In the seat with AGCAS: Those lost and those saved

It was June 2009 and myself and members of the 34th Fighter Squadron “Rude Rams” at Hill AFB Utah had just finished our night flight training over the UTTR (Utah Test and Training Range) due west of Salt Lake City. As we exited the range our sister squadron the 421st Fighter Squadron “Black Widows,” also […]

Watch: Unconscious F-16 pilot saved by the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System

This newly declassified video footage from the head-up-display of a U.S. Air Force Arizona Air National Guard F-16 records the dramatic moment when its unconscious pilot is saved from certain death by the aircraft’s Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS). “Two Recover! Two Recover!” That’s lead telling his wingman to pull up. It’s a scary situation […]

Watch: Auto GCAS Saves Unconscious F-16 Pilot

This newly declassified video footage from the head-up-display of a U.S. Air Force Arizona Air National Guard F-16 records the dramatic moment when its unconscious pilot is saved from certain death by the aircraft’s Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS). “Two Recover! Two Recover!” That’s lead telling his wingman to pull up. It’s a scary […]

What Exactly Is Auto GCAS?

Last year, I wrote an article in tribute to my friend, Lieutenant David “Jinxx” Mitchell, whose F-16 crashed after he lost consciousness during high-G maneuvering. It’s a phenomenon that has plagued high-G fighters: if the pilot becomes incapacitated, there’s nothing to stop the aircraft from crashing into the ground. Automated Ground Collision Avoidance Software (Auto […]