It was hard to maintain straight and level flight. No HSD - which way to go? Called AWACS and asked for vector to home plate. Using the analogue compass, I tried to fly along the indicated course.

Then I happened to remember that the HSI had a red needle that showed the direction to the selected steerpoint or TACAN station, so I selected the last steerpoint (thankfully the DED was ok). I flew using a combination of HSI, analogue airspeed indicator and altimeter.

As I drew to within 30 miles of the airbase (thank goodness for the distance reading on the HSI) I called ATC and declared an emergency. As I flew on I was able to see the airbase. I reduced speed to below 300 knots and altitude to below 2000 feet. I lowered the landing gear and was somewhat relieved to find that the flying was a little bit easier (not so jerky).

I lined myself up with the runway as best I could trying to maintain altitude and level flight. I reduced airspeed to about 150 knots. As I neared the runway I saw the VASI lights indicate that my glideslope was OK ("red over white - you're all right" came to my mind). Then I took a deep breath, crossed my fingers and toes and sort of flew the bird onto the runway. At the last bit I chopped the throttle to zero and braced myself for a crash-landing, at best. At worst I was expecting a fireball and a nice view of a spinning cockpit .

To my surprise the landing gear help up, although the bird almost immediately veered to the right. As I had touched down on the right edge of the runway, I was soon on the grass. I steered back onto the runway and got yelled at by ATC to "clear the runway!"

Moral of the story: it pays to be familiar with your back up instruments - you never know when you'll need to use them!

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Zero Niner, out.

F4 & JF-18: satisfying all my simming needs!

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Singer high

I have done something similar with Jane's F-15 returning from Iraq.

With F4 I always exit amd discatd the mission.

I have to try it the next time my "bird" is hurt.

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-Ajax out

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You can run, but... why die tired?

Great feeling tho afterwards...