FAIRFORD, ENGLAND – Scarey moments on the last day of the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford Air Base. The USAF F-16 Viper Demo Team’s display had to stop the display, due to a damaged aircraft. The pilot landed the F-16 safely.
The display Sunday was short lived as only a few minutes into the display an emergency was called, the display ceased and the pilot climbed higher to circle, while assessing the issue. Then the pilot performed a fly over for the ground crew at the show to inspect the F-16.
Video: Elwyn R on YouTube
Various reports suggest the problem was “spontaneous delamination of the stabilizer’s composite material”. However, the raw footage in the next video show no evidence of anything striking the tail.
Video: flugsnug on YouTube
Eventually the pilot landed the F-16 safely. The landing revealed what appeared to be damage to the right elevator of the aircraft.

Image: Elwyn R on YouTube
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(Image: from Elwyn R video)

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