All politics aside, Kennedy was a shi*ty pilot, period. I’m a licensed pilot and I would NEVER have tried that schtick without an instrument ticket.
He was arrogant, cocky and thought his wealth could get him out of anything. It killed him and two others.
This Sepia-toned hero worship is a complete farce. He’s dead through his own jncompetenc and avarice.
Good comment. He followed his “Reckless Youth” Dad to his grave.
Wasn’t he also on pain killers and, with a foot in a cast?
You are right. He didn’t have his instrument rating which is crucial to be a good pilot as you know. Flying over water at night in clouds for a terribly inexperienced pilot was just plain stupid, arrogant.
The V-tail Bonanza was nicknamed "The doctor killer" because that was a very popular aircraft for them. It was fast and pricey. Some said the v-tail was too weak but flying the plane within the published envelope was as safe as any other aircraft.
The plane got a bad rap but many people said that the overconfidence in people like doctors made them fly their planes into weather and situations that others would not dare to fly.