A Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon F2 based at RAF Conningsby has made what appears to have been a gear-up landing during training at China Lake Naval Weapons Air Station in California, Western United States.
The accident happened last week and the aircraft is reported to have come to rest with only ‘minor’ damage. While most sources suggest no mechanical issue was to blame, it amazes me that you could land the Typhoon gear up at a controlled airbase. Surely the usually breathy female voice of the aircraft’s automatic announcer would have risen to a scream of “TOO LOW! - GEAR!” just before the metal-rending moment? 
Aside from that, you’d think the air traffic controller might have ordered the Typhoon to go around when it became apparent that it wasn’t going to make contact with the asphalt in the customary fashion.
Wing Commander Andrew McGill commented:
Now, allegedly, the damage is not such that the aircraft has become un-airworthy but it’s hard to imagine how putting an 11-15 ton aircraft on the ground at 130 knots without the benefit of wheels could only scratch the paintwork.
I presume they’ll be fixing the aircraft in situ at China Lake, quite what resources that will need is anyone’s guess.
Note: Image is example of Type, not actual aircraft.
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