[rustynutz]

IT’s a $30 million combat jet with a serious problem: The wheels won’t go down. Watch how this pilot uses a $30 stool to save it. 
 
It was supposed to be just a normal day’s flying for US Marine Corps Captain William Mahoney.

He was aboard his AV8B Harrier, taking off from the assault ship USS Bataan earlier this month, when something went thud.

“As I was climbing away from the deck I put my gear up and realised I had a malfunction,” he says in a US defence department video. He immediately contacted the “help desk” aboard his ship.

“I flew by the ship, I did an approach … so he could see my landing gear and give me an idea of what was going on.”

It was immediately apparent that the nose landing gear was jammed in the upright position.

“How do I get the jet back on the deck safely?” he asks.

“Eventually Major Murphy gets back to me … the ship had this amazing invention.”

Essentially, it was a stool.

Operating blind (the pilot cannot see directly down), Captain Mahoney followed the guidance of electronic systems and observers on the ship’s control tower.

“I can’t see the stool. I didn’t even know it was there,” he says.

“Oh boy … this is going to get interesting”.

It was a three-point landing, with a bit of bounce.

But the $30 million aircraft was saved.

After an inspection, the plane was back in action, the pilot back in the air — and the stool safely stashed back in its cupboard.

Click this link to view video: Harrier jump-jet makes emergency landing on ... a stool. | News.com.au

[rustynutz]

Yeah right, a $30 stool.... 

And going by the size of that "stool" they must have bloody big bums in the Navy.... 

[John B]

Apart from the bounce was a nice landing.

[Doggie 1]

“As I was climbing away from the deck I put my gear up and realised I had a malfunction,”

I've had a similar problem once or twice whilst sunbathing. 

[FatBoy]

Yeah right, a $30 stool.... 

And going by the size of that "stool" they must have bloody big bums in the Navy.... 

You've see me Rusty, yes they do need stools that big in the Navy (BTW, he is a Marine, so is his aircraft).

As he said in the interview, it was specifically built for this purpose.  So not a "stool" but a support stand.  Big difference.  However, I don't think it would make news if the title had of been "Harrier lands on purpose built support stand".

[John B]

“As I was climbing away from the deck I put my gear up and realised I had a malfunction,”

I've had a similar problem once or twice whilst sunbathing. 

Sometimes they say you had to be there, I must admit in this instance i'm glad I wasn't

[rustynutz]

Yeah right, a $30 stool.... 

And going by the size of that "stool" they must have bloody big bums in the Navy.... 

You've see me Rusty, yes they do need stools that big in the Navy (BTW, he is a Marine, so is his aircraft).

Thought I might get a bite by putting Navy.... 

I wasn't sure who owned the "stool".....the navy or the marines... 

[The Gonz]

Navy are into stools ... often.

Sorry, that's just inyourendo.

[rustynutz]

I've heard that... 

[FatBoy]

Navy are into stools ... often.

Sorry, that's just inyourendo.

We're pitchers, not catchers.   

Unlike the Air Force, which is just like Bunnings, full of tools (present company excluded, obviously Gonz).   

[The Gonz]

That's quite a passionate bite for a retiree. Still got navy in ya.

[FatBoy]

You can take the man out of the Navy, but never the Navy out of the man.   

BTW, I learnt early on in my Air Force career that you never ask the PMC if you can "Push his stool in".  He might take you up on the offer!!

[The Gonz]

We Air Force expect our batmen to do that. Besides, according to Army we're just public servants in unifirm.

[FatBoy]

We Air Force expect our batmen to do that. Besides, according to Army we're just public servants in unifirm.

When I left school I was tossing up whether to join the Air Force of the Public Service.  I went with the Air Force as I didn't like discipline.

[The Gonz]

We Air Force expect our batmen to do that. Besides, according to Army we're just public servants in unifirm.

When I left school I was tossing up whether to join the Air Force of the Public Service.  I went with the Air Force as I didn't like discipline.

[Ugly Mongrel]

I can under the pilot's anxiety.  I can't see my stools when I come into land and certainly not on the approach. 

[Phil №❶]

I've had the odd missed approach myself. Had to go to --> TOGA