Let's say (hypothetically) the aircraft entered it's tragic manouvre from an altitude that was 50' too low. (no accurate rad alt? Misleading visual clues on the ground?) Let's say, it entered at a speed that was 5 knots slower than usual? Let's say any 'gate' over the top was slightly out?
Non of these things 'should' happen.
But would those things represent wrecklessness, or an error of judgement??
Display pilots are human. Just like all of us. The very finest pilots/doctors/racing drivers/armed police are not immune from error.
Should we be judged on our human failings. Or the magnitude of the unintended consequences of those failings?
I don't have the answers. But nor do I think these are 'stupid' questions.
Of course maybe the individual concerned was just a wreckless ripsh1t who deserves to have the book thrown at him? He certainly must have fooled a huge number of people on the way up if that's the case though.
That doesn't seem terribly plausible to me.
Last edited by 4468; 26th Jul 2016 at 23:33.