P51 crashes at air show

Oberon · 09-17-11, 07:22 AM

Such a terrible shame, some reports indicate that the pilot managed to pull the nose up a bit and correct her course to avoid hitting the 'bleacher' section. Jimmy Leeward certainly seems the type of pilot to try his best to avoid casualties, he was certainly not wet behind the ears.

I think rather than retire the P-51s to the museums they should just be taken out of the racing circuit. Still have them at airshows, but the kind of stresses that the airframe must be under during racing must surely take its toll on the old girl. Don't get me wrong, I love to hear the P-51 in full barrel, particularly that wailing noise from the open gun ports, something special that is, and I am fully confident in the P-51s ability to race, but when a racehorse gets to a certain age, well...it's time to put them out to pasture or to easier races.

Irregardless, this is a terrible incident, and my condolences to all involved.

danny60 · 09-17-11, 08:25 AM

The latest figures are 3 dead, 57 injured

Armistead · 09-17-11, 09:31 AM

I don't think it has anything to do with the P51 itself or it's frame being too old, but physical condition or not, 74 is too old to be racing planes.

stoppro · 09-17-11, 10:10 AM

I met the pilot a couple of time at his home in ocala. he had that 'never gets old' flyboy look that i see on many older pilots. the flying community up there is called ,leeward ranches, it was named for him when he built it. there is a runway behind almost every home. pretty cool place .he died going what he loved to do except i am sure he didin't intend to kill anyone, sad

CaptainHaplo · 09-17-11, 10:14 AM

I'd rather have a 74 year old experienced pilot than a 25 year old wet behind the ears one.

Many people better be thankful he was experienced. Word from the scene is that it was a mechanical issue of some sort, and that the aircraft behavior indicates the pilot did all he could to avoid an even bigger tragedy. If it had been an inexperienced pilot behind the stick, its likely many more would be dead today.

I am under 40, but I have a serious issue with saying that age alone should disqualify a person from doing something. There are people at 65 who should not even be allowed to drive, and there are people at 80 who do just fine. Generalities are not a basis for restricting the rights of people.

Biggles · 09-17-11, 10:20 AM

Any plane can crash or malfunction. No matter the age or type, the RAF Red Tails didn't fly WWII era planes now did they?

In any case, a horrific accident. I read now on a Swedish newspaper site that the pilot apparently managed to alter his course in the last seconds from a crowded spectator stand, so the deathtoll could've been much higher. In any case, a tragic event.

Hottentot · 09-17-11, 10:27 AM

Saw it from our newspaper too and immediately thought there would be a thread about it in here. Scary. Reminds you just how death can come anywhere and without a warning. To think that those people had left their homes just to spend a day and have a good time.

On lighter note, our media shines again. It's somewhat difficult to translate into English, but they say first in Finnish, "the plane's model was" and then copy straight from an English source: "World War II P-51 Mustang". I wouldn't complain even if they mixed a P-51 and P-47, but is it too much to ask the journalist to actually think for a second before pressing the "submit article" button?

Jimbuna · 09-17-11, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

I'd rather have a 74 year old experienced pilot than a 25 year old wet behind the ears one.

Many people better be thankful he was experienced. Word from the scene is that it was a mechanical issue of some sort, and that the aircraft behavior indicates the pilot did all he could to avoid an even bigger tragedy. If it had been an inexperienced pilot behind the stick, its likely many more would be dead today.

I am under 40, but I have a serious issue with saying that age alone should disqualify a person from doing something. There are people at 65 who should not even be allowed to drive, and there are people at 80 who do just fine. Generalities are not a basis for restricting the rights of people.

I'm not sure why your last paragraph reads like it does because I see no evidence of any contributor on this thread either generalising or saying that age alone should disqualify a person from doing something.

Oberon · 09-17-11, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I'm not sure why your last paragraph reads like it does because I see no evidence of any contributor on this thread either generalising or saying that age alone should disqualify a person from doing something.

Quote:

I don't think it has anything to do with the P51 itself or it's frame being too old, but physical condition or not, 74 is too old to be racing planes.

I think this is what was being referred to, Jim.

