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Author Topic: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows  (Read 3540 times)

RocketMan

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It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« on: August 21, 2011, 08:37:08 PM »
First, a member of the British Red Arrows dies in a crash of his jet trainer at Bournemouth Air Festival in Dorset.

Then an acrobatic pilot dies at the Kansas City Aviation Expo Air Show when he can't pull his sport biplane out of a spin.

Then a wing walker falls to his death at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in southeast Michigan.

The Oregon International Air Show was held this weekend.  There have been no reports of problems there this year, so that is a good thing.  There was a fatal crash of a Hawker Hunter jet fighter at the 2007 show.
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tokugawa

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2011, 10:07:59 PM »
Very sad. I lost a friend a few years ago when he was unable to recover from an inverted flat spin in his Pitts. Aerobatics is unforgiving.
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Stickjockey

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2011, 10:29:06 PM »
Not just here, either. Duxford lost Big Beautiful Doll to a collision with a Skyraider. Pilot bailed safely, but the Mustang went in about 40 degrees nose-down. Sandy made a safe landing elsewhere.
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Hawkmoon

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2011, 10:43:22 PM »
Quote from: RocketMan on August 21, 2011, 08:37:08 PM
Then an acrobatic pilot dies at the Kansas City Aviation Expo Air Show when he can't pull his sport biplane out of a spin.

From the article:

Quote
The pilot, identified as Bryan Jensen, was flying a biplane during the air show at Wheeler Downtown Airport  when it pancaked into the runway as a few thousand spectators watched on the first day of the show, according to the Kansas City Star.

"Pancaked"? Reporter obviously doesn't know airplane lingo. That video didn't show a pancake, that was "augering in."
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Scout26

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2011, 02:20:26 AM »
I barely missed being at Ramstein in '88.  We were in K-town that day shopping at the PX and it took longer then it should have.  We were on our way to the Airshow, when we saw the traffic before the show and said, "Screwit, let's go get something to eat."

Got back to our quarters later and the phone is ringing off the hook.  First from her boss at Landstuhl, calling her into work.  (LARMC called in everyone that day, no matter what their job of speciality was) and my unit trying to get 100% accountability.  Thankfully, none of our people were hurt (we did have several in the crowd)
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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2011, 07:33:21 AM »
FoxNews actually has pictures of the wingwalker losing his grip and falling from the helicopter at the Selfridge air show.  Very graphic, so I won't provide a link.  It's easy to find on their site if you wish to view them.
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TommyGunn

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2011, 11:48:58 AM »
Quote from: RocketMan on August 22, 2011, 07:33:21 AM
FoxNews actually has pictures of the wingwalker losing his grip and falling from the helicopter at the Selfridge air show.  Very graphic, so I won't provide a link.  It's easy to find on their site if you wish to view them.
The OP beat you to it anyway.
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RocketMan

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2011, 07:52:23 PM »
Those pics weren't available when I posted the OP.
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If there really was intelligent life on other planets, we'd be sending them foreign aid.

Conservatives see George Orwell's "1984" as a cautionary tale.  Progressives view it as a "how to" manual.

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Northwoods

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2011, 10:59:06 PM »
Was just a couple months ago that Amanda Franklin died from her injuries in the engine fire/crash landing during that airshow in TX back in (I think) March.  Tough year for the wingwalking community.
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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2011, 11:24:52 PM »
Quote from: RocketMan on August 22, 2011, 07:52:23 PM
Those pics weren't available when I posted the OP.
Oh.
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Stand_watie

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2011, 10:38:24 PM »
Now in Reno.

I hate that they're making a big deal about his age. All other things being equal  I'll fly with an 80 year old pilot in reasonable health over a 25 year old pilot in top health every day.
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TommyGunn

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #11 on: September 16, 2011, 11:23:39 PM »
Quote from: Stand_watie on September 16, 2011, 10:38:24 PM
Now in Reno..........

What a horrible tragedy.   The P-51 apparantly flew directly into the ground, due to possible mechanical failure.
I didn't realize the pilot was 80, but if he was otherwise healthy (and a lot of 80 year olds are) I see no reason why he shouldn't fly.
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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #12 on: September 16, 2011, 11:47:11 PM »
Oh man, I was working all day and did not see it.  That saddens me greatly.  They fly right over my house. :'(
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RocketMan

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2011, 03:54:18 PM »
Another lousy weekend for air shows and pilots.  First the P-51 crash at Reno, and now this: A 1950's vintage T-28 goes in, apparently killing the pilot, but no casualties on the ground.  Plane Crashes at West Virginia Air Show.
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Tim L

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #14 on: September 18, 2011, 07:52:09 PM »
Just a quick correction, Jimmy Leeward was 74.
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Stand_watie

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Re: It has been a lousy weekend for airshows
« Reply #15 on: September 18, 2011, 08:29:13 PM »
Quote from: Tim L on September 18, 2011, 07:52:09 PM
Just a quick correction, Jimmy Leeward was 74.

I think the press vultures were reporting 80 for a while. He looked to be hale and full of vigor in the most recent photos I've seen of him, which I'd expect from a guy who races airplanes.
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