Fighting Irish Forums

My thoughts are with the victims and their families ...

Feck! was that today frank it looks awful

Yesterday. P 51 "Gallopin' Ghost" lost control due to apparent flight control failure and crashed into box seat section. The pilot and at least two others were killed, though the final toll will almost certainly be higher. Witnesses described seeing body parts scattered around the area and more than 50 people were brought to local hospitals, many in critical condition.

wow. Feel sorry for everyone.

How close was the flight line to the crowd?

Crowd was 1/4 mile away. Well in excess of FAA requirements, according to what's being reported.
This was the only accident in the 40+ year history of Reno Air Races where anyone other than a pilot has been injured. Nine deceased so far including the P-51 pilot. Very sad.

This story outlines the Reno crash in pretty good detail :

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44556695/ns/us_news-life/


The way they hacked the bird made it really look like a Spitfire to me, for some reason.



But, there was another one yesterday in another part of the US (though, I want to say Vegas, for some reason).

wow they shortend the ailerons and chopped 5 foot from each wing to make it go faster.

I wonder did they get FAA approval and did anyone do an aerodynamic study of lift, airflow, stall characteristics etc

Was the in a turn/roll before the crash ? Maybe loss of lift could be a cause?

A lot of investigation yet to go, but reading the report there, very heavily modified at the start of the season....and the pilot was 74 years old?? Most of the 74 year olds around here are in mobility scooters!!

G

Thought's are with the friends and family.
Looking at the pictures something immediately stands out to me - the tail wheel was down, would that be a sign of hydraulics failure?

Been reading about this one on SIMHQ, obviously tons of speculation, but it's strongly believed the pilot had blacked out. Whatever caused the wheel to drop and the plane to pitch up and hence the GLOC. In the video it sounds like the engine is still at full throttle

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp ... 9#44576019

There are several video's out there, but this one made the hair on my neck stand up, rather close call for the camera man.

yikes. lucky camera man.

Horrible tragedy.

Monday a 3/4 scale Bearcat Kit drilled a hole right by our Socorro, New Mexico base. The base mechanic was a first-responder and said he hopes he never sees anything like that again.
Two fatalities.