Aero GP (Merged)

[Jetset320]

The Aero GP circuit was cancelled today after 2 aircraft collided. One pilot parachuted however it seems the other went down with the aircraft.

This week's circuit was over Malta's harbours and aircraft collided and went down into the sea.

This is a new sport, doing circuits in seveal European cities, and is building up in popularity. The pilot's loss will be a huge blow to the sport and the flying community.

http://www.aero-gp.com

[Nerik]

Pilot confirmed as having died. The other one is OK though and was seen waving to the crowd as he was taken to shore. The incident was caught on film. Very unfortunate.

[Nerik]

http://2.forumer.com/uploads/alpamalta/post-2-1157893290.jpg

Gabor Varga
Representing Scandinavia in his Yak-55, this Swede lives up to his call sign, “The Wild One!” A many-time Swedish national and Nordic aerobatic Champion, Gabor is one of the well-known characters on the aviation scene.
Among his many unique accomplishments is his Guiness World Record for performing 256 aerobatic loops within an hour! Gabor says that in his youth his “wild spirit and the open water of the Stockholm archipelago freed his mind,” leading him to excel as a pilot.

Gabor manages his own company, Fun Fly Aviation, where he offers aircraft maintenance and aerobatics instruction between stunt-flying at air shows. When not breaking the laws of physics with his Yak, which he calls “The Greasy Goose,” you’ll find Gabor sailing the seas or riding his Harley in search of another adventure.


RIP Gabor

[M609]

Norwegian media reports that two acft crashed during the Aero Grand Prix at Malta today. One pilot bailed out, but the other did not, and died.

Swedish pilot Gabor Varga flying Yak-55 SE-KHD died.

From www.vg.no:
http://www.vg.no/bilder/edrum/1157900658495_974.jpg

http://www.vg.no/bilder/edrum/1157902353684_911.jpg

Pictures of the crash: (Not possible to show, it's a macromedia thingy)
http://www1.vg.no/bildespesial/show/spesial.php?id=3490
Very graphic

Sad loss. :(

Article in norwegian: http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=130003

[international hog driver]

Those are pictures of the luckiest man alive.

Unfortunately he was the only lucky one.

RIP

[320DRIVER]

Sad incident in all respects, firstly due to the loss of a capable pilot's life and also of the possible knee-jerk reaction by the local authorities who could decide to curtail such events in the future, without understanding that these accidents are always a possibility with this type of sport.

It would be interesting to see if the met conditions were a factor. Wind was about 10-12 kts from the NE i.e. straight into the port, and the funnelling effect which occurs at that location is a well known phenomenon to the local yachtsmen where large wind speed and direction variations are observed.

Gabor R.I.P.

[SoundBarrier]

Looks like two aerobatic planes collided today (rumours Malta) I saw snap of the fottage on telly this morning, looked like 2 Extras in a formation turn when one decended into the other low level.

1 Pilot deceased on the way to the hospital and the other has minor injuries.

:(

[barit1]

Marsamxett harbor, Valletta (http://www.di-ve.com/dive/portal/portal.jhtml?id=247544&pid=23)

[Maniac618]

my condolences to all that were there that saw the incident, must have been awful, and of course to the family too.

[FlyingV]

Video of the incident on the RTÉ TV report. The surviving pilot named as Eddie Goggins.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0910/plane.html

[stiknruda]

RIP Gabor - my heart sank when I took the call yesterday.

I count Mr Lucky as one of my chums, very glad that you are safe Eddie!

Stik

[AlphaBravoZulu]

Just heard the news this morning, really sad that the event had to end in this way but the risk is there and everyone knows it. Condolences to the pilot's family. :(

Another vid of the incident from Maltese TV: http://youtube.com/watch?v=z2tEaKHCZTU

[corsair]

Only just found out. Got a nasty shock when I went to the shop this evening and saw it all over the morning papers. I know Eddie and flew with him in a Pitts once. Glad he survived. It's astonishing that he got out all and that the chute opened at such a low level.

But tragic that Gabor was lost. A great pilot. RIP

[Wizofoz]

A sad affair, but air-racing of this nature is always going to be inherently dangerous, and I don't agree with the Aero GP formula of close racing near to relativley highly populated areas. How much worse would this have been had a by-stander been killed?


The rival Red Bull formula, with aircraft manaeuvering around a course as a time-trail has so far proved popular and spectacular whilst being a much safer idea.

Add to that the fact that the Extra has around a 30Kt advantage on the Yak 55, and thus any real racing is not going to happen, and I feel this was a predictable tragedy.

[TheSailor]

Hello Wizofoz,

Agree with your remark to moderators..in the professional forum section

No need of a autopilot or a coffee brewer for be professional :)

Regards. http://photobucket.com/albums/v509/Bebermaur/th_bye.gif

[POLISH_EDDIE]

Absolutely terrible... I know some members of this forum were scheduled to be there. It was surely dreadful to witness such an accident and tragedy...
RIP, Gabor Varga...