I have been searching the net but have found one name and plane that crashed at Reno this week, out of 3 total. Does anyone have news or links about this? Thanks, DJ
Okay, I have two. Steve Dari was the first in his bi-plane, possible engine failure on take off, stalled out. The second was Brad Morehouse in an L-39 jet during competition. Anybody hear from Sparky??
The third was Geoge Hubler in the Formula One race. Man ! What a bad week down there! No news from Sparky and so far that is good. Switches
I have a friend (Gordo Sanders) in the T-6 category who is out there. I have been talking to some of his pit crew during the week, and it has not been a good one. First fatalities since 2002 - come in threes I suppose - enough is enough.
A shame really. Very sobering. Any details on what the causes were on the L-39?? The news speculates that Huber clipped the plane in front of him.
I just heard that it snapped inverted an crashed hard - big ball of fire - debris field over half the length of the main runway. Right in front of family and everyone watching. At least the pilot never knew what happened -
Hmm, rethink "jet" races because of this? I know on that show 'Dogfight' the jet era pilots talked about being careful in battles because of the jet wake. Must be something bad if jet wake is on the list along with air to air and ground to air as concerns.
Years ago I was caught in the wake of a B-29 all dirty and on final. I stupidly crossed below and behind him with what I figured was ample distance and the Cessna 140 that I was flying was wrenched around so severely and violently that I thought that it was going to break up. Popping and creaking in the structure overhead worried me more than the resulting spin. It happened so fast that I was a passenger for several moments. I have been told that a B-29 dirty will produce the worst wake of any but seeing a young friend killed when he got caught the wake of a 747 that made a low pass at an air show in Canada made me rethink wake turbulence. On a hot day it can hang around for a long time and any airplane fling as fast as an L-39 can leave a bunch torn up air behind it especially in a turn. I also have experienced strong wake turbulence dog fighting in a PT-19. Nothing like a P-51 or a jet but it is still there and lets you know it. Taking off too close behind another and larger airplane almost did me in once at an air show so I'm very leery of holes in the air. Switches
I heard today that a P-51 arrived for the event a day or two early and ran off the end of the runway - the sage caught fire, pilot got out, but the airplane "burnup". Hadn't heard that bit of news before. Maybe Sparky can elaborate?
Hadnt heard about the 51 burnup Roy but the Jet crash was right in front of my pit row and only 600 ft away. Got into wake turb and rolled inverted. Rolled upright only to be rolled completly around again comming out upright and in a really bad sinker. Tried pulling up but hit very hard blowing up with a large fireball and long debris field. Not a good thing to see. Lucky he didnt wind up in the pits or crowd. Those things are too fast for the recip course. Should not be there. Has been only a exibition race until this year. They were actually racing for cash this time around. Big mistake.
Tragic year indeed - I suspect there will be some serious thouht given to changing things in the years to come to try to improve the safety level. Hope they don't take the fun and excitement away - but three deaths in a week is too much.
