Posted on 09/19/2011 7:18:13 AM PDT by PilotDave
The NTSB has recovered 'components' which may be part of the P-51's horizontal stab and elevator... possibly even the elevator trim tab, which is a specified point of inquiry (as noted in previous ANN reports).
The NTSB has received a significant amount of photographic and video evidence -- some of which show the process whereby the elevator trim tab separated from the horizontal stabilizer.
There is no evidence of the much-reported 'Mayday' call.
We are hearing a number of calls for additional regulation and FAA supervision... despite the fact that this is the first time in nearly 60 years that a spectator at an American aviation event has been killed. A quick perusal of a number of road racing events shows dozens of people/spectators killed as a result of their attendance at such exciting activities (and just in the last few years!)... there are spectator tragedies on record, as well, involving boat races, motorcycle races, BICYCLE races, sled races, ski races, horse races, you name it.
(Excerpt) Read more at aero-news.net ...
Could my #119 have stayed if I removed the two words at the bottom?
Just curious
For the record, there are approx. 400 airshows per year in America with an annual attendance of 17 million. Nascar has an annual attendance of less than 4 million.
I’ve posted about the difference in terms of experience and competitive fervor.
They don’t carry much fuel for the race and GG had a boil off cooling system that probably contained a lot of non flammable coolant
That’s my only guess. We read the crash was between Box A-41 and A-50. We were seated in A-81
Thanks for the photo post. The diagonal angle of the stress marks suggests that the rear fuselage sheared with an upward force by the wing, and downward by the tail. Which is consistent with loss of a trim tab operation that normally provides upward force at the tail to counteract excessive lift at speed, and when lost would generate major downforce.
I’m not an aviation expert, but I did earn an engineering degree once upon a time.
Maybe a simpler way of looking at it is that this is what happens when positive Gs exceed the airframe’s capability, but the wings are strong enough not to fall off.
I believe it is why Mercedes quit auto racing.
Since I posted that, I was trying to remember where I read a story about the development of napalm (may be in a book I have, but I have lots). The developers wanted to set off an explosion to spread the stuff around, but if the explosion was too large it blew the stuff out and no fire occurred. I still think a phenomena like that is the explanation for what happened this weekend. I have no idea how fast the plane was going, but if the engine was still running at full power as many have reported, and the aircraft was pointed nearly straight down as the photographs indicate, it hit with a gigantic amount of force.
Are you suggesting the the Seattle Times published a photoshopped photo?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016234004_apusairshowcrash.html
Same photographer credited as here:
http://www.theunion.com/article/20110919/NEWS/110919777/1066&ParentProfile=1053
Here is the contrast-enhanced version of the post-failure photo. Is that a helmet leaning forward in the cockpit? (Maybe it's just the instrument cowl.)
The spinner reflection in the disputed photo is perfectly consistent with a plane that is diving with it’s left with toward the ground, exactly as shown in the second photo.
The “photoshop” assertion is utter horse-sh!t.
Also, the spinner reflection in the first photo shows the white tents visible in the second photo.
I don't know what the shakeout will be. I don't want to tell people they can't have their entertainment, but they need to be better informed about the risks rather than the potential showmanship. Aviation buffs need to examine their blind enthusiasm for their hobby. You might discover how obnoxious all this sharp-elbowing and "don't dare touch my dream of touching the face of God. Or something."
That must have been one huge failure of multiple channels of the DFCS and g limiters...
One of the things that concerns me is something printed after the crash of “Ms Ashely II” due to flutter a few years ago. In the aftermath they reported that the aircraft had been flutter cleared by having a pilot dive it to 400 miles and hour and do control stick raps. In my opinion that's not at all adequate for this high performance of an aircraft. Control stick raps can't simulate anything higher than 10hz.
These aircraft are flying in close proximity of other higher performance aircraft. Who knows what kind of strange gusts and upsets they are subject to. I'd want to see them install a shaker and clear the plane to at least 450 knots and at least 32hz. Of course that's expensive testing, and maybe they just can't afford it. After this incident, I'm not sure they can afford not to.
Once I was enjoying a fine day a few years back and heard a nasty scream from the air. An orange missile was diving straight for my home and it sounded exactly like a ICBM in the movies. Frozen, it got closer and I saw it was one of those new small private jets, either a Premier or a Citation, painted in colors of red and gold. I thought it was crashing. It got close enough that I could almost make out the numbers, but didn't have my driving glasses on and lacked the presence of mind, anyway. A private jet got closer to my home than 500 feet.
He pulled up, banked and climbed. Pilot wearing a smirk, I'm sure, for scaring the crap out of those bound to the earth. I got mad enough to call a few airports but couldn't ID the AH.
There's an attitude about a lot of hobby craft pilots that is most unpleasant and this might be a good time to address it.
I suggest you read the article I referenced. The pilot is quoted before the race as to not knowing how untried mods would perform. Then he opened the throttle and turned...From the little I know I don’t think the pilot was capable of anything, since he was unconscious...or dead. That more people weren’t hurt is dumb luck or God’s grace.
It’s not worth it... Uncle...
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