Ex UK Fast jet down at airshow in Oregon

[Navaleye]

The evening standard reported it tonight but didn't say what the bl00dy plane was except that it was made in 1951. Anyone know? I hope the pilot got out OK.

[movadinkampa747]

Press Release

July 16, 2006:
A Message from the Oregon International Air Show

On Sunday, July 16, 2006 near the end of the Oregon International Air Show, a Hawker Hunter that had just departed for Southern California crashed east of the Hillsboro Airport.

The plane was part of the Warbird Static Display.

This is the first time in the 19 year history of the Air Show that this kind of incident has occurred.

The Oregon International Air Show is deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected.

http://www.oregonairshow.com/web/info/statement_7-16-06.asp

[Tiger_mate]

HILLSBORO, Ore. -- A 1951 British fighter jet crashed into a densely populated neighborhood near Hillsboro Airport during an air show Sunday afternoon, exploding, destroying a home and killing the pilot.

Fire officials said no residents or others on the ground were hurt.

Connie King, a spokeswoman for the Hillsboro Fire Department, said the pilot died. The pilot's name was not immediately released. She said the jet was taking off to return to California when it went down in this suburb west of Portland.

She said the jet slammed into a house at 4:28 p.m. No one was home at the time.

King said another house sustained significant damage. She said people were in that home, but none was hurt.

The attic exterior of another house was damaged, and there was fire damage in the yard of another, she said.

A 33-year-old Hillsboro firefighter was taken to St. Vincent Hospital where he was listed in good condition.

The crash occurred toward the end of the two-day Oregon International Airshow, about a mile and a half from the airport. The plane had been on display.

The show was immediately canceled. TV stations said the pilot of the airplane was a lawyer from California.

>>>>>.and<<<<<<<<

HILLSBORO, Ore. - Federal aviation officials launched an investigation Monday into a crash that killed a Los Angeles attorney who had just taken off from an air show when his single-engine jet nosedived into a neighborhood.

Kurt Anderson, a senior air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board in Seattle, said agency investigators would inspect the aircraft and the location where it was recovered.

Federal Aviation Administration officials were expected to help with the investigation.

The owner and pilot of the 1950s Hawker Hunter plane was Robert Guilford, 73, an aviation attorney from Los Angeles, said Robin McCall, a spokeswoman for the Baum Hedlund law firm.

McCall said Guilford had been with the firm for more than a decade. She said Guilford graduated from Harvard Law School and had been flying since 1961. She said he was a cheerful person, and the members of the firm were in a state of disbelief.

"He was an amazing person," she said. "It's an incredible loss."

The jet had been on display but had not performed at the two-day Oregon International Airshow at Hillsboro Airport. It crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday on its return to California.

An empty home was destroyed in the crash but - miraculously, according to authorities and neighbors - nobody on the ground was injured.

Neighbor Diana Halvorsen heard "an incredibly loud" noise and then her back yard burst into flames before she realized an airplane had crashed into the house next door.

"It was like a bad nightmare," Halvorsen said. "The flames just shot through our yard."

Hunter pilot unable to complete a loop: R.I.P.

[Navaleye]

My condolances to the family and friends of the gentleman concerned.

[GeeRam]

This was one of the relatively recemtly retired Swiss AF Mk58's and was painted up in the all blue markings of the 92 Sqn. 'Blue Diamonds' display team.

Sincere condolences to Bob's family.

http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/attorneys/robertguilford.htm