Airshow crash in WI

[Red Tail 444]

Damn...

P51c Crashed in Planes of Freedom Airshow in WI yesterday, killing the pilot....

[Rafe35]

Oh man.

[Yeager]

Sr. was telling me of this today.  I offered up to him my deeply held feelings on the subject.  If it is an hitorical creation of those utmost challenging times, let the wheels stay forever on the ground for our childrens childrens children to appreciate far into the future.  

Amen.  

bless the soul of the pilot for he is the steward of our history....

[Red Tail 444]

yeah...knew the plane...i think i knew the pilot too....cant get a photo of the guy though...

ugh....

[oboe]

Any more information on this crash available?    The source I found claims it was an off-airport emergency landing...

http://www.commemorativeairforce.org/news/2004/nr-04-052904.html

[storch]

Oh man that was easily one of the finest P51 restorations.  Any further news?  Is the pilot dead or only injured?

[Coolridr]

An updated news release

http://www.commemorativeairforce.org/news/2004/nr-04-052904-revised.html

Very Sad

[storch]

Originally posted by Coolridr
An updated news release

http://www.commemorativeairforce.org/news/2004/nr-04-052904-revised.html

Very Sad

Thank you for the update,  while indeed sad, that was not a bad way to pass on through.  Doing what you love, quickly and with a full adrenaline rush.

Don Hinz, clear skies.

[Coolridr]

I agree 100%

[Dnil]

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=341

Good info on the crash.  The pilot apparently worked with a buddy of HiTechs and former player, mouse aka robert shaw.

And while I might agree if its the last example on earth that it not be flown, probably the only reason the aircraft is still around is because people want to fly them, remove that and a ton of warbirds will suddenly vanish.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Really sad news. Another tragic loss.


Man, I really hate to say this, but it seems like the CAF has a lot of mechanical failures, I wonder how their rate compares to other individuals and groups flying and maintaining warbirds. I know they have a lot of planes and not a lot of funding. I appreciate their efforts a great deal, I just wonder if they are dangerously overextended. The recent string of accidents is bad enough, I'd hate to see anything worse happen.

[Red Tail 444]

Originally posted by storch
Thank you for the update,  while indeed sad, that was not a bad way to pass on through.  Doing what you love, quickly and with a full adrenaline rush.

Don Hinz, clear skies.

he actually survived the crash, died in surgery...Last time I saw him was at last year's show in St. Paul 2002, flying the same bird. I was lucky enough to meet him as he powered down, and w/o even saying a word he looked me int he eye and knew exactly what that plane's markings meant to me.

The aircraft's a distant second when you think of the man who died in it....damn damn damn:mad:

[storch]

Originally posted by Red Tail 444
he actually survived the crash, died in surgery...Last time I saw him was at last year's show in St. Paul 2002, flying the same bird. I was lucky enough to meet him as he powered down, and w/o even saying a word he looked me int he eye and knew exactly what that plane's markings meant to me.

The aircraft's a distant second when you think of the man who died in it....damn damn damn:mad:

What would lead you think that the aircraft would be first?  take your medication now and have a nap, you looked a little....flush?  

[Red Tail 444]

Originally posted by storch
What would lead you think that the aircraft would be first?  

well when you have huge egos with bigger bank accounts...anything'spossible...people are already *****ing about ho much it's gonna cost to restore...

And why take meds? that ruins the natural buzz

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Originally posted by Red Tail 444
well when you have huge egos with bigger bank accounts...anything'spossible...people are already *****ing about ho much it's gonna cost to restore...

And why take meds? that ruins the natural buzz

It was one of his close friends and fellow pilots who mentioned already that they needed $1M and 18 months to make it fly again.
He knew the pilot and said that was what he would want. That's good enough for me. Oh, and he wasn't complaining, just hoping to get everyone behind it.