to me I think it was a factor of a modified 1/4 clover and then an oblique pull through that meant that the normal gate height would probably have been too low. Normally a 1/4 clover would be from 90 degs from the crowdline but the position of Lancing and Lancing College make this difficult. That's always been my opinion of civilian authorised displays compared to military authorised displays - the military ones are 'set piece' and not for modification, whereas, the civilian displays can be modified as required by the pilot. I remember watching a very experienced ex-mil pilot put an extra roll in his display over-sea and he did not recover. The UK military PDA regime is far more restrictive and modification to the authorised 'full', 'rolling' and 'flat' displays is not allowed as far as I'm aware.
That's my theory, anyway. Don't think it will be G-loc or overstress looking at the numerous videos. If he lost his engine at the top of the vertical manoeuvre then he would have rolled out and then gone for a FL towards the field, if he lost the engine going downwards then he would have been at idle anyway. But, hey, here's hoping the AAIB release something soon to stop speculation and actually report facts - rather than our best guesses. Of course something could have gone wrong with the jet, but I don't see any significant evidence to support that.
I do think the CAA have been right to enforce the restrictions they have - I don"t see them as 'knee jerk' as some have opined.
Agree although civilian display sequences are to be briefed and I don't believe civil DA's allow random modification - obviously allowing for a necessary change being made for safety reasons.
I don't agree that the CAA restrictions were well thought out. If special measures are needed for "vintage jet aircraft" then having highlighted that these may need special attention, it follows that any unwinding of these restrictions will come with a solid explanation. Its the same with any wider air display review.
To take some brief examples. If you read this:-
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CivilAi...eforPilots.pdf
I don't see how any review can conclude anything especially new or revealing in that and if you read this:-
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP%204...l%20events.pdf
Page 23, read item 3.25 and suggest how that was arrived at... So now the CAA have put these things in focus how do you ever redo those numbers without effectively ending airshows?