Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Lawsuit filed in Reno air race crash
AP via San Jose Mercury News ^ | November 1, 2011 | Ken Ritter

Posted on 11/01/2011 4:38:49 PM PDT by EveningStar

The family of a Texas man killed when a racing aircraft crashed into spectators in the National Championship Air Races in Reno filed a $25 million lawsuit Tuesday against the pilot's family, a mechanic on the World War II-era aircraft and the Nevada organization that hosted the event.

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Nevada; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: accident; ambulancechasers; aviation; gallopingghost; jimmyleeward; lawsuit; leeches; reno; renoairraces
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 last
To: Taxman

Galloping Ghost was a highly modified P-51. It was not “scratch” built. The wing cut was slightly shorter than Strega or Voodoo, the radiator doghouse on the belly of the plane was removed and a boil-off system was used for engine cooling. A racing style canopy and fairing replaced the P-51 bubble canopy.

The plane had previously raced at Reno, with less modification, as “Jeannie” (Won Reno Gold in 1980 and 81) and “Miss Candace” and with Jimmy as Owner/Pilot as “Specter” and “Leeward Air Ranch Special”.


61 posted on 11/02/2011 3:15:00 AM PDT by hattend (If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. - Cameron Connor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Beelzebubba
If you had seen the fatal video of the Reno crash, you might change your mind.

I was there...Box A81

62 posted on 11/02/2011 3:17:24 AM PDT by hattend (If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. - Cameron Connor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: hattend
Box A-81

Go Bear!

Jimmy Leeward's #9 - Cloud Dancer...Featured on the program cover


63 posted on 11/02/2011 3:37:30 AM PDT by hattend (If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. - Cameron Connor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: onedoug

I don’t know. I inherited the file from a predecessor. The file name is “707_barrel_roll.jpg.” :)


64 posted on 11/02/2011 7:44:29 AM PDT by EveningStar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

Love it!


65 posted on 11/02/2011 7:41:49 PM PDT by Northern Yankee (Where Liberty dwells, there is my Country. - Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: hattend

The web site that I saw pretty much convinced me that it was a scratch built airplane.


66 posted on 11/02/2011 8:21:35 PM PDT by Taxman (So that the beautiful pressure does not diminish!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: hattend; Beelzebubba

I stand corrected — Galloping Ghost was a very highly modified WWII P-51D.

I have watched the video several times. It was most unfortunate that the trim tab failure occurred when it did. Had the failure happened anywhere else on the course, the aircraft would not have crashed into the box seats.

In the normal course of events, the race aircraft are not allowed to fly over the crowd.


67 posted on 11/02/2011 8:35:45 PM PDT by Taxman (So that the beautiful pressure does not diminish!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: paul51

You’re obviously incapable of drawing a logical conclusion from historical data. May I suggest you go insult someone with a room temperature IQ who will be baffled by your Sophmoric BS. Have fun.


68 posted on 11/02/2011 9:31:50 PM PDT by ExpatGator (I hate Illinois Nazis!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Taxman
Had the failure happened anywhere else on the course, the aircraft would not have crashed into the box seats.

Exactly right, it was a fluke. If the races continue, I will be back in Box A81.

69 posted on 11/02/2011 9:46:27 PM PDT by hattend (If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. - Cameron Connor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

Comment #70 Removed by Moderator

To: Northern Yankee

Thanks, Northern Yankee...


71 posted on 11/03/2011 3:16:56 AM PDT by rlmorel (The Rats won't be satisfied until every industry in the USA is in ruins and ripe for nationalization)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: EveningStar; M. Espinola; Quix; stephenjohnbanker; Joya; Liz
Amazing . . . !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0jcqw6-nZA&feature=player_embedded

From prime time Sunday Night Football program on NBC. Cowboys vs Eagles -- There are other linked videos nearby, too. What did agent Mulder say to agent Sculley ___ ?

LOL !

72 posted on 11/03/2011 11:11:06 AM PDT by ex-Texan (Ecclesiastes 5:10 - 20)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: buccaneer81; Beelzebubba
Where are there air races besides Reno?

Detroit has them. I believe Long Beach does as well.

Reno is the only place on earth you will find Closed Course Pylon Racing these days. They have been racing there for 48 years - over twice as long as the Cleveland Races.

They have had Red Bull Air Races - which is completely different - at locations such as San Diego, San Francisco and Detroit.

Red Bull Air Races were canceled.

73 posted on 11/03/2011 2:06:38 PM PDT by BillyA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: buccaneer81; Beelzebubba; Taxman; hattend; EveningStar

I was also on-site for the incident. As I have been for the last 14 years. Over the years, I have seen 7 fatal crashes.

This is the first time since 1949 (Cleveland) that a spectator was killed at an air race in the USA.

Beelz, if you have a problem with me and my friends exercising our freedoms as Americans to attend, spectate or fly-in airshows and air races... feel free to tell it to someone who cares.

The American Spirit has always been fueled by building bigger, doing better, going faster, living on the edge ... My spirit will not be throttled by people like you who shy away from living life fully.

If we have the races next year - I will be there, with bells on - standing together with friends, pilots, racers, and fans ... cheering wildly for the last place on earth that allows us to spread our wings and race.


74 posted on 11/03/2011 2:22:50 PM PDT by BillyA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Beelzebubba

“They even fly over residences of unconsenting non-spectators.”

This statement is utterly false. Not true. There are no manmade structures within the pattern (racecourse), save the pylons. They may fly over residences during takeoff and landing but not while racing.


75 posted on 11/03/2011 2:32:21 PM PDT by Mashood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: BillyA
If we have the races next year - I will be there, with bells on - standing together with friends, pilots, racers, and fans ... cheering wildly for the last place on earth that allows us to spread our wings and race.

See you there, brother!

76 posted on 11/03/2011 4:03:12 PM PDT by hattend (If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. - Cameron Connor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: ex-Texan

: )


77 posted on 11/04/2011 5:58:02 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: Mashood

“They even fly over residences of unconsenting non-spectators.”

This statement is utterly false. Not true. There are no manmade structures within the pattern (racecourse), save the pylons.


I was referring to air shows, which I have attended, not the “see a death every couple years” air races.

Look at the fatality rate of participants and spectators for air shows, Reno-type air races, Red Bull races, and car races. One of those has a fatality rate averaged over recent decades of hundreds of times the others.


78 posted on 11/04/2011 9:10:23 AM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Author of BullionBible.com - Makes You a Precious Metal Expert, Guaranteed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Beelzebubba

Watch the Red Bull Air Races on FoxSports, they’re held in many major cities around the world. They’re a whole lot safer and more entertaining than the Reno Air Races.


79 posted on 11/13/2011 12:12:40 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Liberalism is a social disease.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: ex-Texan

... sound check ...


80 posted on 11/28/2011 5:51:45 AM PST by Joya (http://www.angelsonassignment.org/why_aoa.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson