New Details on Mysterious Crash of Lt. Col. Eric “Doc” Schultz Near Area 51 Emerge
Sep 12 2017



Unnamed Sources in Published Report Suggest Pilot May Have Been Flying Russian Aircraft.
In a story published late Monday, September 11, 2017 on AviationWeek.com, new information has been revealed about the type of aircraft that USAF Lt. Col. Eric Schultz, call sign “Doc”, may have been flying at the time of his mysterious crash 100 miles Northwest of Nellis AFB in the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Speculation about the crash was fueled by Air Force media releases that did not indicate the type of aircraft that was being flown by Lt. Col. Schultz on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 when the accident occurred. There was also a delay in the story reaching news media that raised further questions since the accident was reported after another, unrelated accident involving two A-10s, was reported sooner.

AviationWeek.com correspondent Guy Norris wrote late Monday, September 11, that, “Sources indicate Schultz was the Red Hats squadron commander at the time of his death. The Red Hats became an unnumbered unit within the Detachment 3, AFTC test wing after the 413th flight test squadron (formerly 6513th test squadron) was deactivated in 2004. Over recent years the unit has operated a variety of Russian-developed combat types, including the MiG-29 and several Sukhoi-developed models such as the Su-27P, one of which was recently observed flying in the vicinity.”

The photos of the SU-27P referred to by Guy Norris on AviationWeek.com first appeared on TheAviationist.com on January 6, 2017 when we published the shots taken by Phil Drake from Tikaboo Peak outside Groom Lake, Nevada, on November 8, 2016 between 3:00 and 3:25 PM local time.



Photographer Phil Drake told TheAviationist.com, “I took my camera out and photographed the ensuing dogfight between the Flanker and a F-16. The sortie seemed to consist of a head-on intercept, conducted at descending altitudes from 30 down to 20 thousand feet, and after each intercept a turning dogfight ensued after they had flashed past each other.

The highly maneuverable Flanker was a single seat version, a Su-27P, and it pulled out all of its best moves to get behind the F-16. I watched in awe as the pair fought it out for 25 minutes before they both climbed to altitude and flew back into Groom Lake restricted airspace. My scanner remained silent throughout the whole encounter.”

Guy Norris’ story on AviationWeek.com also reports that, “Given the approximate location provided by the Air Force, it appears the accident occurred midway between Groom Lake and Tonopah Test Range airfield, both of which are operated by Detachment 3, Air Force Test Center (AFTC). The site is responsible for test and evaluation of classified “black” aircraft as well as foreign types which are flown by the Red Hats for tactics assessment and dissimilar training against front line Air Force units.”

The Air Force has not provided any additional information on the specifics of the Lt. Col. Eric Schultz crash except for the famous tweet quoting USAF Gen. David L. Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, who, on Saturday morning, September 9, told Military.com, “I can definitely say it was not an F-35.”


File photo of Lt. Col Eric “Doc” Schultz. (USAF Photo)

https://theaviationist.com/2017/09/1...ea-51-emerges/

Report Claims Famed Russian Test Pilot Warned USAF Pilot Before Fatal Crash Near Area 51
BY TYLER ROGOWAYSEPTEMBER 16, 2017


One of the most influential characters in Russian aviation Col. Magomed Tolboyev is quoted as having been in contact with Lt. Col. Schultz prior to the crash.


Rumors continue to swirl around the mysterious death of Lt. Col. Eric "Doc" Schultz near Area 51 on September 5th. Various theories exist, including one that says he was the commander of the elite and shadowy "Red Hats" squadron that secretly flies foreign tactical aircraft for test and training purposes. Make sure to read all about these theories here.

Now a report has emerged from the Russian website Radio Moscow claiming that a famous Russian test pilot was not only in contact with Schultz shortly before the crash, but that he warned him of executing certain maneuvers while flying Russian hardware.

Magomed Tolboyev is one of Russia's most prominent aviation figures. He served as a decorated test pilot during the Cold War, testing many types of high performance and exotic aircraft, including the Soviet space shuttle Buran. He has since been given the title Hero of Russia and has worked with many Russian civil and military aviation firms since the fall of the Soviet Union. Most recently Tolboyev was named the honorary president of the biannual MAKS airshow—Russia's largest aviation and arms expo. Suffice it to say, if it flies in Russia, Tolboyev knows something about.

The report says the Schultz and Tolboyev were in contact as recently as a month before Schultz's death. Tolboyev is quoted as stating (Google translation):





Exactly how the supposed contact between the two test pilots was administered remains unclear and there is no indications if it was official or unofficial in nature, if it really even occurred at all.

We also don't know exactly what maneuvers Tolboyev is referencing or what aircraft, but Russia's latest Flanker variants, such as the Su-30 and Su-35, are the most maneuverable operational fighters in the world. They are capable of incredible acrobatics when flown by specially trained pilots.

The Pentagon has a number of Su-27s in its clandestine inventory, but there is no proof that more advanced Flanker derivatives, such as those that feature thrust vectoring, like the Su-30 and Su-35, have been acquired. Nor are there any clear indications that existing Su-27s in the USAF's secret stable of foreign fighters have been modified to perform in a similar fashion to those more advanced Flanker derivatives.

But that doesn't mean either scenario is impossible. Still, the tactical advantages that could be gleaned from clandestinely procuring an advanced Flanker, or modifying an existing Su-27 to perform like one, seem somewhat limited when compared to the effort, risk, and cost likely required to execute such a program.

On the other hand, if this report proves to be even partially valid it will be yet another indication that Schultz was indeed involved in Foreign Materiel Exploitation (FME) programs and the Area 51 based Red Hats squadron.

We will keep you updated on this story as it continues to unfold.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...h-near-area-51