Technical Scuba Diving
A return dive to the F4D Skyray wreck at just over 200 feet to build a better photogrammetry model. Poor visibility left gaps in the result, and the post compares the new model with the original from 2021.
Research for the Skyray chapter of “Aviation Wrecks of Southern California.” The story of Pete Colapietro, the test pilot who survived bailing out of an F4D at 650 mph, and his family’s path from Italy to Windsor Locks, Connecticut, with family photos shared by his nephew.
My initial "photo plan" on diving the F4D was to see if either wing was intact and, if so, get pictures of the shape of the wing since it is such a unique and iconic feature. Fortunately, one of the wings was intact enough to get those photos and then I started to move around [...]
On March 18, 1958, Douglas test pilot Leo J. “Pete” Colapietro bailed out of an F4D Skyray at 650 mph over the ocean and survived. Dive report on the wreck at 205 fsw, including the delta wing, landing gear and wiring harness, with the history of the aircraft.
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