but in this sound - he clarified his thought.
Michał Stela, who led the conversation, mentioned that on the day of the catastrophe in Radom there was a Class G airspace, "meaning the space in which it was tight at the airport." - I'm sorry. Show time space was classified as uncontrolled space - said the colonel.
The military explained that in specified a case the crew was liable for preventing conflicts in air traffic. However: - F-16 has radar, has different systemsThat can respect us. (...) There should be no problems with the deflation, he added.
In conclusion, Stela asked, "Americans have 'Top Gun', we had 'Slab'?" - I'm sorry. We had "Slab" - confirmed Colonel Luke Friday. - I'm sorry. "Slab" did it for the air force, what the movie "Top Gun" did for the Navy in the United States - concluded.
Radom. Tragic F-16 accident. Polsat News Findings
After the accident in Radom tv Polsat News reached over an hr and a half of recordings correspondence of radio pilots practicing for AirShow shows with the Radom flight control tower.
Major Maciej "Slab"'s conversation can be heard on the video Krakowiana with a flight controller who provide the pilot with inaccurate information. The reason for the misunderstanding was misconducted radio correspondence by a flight controller who mistook 2 aircraft and transmitted incorrect information to pilots.
The fighter that Major Maciej "Slab" Krakowian flew was to be in dangerous proximity to the FA-50 training and combat aircraft.
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