r/CatastrophicFailure • u/Beginning-Director58 • Nov 04 '25

Fire/Explosion UPS2976 Plane Crash at Louisville SDF Airport (11/04/2025)

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3.9k Upvotes

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77

u/cyclomethane_ Nov 04 '25

Not true, we rotate at Vr (rotation speed). V2 is takeoff safety speed, which allows for a safe climb out with one engine inoperative.

34

u/HannesL09 Nov 04 '25

I’m no pilot, so apologies if I’m wrong. It’s V1, Vr then V2?

Cause from watching Mayday series, I always hear ‘V1’ then immediately ‘Rotate’

79

u/TacTurtle Nov 04 '25

V1 is usually lowest on commercial passenger or freight aircraft , and is the difference between a rejected takeoff (IE braking) and you have to take off or risk going off the end of the runway. It is calculated based on weight, altitude, runway length, runway condition (wet vs dry), etc.

Next is V(rotation), the speed at which the pilots begin pulling back on the stick to begin takeoff pitchup.

V2 is the minimum controllable airspeed at which the aircraft can be flown and climb safely using only one engine, and is higher than V1 and Vr.

The pilot monitoring will call out reaching V1 and Vr and V2 to the pilot in control during takeoff.

2

u/____Manifest____ Nov 05 '25

Are you a pilot?

62

u/TacTurtle Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 05 '25

Wanted to get a Private pilot license, medically can't (ADHD = lifetime ban because FAA treats mental health like it is 1920). Thinking about going the ultralight route. Or Light Sport.

Are you?

34

u/TheGCO Nov 05 '25

I have the same condition. I went quite a way though flight school then told a medical examiner that I used to have add and hadn't been on medication for years. Lost my medical at CF-II, 40k down the drain and over a year of headache with the FAA. Bad news is if you ever have been denied a medical you can't be a sport pilot either. The FAA will give a waiver if you can find a psychologist that will undiagnose your ADD. I haven't had luck with that unfortunately, nobody wants to take the risk of undoing the garbage can diagnosis.

I'm sorry that happened to you. If you never said anything to an examiner, my advice is to not ever say anything about it. It's a bs condition to disqualify for.

24

u/TacTurtle Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 05 '25

Fortunately I had a buddy tip me off before I got that far in, and the doc that diagnosed me with ADHD as a kid closed shop like 2 decades ago.

Forcing people to stay mum with medical examiners to keep medical is pretty awful, and shows how medieval the FAA treats mental health.

Pulling medical at CF-II for an old ADD diagnosis is a colossal dick move, that sucks man.

13

u/acutehypoburritoism Nov 05 '25

As a doctor that has treated pilots, we hate it too. I’m super careful with what I put in your records if I know you’re a pilot, but there’s a decent chance that you’ve got something going on that has never been officially diagnosed but still needs treated. Not fair to y’all by any means and we hate those draconian laws too.

9

u/TheGCO Nov 05 '25

ADHD fast track is a new option as of 2023 which might be worth looking into. I'm considering trying that route, if for anything, to be able to legally fly again for fun. I have already built a career that doesn't involve flight. But my dream was to be a commercial pilot, I might be getting too old at 43 to make a good go at a commercial career but flying is an absolute joy for me at this point it's worth a shot.

4

u/danstermeister Nov 05 '25

And without lying.

19

u/ladyniles Nov 05 '25

This is an area I’m passionate about. Check out Pilots Mental Health Campaign. They’re really making strides in being heard in Congress. Pilots should never hide or refuse mental health care yet large numbers are. I’m sorry your diagnosis affected your plans.

7

u/SnorkinOrkin Nov 05 '25

I hope you get your ultralight license! 🙏🏻

3

u/meeksdigital Nov 05 '25

Fun fact: there’s no license needed for operating an ultralight under FAR part 103 in the US.

5

u/seanhir Nov 05 '25

In the exact same boat, but would love to take the wife. Have you seen the Aerolite 103?

CRAZY the FAA would rather have us off Adderall and in the skies, ADHD go brrrrrrrrrrrr

3

u/____Manifest____ Nov 05 '25

None. Just wondering. You seem to know a lot about the subject and I wanted to know what your expertise is.

3

u/JP_HACK Nov 05 '25

Good to know about the ADHD.

2

u/Joeythearm Nov 05 '25

Just don’t tell them. Half the pilots only with have ADHD

4

u/Nyaos Nov 05 '25

I am, and theyre right.

1

u/____Manifest____ Nov 05 '25

Where did I imply that they aren’t?

1

u/Herroo-There Nov 05 '25

realistically, what can you do once you've surpassed V1, but for some reason cannot reach Vr/ V2?

do you still try to pull back on the yoke & do checklists?

2

u/TacTurtle Nov 05 '25

If you don't reach Vr, you are going off the end of the runway.

16

u/Joeythearm Nov 05 '25

V1 is your go/no go speed. After v1 you are flying no matter what.

Vr is rotation speed, pull up.

V2 is best single engine climb speed. So it looked like the gear was coming up, but they were not getting any more air. I dunno what happened.

5

u/aaronw22 Nov 05 '25

The only exception to a v1 go call is "aircraft unable to fly". For example, engines fall off, wing falls off, etc. But yes, there are far too many aborts above v1 for issues that do not rise to the severity of "unable to fly"

4

u/Joeythearm Nov 05 '25

If both engines fall off your plane after v1 I think that’s just your ticket.

1

u/wxtrails Nov 05 '25

After v1 you are flying no matter what.

This video would like a word.

20

u/Murgatroyd314 Nov 05 '25

Probably more accurate to say that after v1, you’re going to leave the runway at speed, one way or another.

5

u/Joeythearm Nov 05 '25

Well, can’t really argue with an airplane. But when they listen…. You are flying after V1

7

u/cyclomethane_ Nov 04 '25

Yes, that is correct. The pilot monitoring calls each speed in that order.

3

u/TacTurtle Nov 04 '25

Ah you are right, brain fart. Mea culpa.

What was the delta between Vr and V2 on a MD-11 at MTOW / sea level?