Scudrunners

It was May 22, 1962. The runways were being repaved at Cold Lake so the
guys were flying out of Edmonton. Jack Aiken forgot to close the canopy
of CF-104 "707" - a single - and ejected immediately after takeoff.

Because he wasn't going very fast and wasn't very high, the debris was close
to the airport, and there were no fatalities, so Dear Old Dad and the boys went
for a stroll, and he picked up a powerful horseshoe magnet from the cyclotron
in the radar set, which of course had been smashed to pieces - literally.



The accident report has some bullshit about nozzle failure. Typical. I'm sure
the nozzle pump was damaged in the crash after the ejection.

I think unkind thoughts about Jack Aiken, but I really shouldn't, because he gave
me a million dollar magnet (1962 dollars) which I still have today, clamped onto
my metal workbench in my hangar. Unsurprisingly, he was promoted after this.


22 May 1962 CF-104 12707 6STR-OTU RCAF written off pilot ok

This Cold-Lake based aircraft crashed during take-off from RCAF Namao, Edmonton AB, caused by an opening canopy and loss of thrust due to a nozzle pump failure. The pilot FlLt Jack G. Aiken ejected safely.

http://www.rwrwalker.ca/RCAF_12700_12750_detailed.htm



First acceptance test flight performed 10 February 1962, aircraft rejected due to radar and INS issues. First single seat CF-104 delivered to No. 6 (ST/R) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Cold Lake, Alberta, arriving on 1 March 1962. Stopped at Duluth, Minnesota on delivery flight. Operating from RCAF Station Namao, due to runway work at Cold Lake, when lost on 22 May 1962. F/L J.G. Aiken ejected just after takeoff, due to loss of thrust due to afterburner nozzle bracket failure. First Starfighter lost with the OTU, and with the RCAF.

due to loss of thrust due to afterburner nozzle bracket failure

That some Grade A BS, there. He forgot to close the canopy, panicked and ejected.

Interesting that someone had enough horsepower to have the accident report altered.

Oh well. I got a magnet, and he got a promotion, so it worked out ok for everyone.

I know a guy, lost a canopy after takeoff in an L39. Drove his new convertible around
the circuit and landed. He said it got little breezy over 200 knots.

My wife actually saw the canopy depart. We flew all around in the R44 but couldn't
find it. Had to order a new one from Chicago. I don't think the old one would have
been in very good condition anyways.