Pilot Bails Out of Corsair

FReeper tip | 03/04/07 | Self

[Aeronaut]

Pilot bails out of Corsair.

Click on the above for a video.

[narby]

Whatever the cause, those were some spectacular flames.

Pretty sure the engine blew up. Big time blew up. They had recently cut down the air intake size, and that thing always did run really hot at race power, even with the water spray bars. This wasn't long after the Pond Racer had crashed killing Rick Brickert, and everybody was scared of in-flight fire, even while right over the airport..

I personally think running at Phoenix (where this happend) was a different animal than running it hard in So. Cal. at low altitude, because when you get down into very low humidities engines can begin to detonate even when running the same numbers. Also, at Reno where they were used to running hard, they were flying at higher altitude.

[SkyPilot]

On one hand I LOVE to see/hear the warbirds fly. OTOH, the loss of each one is a piece of irreplaceable history lost to my children's children.

Amen to your statements.

Back in 1997, the only flying ME-109G model was destroyed in Britain because the pilot flying it didn't know how to extend the cowl flaps. The engine overheated and he destroyed the aircraft.

The aircraft was named "Black 6 and it is the one in the brown desert paint scheme." The pilot survived, and the aircraft was rebuilt by the Imperial War museum, but it was decided not to restore the ME109 to flying condition. It will live the rest of its life in a hanger so that future generations can view it.

That Corsair is now a smoking hole, never to be seen again.

[enuf]

I'm not sure, but he was a cool dude, as my family met him and his family at his last race in Reno. He gave my kids souvenirs and autographed hats and shirts that had his race history with the speeds he averaged in each race. As I recall the "Rare Bear" or Bearcat was always his closest competitor.
The speed and sound of these aircraft are absolutely incredible (Esp. the Modified Aircraft)

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Yes, been to duxford numerous times in the early 90s and was fortunate to see black 6 fly on a few occations.Incredible it was.

[crghill]

Welcome Mr. Pilot to the Catepillar club....amazing video!

[crghill]

Welcome Mr. Pilot to the Catepillar club....amazing video!

[LibKill]

Durn! I'm glad he hit the silk and made it down OK.

Too bad about the Corsair. History up in smoke.

I don't see how the pilot could have done anything else, that baby was burning like God's blowtorch.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

The Corsair has always been my favorite WW2 plane. Sad loss...

[Dead Dog]

Hey, I was at this race, this was the'93 Phoenix 500. Seems like they pilot damaged his ankle on the empenage, but was otherwise OK.

Bumber, this was one of the R-4360 powered Corsairs Goodyear built.

[GBA]

"down into very low humidities"

With regard to the Phoenix 500 event...as it wasn't an actual race...that day was a cold and rainy day. I had ducked under Lefty Gardner's P-38 Lightning to get out of one of the rains. That was a religious experience! Way better than being in church.

Anyway, low humidity was NOT a factor. I can only say that it was a surreal experience watching the the frist few bursts of flame, then seeing it really catch on fire, feeling the tension in the crowd, wondering if he would get out, then seeing the parachute and finally the crash. He was lucky. I think that was the last Phoenix 500 event. I still have the t-shirt and the beer glass. And, of course, the memory.

[Dead Dog]

Ever price a 4360? They are damned cheap. At least to buy or overhaul. Feeding them ain't.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

What can you hang it on? not much.

[DuncanWaring]

Get five more and build yourself a B-36.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

You would have to be a glutton for punishment.LOL

[CORedneck]

Interesting and scary !

[rlmorel]

I respectfully disagree that they should all be shut inside a hangar. As a former Aviation Machinists Mate and ongoing aviation enthusiast, I think they should fly these where and when they can.

I also take into account these were restored, in many cases by private individuals. They have a vested interest in protecting their investment. Of course, that doesn't help if they sell them to someone who happens to have a lot of money and not much invested emotionally and timewise in the aircraft.

I am not sure what to do about that, but I don't like the concept of banning them all to hangars.

There are enough of these in museums where they will be safe for posterity. There is no bird out there flying that does not have several more copies in a museum. Granted, you wrote of a particular model of ME109 that was the only version in existence...and I don't know how that applies to the various warbirds flying today.

If they can fly these birds, they should...just my opinion. Besides, this aircraft was a highly customized, chopped bird. The majority of people who saw it might not recognized it as a military aircraft.

Now, THIS one, if you slapped a nice coat of glossy navy blue and some insignia on her...she would be a bit different....isn't SHE a beauty???

[Dead Dog]

You sir, demonstrate an incredible lack of imagination. :)

Really though, I've seen rebuilts for less then four cylinder lycomings. R-2800, which are much more realistic still only $44K.

[SkyPilot]

I absolutely share your dilemma and I also agree with you that these are beautiful aircraft to behold in flight.

I just watched that video clip again with my wife, and the sound of a radial engine is just heavenly.

Still, it is a shame these are being flown and crashed. They are priceless, and it makes little difference if there is one example left in a museum somewhere - the loss of just one is a tragedy.

Thanks for the photos also.

[rlmorel]

You bet...of course, that was NO way to try to start an argument between aviation enthusiasts...

The REAL way to do that is to ask "What was the greatest fighter aircraft of WWII?"

THEN you sit back and watch the sparks fly!

[SkyPilot]

HA!

OK, here is my opinion:

Piston? The P-51.

Then there is the ME-262, in a class by itself for obvious reasons.

:^>