51–56 of 56 posts
http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=J7&Dato=20...
Photo 7 is very peculiar. The pilot is not visible. I am familiar with this cockpit, and there is no where to go backwards, so he must be all the way forwards out of view.
In photo 38, you can see how visible he is when taxiing out.
Just absolutely terrible. My thoughts are with all involved.
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One amazing thing about the 2nd photo: The self-preservation instinct of the audience still hasn't kicked in. Spectators are craning their necks to see what's happening, and photography dude is just manning the camera.
You have to realize how fast it happened, I'm sure their brains have barely had time to process what happened let alone telling the rest of their body to get the hell out of there. 400-500mph is REALLY fast.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Airshows can be deadly to pilots, but up until this tragedy, safe for spectators: "John Cudahy, the president of the International Council of Air Shows, said Friday that no spectators have died at any air show in the country since 1952." http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-air-sho...
There are airshows in other countries. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramstein_airshow_disaster (might even count as US ground as it was a US military base).
Terrible tragedy. http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=J7&Dato=20... Photo 7 is very peculiar. The pilot is not visible. I am familiar with this cockpit, and there is no where to go backwards, so he must be all the way forwards out of view. In photo 38, you can see how visible he is when taxiing out. Just absolutely terrible. My thoughts are with all involved.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wouldn't think so. How many people have ever died at airshows compared to how many go to them? It may look dangerous, but (except for very rare exceptions) it's just a fun day out.
Airshows can be deadly to pilots, but up until this tragedy, safe for spectators: "John Cudahy, the president of the International Council of Air Shows, said Friday that no spectators have died at any air show in the country since 1952." http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-air-sho...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The left elevator trim panel looks gone. By itself I wouldn't think that would cause loss of control, but could have precipitated events in a chain often seen in air accidents.
It is probably fully deflected. If it were deflected inadvertently, it would be very difficult to recover control of airplane pitch at the speeds and low altitudes where this occurred. Another possibility is that the elevator control itself was lost and the pilot is desperately attempting to regain control using the trim tab to control airplane pitch.