Posted on 09/16/2011 5:15:07 PM PDT by PilotDave
1) The pilot was 80-year-old Jimmy Leeward.
2) Crashed near grandstand.
3) 12 confirmed dead, 75 or more with critical injuries.
4) One witness Tweeted that "a man was cut in half".
That doesn't matter and it's not what FR is all about. We have always had the luxury of instant notification of news by freepers all around the world who report on what they see.
Even the posting guidelines for breaking news says it is for news that would warrant a break-in on network or cable news stations.
This really pisses me off that the mods have become overlords to our news forum. If I had just dropped by FR tonight, I could conceivably not even see this story because it is not in Breaking, as it should be.
Prayer, Lord....
...and oh now I see a separate thread in Breaking. We didn’t need a separate thread — we have a thread!
There are about 8 threads
My thoughts as well. Blackout, heart attack, or control system failure of some kind.
There’s a new thread in Breaking news about this crash with a CBS link.
Fourth thread the charm; in Breaking News ...for now ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2779654/posts
Shouldn’t have to be this way.
Thank you.
Now 13 dead.
-KTLA News
Now back in Breaking News.
FWIW.
No fire though, that is probably a good thing.
Because it's not news on FR until there is a link to CBS?
How FR has strayed from what it once was.
Unlikely to stay there -- someone spammed all the news topics. Not a smart move -- Mod's know who adds topics and keywords -- at the least they will be warned if not suspended without a warning.
Jimmy was 80?
That tends to lend credence to my speculation (shared by several others btw) of a blackout caused by G-forces in the turn.
Those Mustangs were designed to be flown by 19 - 25 year old Warriors in top physical condition. Even at 63 I know my vascular system ain’t what it used to be, and it takes some stamina to execute that “pushing” maneuver used to resist the evacuation of blood from the brain in a turn or pull-up.
Unless he was in exceptional condition (and some 80-year olds are), I frankly have to wonder if it was prudent for him to be riding a bull, climbing the Matterhorn, white water rafting down the Colorado River or racing a souped up P-51.
The term “Pushing the envelope” comes to mind.
Obviously, that proverbial envelope got pushed a little too hard this time. And obviously, that is a lot more obvious to us Monday Morning Quarterbacks in remote retrospect.
Don’t be surprised, however, if the FAA has something to say about age or physical stamina limits in future air races.
Pilot confirmed dead.
-KTLA News, Los Angeles
Just sad.
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