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You may remember last year's annual show featuring the Erickson WWII plane collecion as canceled due to 50+ MPH winds. This year was far worse with the death of vetern acrobatics pilot Marcus Paine.
http://www.bendbulletin.com/home/461...f-the-cascades
Witnessed from front row. Plane took off and attempted an inside loop before attaining sufficient altitude or speed. Failed to even come close to completing the loop crashing nose into the ground. Horrifying to witness
Now that is sad. :-(
same thing happened to a Thunderbird some years ago,with a well-known/seen YT video from Cockpit cam showing the pilot ejecting at last second. Another one some yrs after that.The low-alt loop after takeoff in ANY plane no matter its thrust/weight ratio is VERY risky. Shame He died and so many witnessed it
It has indeed been a bad weekend for aircraft accidents.
I am glad you are safe PapaPnut.
I lost a friend who had, what we assume to be a control failure in China yesterday. He was flying an Sbach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ4r7vpwnH8.
On top of that 2 other fatals in South Africa (both Cessna aircraft, privately owned.)
Aviation is a fun hobby but if Mechanical, Weather or Pilot Errors get in the way. it can be deadly.
Stay safe guys. Know your limits.
_Argonaught_
Deepest condolences for your friend. This all highlights just how precious life is and how fleeting it can be. Still pretty shook up having never witnessing a fatal plane crash before let alone from the runway front row 2-300 yards from impact. Especially creepy as I have a great picture of him stoping directly in front of us to wave to the crowd literally 2 minutes before he took off and died.
I had watched his performance the night before which was brilliant. The minute he started the loop ascent I knew something was wrong. The crowd was all going oh ah.... while I was thinking OMG there is no way hes going to make it....so sad I was right.
shame He didn't roll over at the top and pull off a nice immelman