Another beautiful historic aeroplane lost during a flying display. In an adrenalin fuelled environment the human can be tempted to go a 'little further' perhaps? We have lost various warbirds due to commencement of a loop from inexplicably low altitude, and on a day when the air is particularly thin due to nearly 30C OAT this kind of accident is more likely to occur. The RR Spit being an example. The Shoreham Hunter appeared to be fully airworthy, correctly configured, and free of problems throughout the entire sequence.
Air displays involving 'older' aeroplanes should be no more dangerous than ones with modern types if the engineering work is sound and followed the book. I do worry when high energy aircraft - of a scarce nature - are pushed for the sake of display flying. Not because of engineering/structural limitations, but the consequences of a misjudged moment. While many warbirds have aerobatic capability they are often not the best vehicles for aerobatic displays. Surely, most people who have 'feeling' for veteran aeroplanes love to see and hear them in the air, but do not necessarily wish to see them entering the domain of the 'stunt plane'? I am very happy to see our heritage on the wing but do not wish to see it put at unnecessary risk.
The concern following the Shoreham event is for the clunking fist of Heath & Safety and the inevitable appearance of they who see this as an avenue toward exercising their voices and inventing draconian restrictions on display flying.
The tragedy of yesterday is immeasurable in human terms. Let us hope for the continuation of display flying, but perhaps employing a more tempered approach to what we do with precious vintage aeroplanes at the time?