Early models of the P-51 didn't have a bubble canopy; they had a fastback and "greenhouse" canopy. Here's a nice example:
I did read that the planes wings had been shortened. Maybe that affected the stall characteristics in an unexpected way?
Posted on 09/18/2011 4:05:10 PM PDT by Petruchio
RENO, Nevada (AP) — A World War II-era plane had a video camera facing outward, and memory cards were found at the scene where it crashed near a grandstand in Reno. It raises the possibility of video of the crash that killed nine, including the pilot.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Aileron trim tab or elevator trim tab? The elevator doesn’t control roll. Maybe it was P-factor that caused the roll.
I guess we’ll find out in a few months.
Aileron trim tab or elevator trim tab? The elevator doesn’t control roll. Maybe it was P-factor that caused the roll.
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The mister said it was the left elevator trim tab. It was gone or not in the same position as the right one.
add:
You can pretty clearly see it in one of the stills on LiveLeak. Not clear enough to tell if it had torn away but clear enough to see it didn’t much look to be there or was not positioned like the right.
Sorry, don’t have a link, will try and get him to get it for me.
If you look at the picture of the bird up close right before impact you cannot see the pilot.The reason for that was the seat frame failed caused by the verticle climb( lots of “G”s)and probably laid him back over the boiloff system.Never had a chance.
Here’s the link
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=620_1316304331
There was a picture shown on Fox News that showed a small section on the rear of the elevator missing taken pre-crash... the right side if the shot was from the underside of the plane.
They are very lucky there was no fire.
Yeah, he said it was hard for him to guess because the plane had been modified. It didn’t have the usual bubble canopy.
That poor pilot and fans. So sad...
But then, he was not simply trying to fly it home. He was doing a fast ellipse in a race.
Early models of the P-51 didn't have a bubble canopy; they had a fastback and "greenhouse" canopy. Here's a nice example:
I did read that the planes wings had been shortened. Maybe that affected the stall characteristics in an unexpected way?
No kidding. Basis for a fuel air bomb.
I’ll reveal my personal Freeper take here.
I live in the Reno area, and drove through Reno an hour after the crash. I shared my thoughts with a dear friend. He shared his. His father, a naval aviator who finished as an admiral (my friend flew with him in juts as a teen) had at one time (decades ago) flown a Navy restored Corsair at the Reno Air races.
The flyer returned saying that the races were irresponsible, dangerous, and he would never return.
Rick old men aren’t equipped for top speeds in crowded airspace (unlike 20-somethings who spend several days a week in the air dog-fighting).
The planes aren’t maintained according to military procedure, but according to enthusiastic “go-fever”.
And the real fighter jocks don’t do it at low altitude over 10,000 innocent spectators.
Do your sh** over the jackrabbits in the desert, but don’t attract a crowd to endanger.
PS, the only ones to profit from the tourist influx are the occasion, and they have no liability skin in the game. (Corporate welfare).
Sorry for my crappy typing.
I read someplace that the early marks of the P-51 had some fairly vicious handling characteristics; if true, then logically, mods that made it handle quicker would probably make it less stable.
47 years without hurting any spectators
Better than nascar, Indy, the NHL, NBA, MLB and even the NFL
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