Didn't take long for this to turn ugly did it?
For those of you who were not there, or might not know the layout, the pilot turned right after takeoff not only because that was what the traffic pattern was but if he had turned left he would have flown over the air show crowd with thousands of people closely packed and this tragedy could have turned out much worse. At this point, we don't know if the plane lost power during takeoff or when he was already in the pattern. It also appears that he was aiming for a field which he just missed by 30 feet. It all happened so fast that he had split seconds to make any decisions and I tend to think he did the best he could given the situation.
I was at the air show that day but left early and missed the crash by minutes. I drove right by the spot he crashed right before it happened. Haven't stopped thinking about it since.
For those who think this gentleman was just a lawyer, here's a quick bio on his life as a pilot.
PILOT EXPERIENCE
Ratings:
•Commercial rating
•Instrument rating
• He is the only FAA Authorized Instructor for the Hawker Hunter swept wing, transonic jet fighter; authorized to train pilots to fly this aircraft and recommend them to the FAA; and to requalify pilots after lapse of proficiency. He is also an Authorized Instructor for the Soko Galeb, F4U Corsair, Skyraider, Sea Fury, P-51 Mustang, T-28 and Spitfire.
Hours:
•4,000 + hours since 1961
•44 years as a licensed pilot
Aviation Activities - Past and Present:
•Chairman of the Board, Classic Jet Aircraft Association (promoting private operation of surplus military jet aircraft)
•Co-founder, Warbirds of America, an international organization dedicated to the preservation of military aircraft (presently a division of the Experimental Aircraft Association)
•Chief Pilot, Vice President, Trustee, Museum of Flying, Santa Monica, California
•Founder and President, Mustang Pilot's Club, Inc.
•Vice President, Supermarine Aviation, Ltd.
•Vice President, Liberty Aero Corporation
•Vice-President of NATO Aviation
•Participant since 1970 in Reno Air Races, Unlimited Class
•Counsel to Transonic Flight Test, Ltd., operating Folland Gnat Aircraft
•Counsel to Hunter Flight Test, Ltd., operating Hawker Hunter Jet Fighter Aircraft
Aircraft currently or previously owned:
•Owner/Pilot of a Soko Galeb G-2A Jet Fighter and Hawker Hunter Mk. 58 swept-wing British Fighter
•Former owner/pilot of: racing Corsair, "Blue Max"; P-51 Mustang (2); Hawker Sea Fury; Hawker Hunter T.8C & GA-ll
Qualified as Pilot-In-Command in:
•F4U Corsair (FG-1D, F4U-4, F4U-7)
•Spitfire (Mk IX & Mk XIV)
•F8F Bearcat
•P-51 Mustang
•T-6
•T-28
•AD Skyraider
•Hawker Sea Fury
•Soko Galeb
•Hawker Hunter
http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/attorneys/robertguilford.htmLooks like he could have taught even Golfer a thing or two.