Posted on 07/02/2022 2:05:43 PM PDT by DFG
A driver is dead after his jet truck was engulfed in flames when he released his parachute while racing planes going 300mphs.
The driver was killed during the 'pyrotechnic' event at the Battle Creek Air Show in Michigan shortly after 1pm on Saturday, police confirmed.
Witnesses say the Shockwave jet truck was racing two planes that were going 300 mph. When the driver deployed his parachute, the truck reportedly engulfed in flames and a large plume of black smoke.
'[The driver] was doing his show and going down the runway,' Suze Gusching, media relations for Field of Flight told the Battle Creek Enquirer. 'He passed by the explosion, and his truck had exploded.'
Video of the incident shows a large explosion happening right before the truck barreled into it. As the vehicle came flying out of the other side, it significantly slowed and was covered in thick smoke.
Chris Darnell is listed as the driver of the Shockwave Jet Truck on the company's website. His brother Neal, who pilots the Flash Fire Jet Truck, declined to comment when reached by Daily Mail.com
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
You keep guessing wrong. I did watch one at the Point Mugu air shoe...But not the same truck and I don’t recall if there were pyrotechnics in front of the truck, as in this case.
Someone could forget the marshmallows
I tend to agree..People who want to strap jet engines on their trucks or boats clearly roll the dice...250++ mph jet boats? I see it as way too risky, all for a bit of money and fame. But if that’s what they want to do, no problemo...
Looks like he was concerned about a short shutdown and got on the binders a bit too much before the chutes had him stabilized. Very sad.
For a vehicle that size and speed I would have expected larger chutes, though.
The flames are nominal when they cut jets from full power, not a factor.
The explosion off the runway looked to be before the truck got there and was typical airshow pyrotechnics. The truck was spewing a lot of flames as it decelerated but I don’t know if that’s normal for those things or not. Then it ran off the pavement and flipped, judging from the dust cloud.
}:-)4
Well that must be the finale
Looks like he popped the chutes before the engines were shut off and they went up in flames and he lost control at speed. The explosion in front of him was well out of the way off to the side of the track and was part of the pyrotechnic display at the air show.
BS. The author of the DM article obviously didn't watch the video.
Tragic.
I’ll have to watch the video. I can’t tell if he was driving a truck or flying an airplane when he died!
Guys, the explosion is in the grass between the runway and the taxiway. Seen it done a BUNCH of times, and that’s ALWAYS where it is. It’s fireworks like stuff, and that’s where they put it. It has NOTHING to do with this accident.
Sorry but I laughed. A little.
All the sarcastic comments here are shameful. This was a tragedy for the family and members of his demo team.
Show some class or make your comments on another site like DU where it fits in their agenda.
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