Originally Posted by
LTCTerry
Sad news.
Why does the media insist on "stunts" instead of aerobatics or a similar more accurate word? Does anyone ever "roll the roll," or "spin the spin?" Or, do people just "loop the loop?" "Hammerhead the hammerhead?" Would it be "turn the stall turn" or "stall the stall turn?"
Any loss in flying is sad. When it's a well known/well liked person at a well know field, so much the worse. Aerobatic flying requires great precision and practice. It's not statistically dangerous. Calling it "stunt" flying is inaccurate and unfair.
News stories are written for the general public and not those with a specific knowledge.
Stunt flying as a generic term may include barnstorming (
see below), crazy flying (the performance of comedic aerial routines), or any spectacular or unusual flying feat performed for film or television cameras or for any kind of public display or entertainment. Stunt flying may be performed by one or more pilots at the same time and with almost any kind of flying craft (including
parachutes and
gliders, as well as the more usual powered
airplanes). While in the early days the term was given to the extreme combat maneuvers performed by aircraft in World Wars I and II and to
aerobatic flying (before the latter developed into a sport), these usages have fallen away.
source
https://www.britannica.com/topic/stunt-flying
Press reporting is often blamed by a few whenever we read of a tragic accident.
Most of the newspaper reports will have originated from a press agency who turn out hundreds of stories every day.
The average person in the street has no idea of what aerobatics involves hence the preference for the word stunt.
Plummeting and plunging are also words that seem to upset some of the aviation community. However they correctly describe a rapid fall and are often used in quotes by eye witnesses.
Black box is an often used generic term for a flight recorder which we all know is orange.
Newspapers are aimed at the general public and not readers of specialist magazines.