JasonW Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I'm not sure of the statistics or even where to find them but I'm curious if this is a record of some sort. I can't remember an air show season being this bad before. It seems like every major air show/event/race I read or hear about seems to have an accident. Maybe it's just the compressed time frame of all the accidents or all the fatalities that makes it seem worse than it is? Has there been a year this bad before? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 There have been single accidents with higher death tolls in past years. It's the coincidence of two accidents in two days that's making it seem so worrisome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinro Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I actually did a quick glance at Wikipedia and the last comparable year was early 2000s. This year hasn't just been bad for airshows; Earthquakes all over the place, people in my local area getting shot/having freak accidents and dying the past few weeks--it's a bit odd. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I'm not sure of the statistics or even where to find them but I'm curious if this is a record of some sort. I can't remember an air show season being this bad before. It seems like every major air show/event/race I read or hear about seems to have an accident. Maybe it's just the compressed time frame of all the accidents or all the fatalities that makes it seem worse than it is? Has there been a year this bad before? Yeah I think statistically it will be higher than average but still not as bad as some years. Didn't the blue angels lose a whole team once? And I remember the tricolors having a crash that careened into a crowd. not a bad question though Jason Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Les / Creative Edge Photo Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Yeah I think statistically it will be higher than average but still not as bad as some years. Didn't the blue angels lose a whole team once? And I remember the tricolors having a crash that careened into a crowd. not a bad question though Jason It was the Thunderbirds during Winter testing 1982 I think. Frecce Tricolorie had their crash at USAF base Ramstein in Germany 1987. Humanity would be nowhere if we did not push on after tragedy and loss. We don't need a world in proverbial bubble wrap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alvis 3.1 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Don't be dissin bubble wrap! It's fun to pop! Kind of a weird airshow season. It's been a bit hard on warbirds in general too, even when they aren't at shows, like the B-17 that went down earlier this year. Alvis 3.1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 The Thunderbird crash in '82 was not at an airshow, and it did kill all four members of the diamond, but IIRC the solos were not in the formation when it went in. The Frecce Tricolorie crash in 1988 at Ramstein AB killed 67 people when after a midair collision one aircraft tumbled into the crowd in a fireball of aviation fuel, one crashed into the medevac helicopter that was on standby in case of emergency, and one crashed down the runway. All three of the pilots involved died in the accident as well. In 2002 at the Sknyliv Airshow in the Ukraine an SU-27 crashed due to pilot error. After the pilot and backseater ejected, the aircraft skidded into a parked IL-76, exploded, and cartwheeled into the crowd killing 77 people. I'm pretty sure the '88 crash in Germany and the 2002 crash in the Ukraine both eclipse any and all crashes this entire airshow season in severity. Unless there have been a hell of a lot of crashes that didn't make the news... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jeff briner Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 The poem, High Flight, has over the years become a mantra to pilots. It is reproduced here as a tribute to, and in memory of pilots of all generations. Both of the pilots killed this weekend were military veterans. Prayers for them and the spectators lost in these tragic accidents. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God. Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 A list of accidents and incidents: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airshow_accidents_and_incidents Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 The Blue Angels had a couple of close calls on consecutive weekends this year also which led the The Boss stepping down and them recalling last year's Boss to take over ... It does seem like 2011 has had some form of bad Juju for most folks ... :unsure: Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevan Vogler Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I'll be heading to an airshow next weekend. I try not to let the accidents of this year weigh on my mind too much. I figure if the Red Arrows, who are slated to perform there, can get back to their routines and schedule in the same year after losing a member; their is no real reason for me to be too worried. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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