Highbury · 09-17-11, 03:09 PM

I just caught the last bit of some TV coverage on it. Definitely mechanical failure. They had a picture of a part separating from the plane. Possibly one of the elevators, I just turned my head to see it for a second and it was gone.

Death toll was also reported to be at 9 now.

Jimbuna · 09-17-11, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

I think this is what was being referred to, Jim.

Possibly

09-17-11, 08:25 AM	#2
danny60 A-ganger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: You know, I have no idea where I am... Posts: 73 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	The latest figures are 3 dead, 57 injured __________________ Running at three-bell flank ahead.

09-17-11, 10:10 AM	#4
stoppro Sonar Guy Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: vero beach fl Posts: 380 Downloads: 495 Uploads: 0	I met the pilot a couple of time at his home in ocala. he had that 'never gets old' flyboy look that i see on many older pilots. the flying community up there is called ,leeward ranches, it was named for him when he built it. there is a runway behind almost every home. pretty cool place .he died going what he loved to do except i am sure he didin't intend to kill anyone, sad __________________ win 10 64-msi-32gig cosair ddr4-ryzen9-5600evga gtx3060-corsair850watt-2-ssd 500 gig drives 1m2 1tig

09-17-11, 10:14 AM	#5
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	I'd rather have a 74 year old experienced pilot than a 25 year old wet behind the ears one. Many people better be thankful he was experienced. Word from the scene is that it was a mechanical issue of some sort, and that the aircraft behavior indicates the pilot did all he could to avoid an even bigger tragedy. If it had been an inexperienced pilot behind the stick, its likely many more would be dead today. I am under 40, but I have a serious issue with saying that age alone should disqualify a person from doing something. There are people at 65 who should not even be allowed to drive, and there are people at 80 who do just fine. Generalities are not a basis for restricting the rights of people. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

09-17-11, 10:20 AM	#6
Biggles Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sweden (I'm not a Viking...) Posts: 3,529 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Any plane can crash or malfunction. No matter the age or type, the RAF Red Tails didn't fly WWII era planes now did they? In any case, a horrific accident. I read now on a Swedish newspaper site that the pilot apparently managed to alter his course in the last seconds from a crowded spectator stand, so the deathtoll could've been much higher. In any case, a tragic event. __________________

09-17-11, 10:27 AM	#7
Hottentot Sea Lord Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: My private socialist utopia of Finland Posts: 1,918 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Saw it from our newspaper too and immediately thought there would be a thread about it in here. Scary. Reminds you just how death can come anywhere and without a warning. To think that those people had left their homes just to spend a day and have a good time. On lighter note, our media shines again. It's somewhat difficult to translate into English, but they say first in Finnish, "the plane's model was" and then copy straight from an English source: "World War II P-51 Mustang". I wouldn't complain even if they mixed a P-51 and P-47, but is it too much to ask the journalist to actually think for a second before pressing the "submit article" button? __________________ Хотели как лучше, а получилось как всегда.

09-17-11, 07:22 AM	#1
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Such a terrible shame, some reports indicate that the pilot managed to pull the nose up a bit and correct her course to avoid hitting the 'bleacher' section. Jimmy Leeward certainly seems the type of pilot to try his best to avoid casualties, he was certainly not wet behind the ears. I think rather than retire the P-51s to the museums they should just be taken out of the racing circuit. Still have them at airshows, but the kind of stresses that the airframe must be under during racing must surely take its toll on the old girl. Don't get me wrong, I love to hear the P-51 in full barrel, particularly that wailing noise from the open gun ports, something special that is, and I am fully confident in the P-51s ability to race, but when a racehorse gets to a certain age, well...it's time to put them out to pasture or to easier races. Irregardless, this is a terrible incident, and my condolences to all involved.

09-17-11, 09:31 AM	#3
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	I don't think it has anything to do with the P51 itself or it's frame being too old, but physical condition or not, 74 is too old to be racing planes.

09-17-11, 03:09 PM	#10
Highbury The Old Man Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 51.557, -0.102 Posts: 1,311 Downloads: 177 Uploads: 0	I just caught the last bit of some TV coverage on it. Definitely mechanical failure. They had a picture of a part separating from the plane. Possibly one of the elevators, I just turned my head to see it for a second and it was gone. Death toll was also reported to be at 9 now.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode