Hurricane crash at Shoreham airshow
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report ?
Thanks for the update Synthetic.
The report doesn't come across to me as being a probable cause ?
With Brians high skill levels and his extensive experience on type there must be more to it than this surely ?
Godspeed Brian, one of the very best & never to be forgotten.
The report doesn't come across to me as being a probable cause ?
With Brians high skill levels and his extensive experience on type there must be more to it than this surely ?
Godspeed Brian, one of the very best & never to be forgotten.
Cunning Artificer
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As some would say...
But then, from the AAIB we have...
Some contradictions here.
...high skill levels and his extensive experience on type
There was no record of the pilot having completed the currency training requirements as specified in the operator’s Organisational Control Manual
...mainly self-taught in his aerobatic skills. No record of any formal training course was available but he was described by associates as a competent basic aerobatic pilot... ...Some people who knew him well stated that he had never performed a Derry turn
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Reading the report brought back a memory that scared me a number of years ago regarding height loss in an aileron roll especially with insufficient pitch at the start. The mental stick check pre manouvre being "up-check(the stick to neutral)-roll".
I flew two aileron rolls in succession and within the required airspeeds. However I entered the second roll with no pitch input. Inverted during this second roll I found myself pointing toward the ground as a result of the nose having dropped substantially. Continuing the roll I recovered in the normal way but had lost substantial height (IIRC 1,500-2,000 entry height but less than 500ft exit height). I was very shaken. Despite being trained as an aerobatic pilot in the manouvre I had experimented with two in succession not thinking of the consequences.
"There but for the grace of God.."
I recall the accident at the time and especially my sadness for the loss of the pilot who was clearly loved. My condolences to the family.
I flew two aileron rolls in succession and within the required airspeeds. However I entered the second roll with no pitch input. Inverted during this second roll I found myself pointing toward the ground as a result of the nose having dropped substantially. Continuing the roll I recovered in the normal way but had lost substantial height (IIRC 1,500-2,000 entry height but less than 500ft exit height). I was very shaken. Despite being trained as an aerobatic pilot in the manouvre I had experimented with two in succession not thinking of the consequences.
"There but for the grace of God.."
I recall the accident at the time and especially my sadness for the loss of the pilot who was clearly loved. My condolences to the family.
Cool Mod
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It is very sad of course but it seems that some basics were missing. As Neil Williams said in his book "the most useless air is that above you" - that, has been shown to be the case time and again.
Those who want to try it can easily sample the consequences - just make sure you have at least 3000' below you.
However I entered the second roll with no pitch input. Inverted during this second roll I found myself pointing toward the ground
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Strikes me as similar in many ways to the P-38 crash at Duxford many years ago and in some ways to the Kingcobra crash at Biggin Hill. I am experienced in aerobatics but not in display flying, but I find myself asking why the pilots ever attempted these manoeuvres which - in the cold light of day - were doomed from the start. I mean, these were experienced, highly capable pilots, not amateurs. Truly cautionary tales for aspiring display pilots I think.
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With every respect to the Hurricane pilot's family and friends, I can only remark that in my time as a BAe photographer we had the sad loss of Jim Hawkins ( test ) display flying the Hawk 200 - he was a VERY experienced & qualified Test Pilot, who did the ' usual ' mistake of apparently getting carried away with his enjoyment & looping too low; I think it was the same year that McDonnell, as then, lost their Chief / senior Test Pilot.
No matter how skilled or experienced, the ground is waiting to get you.
I knew a few Test Pilots who hated ' display flying ', for example at annual 'field days, as though highly skilled they were not used to this role, and had enough sense to realise it.
John Farley was of course the ultimate display pilot ( just as a sideline compared to proper testing ) but he did it his way, and I happened to be there when he told a visiting Spitfire pilot to go forth and multiply after said pilot did passes with the prop' literally inches away from the ground ( at the time I was young and stupid enough to be impressed ).
That Spitfire pilot, ( NOT R.H. or anyone that good ) strangely enough, is no longer with us - guess why - and if ever at an airshow I want to see graceful displays, not buttock-clenching " AARGH ! sounds from self & those around me.
No matter how skilled or experienced, the ground is waiting to get you.
I knew a few Test Pilots who hated ' display flying ', for example at annual 'field days, as though highly skilled they were not used to this role, and had enough sense to realise it.
John Farley was of course the ultimate display pilot ( just as a sideline compared to proper testing ) but he did it his way, and I happened to be there when he told a visiting Spitfire pilot to go forth and multiply after said pilot did passes with the prop' literally inches away from the ground ( at the time I was young and stupid enough to be impressed ).
That Spitfire pilot, ( NOT R.H. or anyone that good ) strangely enough, is no longer with us - guess why - and if ever at an airshow I want to see graceful displays, not buttock-clenching " AARGH ! sounds from self & those around me.
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The very, very best can still trip over their shoelaces. Neville Duke related a story of when he was demonstrating the Hunter to the Swiss. On the downline from a loop he suddenly realised he had failed to take into account the airfield elevation and resulting density altitude. Got away with it but was a close run thing, with not a little butt clenching. And I don't think anyone would suggest that Neville was anything but the consummate aviator and not want to fall victim to a red mist.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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The McDonnell pilot might well be the Northrop F-20, one of which crashed during a display/demo killing the CTP (Darryl somebody?).
It was Bill Bedford in the Hunter who was very low coming out of a spin I think - I was reading the story recently and the accompanying picture of the aircraft recovering over a typical Swiss backdrop followed by an accusatory trail of white smoke is most impressive.
It was Bill Bedford in the Hunter who was very low coming out of a spin I think - I was reading the story recently and the accompanying picture of the aircraft recovering over a typical Swiss backdrop followed by an accusatory trail of white smoke is most impressive.
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Yes, the Hunter incident was definitely Bill Bedford, I have a video about the Hunter where he freely describes it.
There is a large b & w still photo of the spinning smoke trail and low Hunter at the end of the Merston Hall of Tangmere museum ( which has N.Duke's speed record reheated Hunter WB188 and an equally immaculate F5 ).
There is a large b & w still photo of the spinning smoke trail and low Hunter at the end of the Merston Hall of Tangmere museum ( which has N.Duke's speed record reheated Hunter WB188 and an equally immaculate F5 ).
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Hurricane accident.Disorientation in the roll?
Interesting that no one has mentioned the rising ground ahead of the aircraft. This would have given the impression of the nose having dropped far more than was the case and may well have led to the decision to pull through. The continuation of the roll on its original heading should have led to an extremely low but successful recovery. The direction changes in the very early part of the dive show available energy for successful completion of the roll as the report suggests. Sadly, if one studies the accident and the site, these direction changes were the sacrifice of a slim hope of survival travelling in the original direction of the pull through, over a College complex and large numbers of the public in the areas below it.
Is it not possible that he would have taken into account the geography of the airfield and its surroundings before he even started the engine?
I most certainly would have before flying a display?
(And I have done display flying before the clever ba*tards get started).
I most certainly would have before flying a display?
(And I have done display flying before the clever ba*tards get started).
