Hurricane crash at Shoreham airshow
 

Hearing suggestions that one of the historic aircraft - possibly an Me 109 - taking part in a Battle of Britain display at Shoreham has come down on a hillside. Doesn't sound good. :(

Hurricane crash Shoreham
 

Hey all.

Just seen on sky news that an aircraft has crashed at Shoreham airshow, does anyone know what type of aircraft it was? Very little detail on news.

Thanks

It is actually a Hurricane, serial bd707.

Further info, albeit from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/6996734.stm

See also: http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=292244

Bri

Looks like you're right, the Me 109 is reported to have been seen still flying after the accident. Presumably must be this Mk XII then:

http://lae.blogg.se/images/dsc00011_1178254262.jpg

Just saw the report on BBC News 24, which went something like this:-

Did it hit any spectators?
Could it have hit any spectators?
Was it near any spectators?

and not a thought for the pilot.

It sounds nasty :( The Hurricane is, I believe, registered as G-HURR and an ex Canadian machine.

Let's just hope it's not a fatal one for the pilot !

No spectators hit = small story in the tiny minds of the press.

It's just like when a jet depressurises and the crew initiates a controlled emergency descent. That becomes a 'terrifying death dive' to make a story. It's a sad state of affairs.

Let's just hope the pilot was able to survive-and if not, condolences to all concerned.

There's thousands of people watching the air show. Their friends & family at home probably want to know that it's not a repeat of Ramstein, Lvov and others. It's probably fairly obvious to those listening to the TV that if an aircraft goes down that the pilot might be injured; it's less obvious whether spectators might be involved. It's going to be relatively simple to get information on whether spectators are involved compared with reliable information on the condition of the pilot. That will come later, when somebody knows. It's really not hard to work out. :hmm:

Afraid not.

How sad - on Battle of Britain day too.

Unconfirmed, but from a friend in the warbirds world I've always found to be reliable.


A Hurricane crashed onto the Sussex downs on open land south of Lancing College at about 3.15 pm.
The pilot didn't survive.
The crash site could not be seen from the airfield, although a large plume of smoke could.
I don't think it would be appropriate to post the name I was given at this stage, for obvious reasons.

Very sad.

FL

First sadness for loss of irreplaceable pilot
Second sadness for loss of historic, irreplaceable aircraft

I've just left the Shoreham show after seeing the very tragic crash. Yes, my thoughts were immediately of the pilot. The Hurricane was taking part in a mock dog-fight with 3 Luftwaffe aircraft attacking ground forces... he appeared to be in a dive just south of Lancing College for a run-in back to the crowd, sadly he didn't pull out. I was too shocked to stay. My sincerest condolences for his family...
Pete

Sorry StevenPJ, I did not mean to suggest otherwise.

(now amended to reflect sad loss of both)

Hurricane crash Shoreham
 

I see from the BBC that a Hurricane went in at the Shoreham Airshow, pilot was killed and the aircraft written off. Very sad loss of both pilot and one of the few remaining Hurricanes.

I heard the news too - terrible!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6996734.stm

Condolences to family and friends of the deceased.

RIP

http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/shor...how.3205139.jp

Terrible and shocking news.
 

Absolutely tragic. A very special pilot, and a very special aircraft. Through Adversity to the Stars.

Let’s hope the idiots in the media that salivate over these events show some respect.

Hurricane Crash
 

As a journalist and pilot I object to the comments in this thread. Not every journalist has a tiny mind neither hunts around to miss report events such as the tragic loss of a great display pilot today. Yes the story is of public interest and some members sections of the media may be guillty of not having the knowlege of aviation we do.

The only thing that we should do is remember the pilot and the great loss to his loved ones. Let the reasons why wait until later.

Sitting here taking in this dreadful news.

Was planning to go tomorrow, and I still am, as I'm sure it's what the organisers, participating aircrew and the pilot who has sadly passed away today would have wanted.

Very sad.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/6996734.stm

"Two Spitfires carried out a flypast in the "man missing in action" formation shortly after the crash, he said. "

Devastating news.

My thoughts are with the pilot's family :(

Quote:

---

Let’s hope the idiots in the media that salivate over these events show some respect.

---

Like the "respect" you're showing? Good grief. :rolleyes:

I'm one of those "idiots" in the media and not a single person I work with would even think of "salivating" (what a revolting word) over this sort of thing.

Keep it clean boys.

I was there today and feel devastated. Not much more I can say. The missing man formation was heart rending.

A tragedy at any time, but particularly today of all days.

I was fortunately looking at the Cat at the time, so was spared the full shock. The silence while the commentator explained the situation was remarkable.

My condolences to family and friends he leaves behind, and my thanks for past pleasures shared through his displays of these historic and beautiful aeroplanes.

Hi all, no I'm not a PP, just a lowly ex RAF Tech. Over many years, like many of you, I have stood watching and hearing the sights and sounds that chill us of that age, Yesterday I chatted at Shoreham to a 'private' Hurri pilot who may have been been the person involved, discussing the merits or otherwise of Spits & Hurris. 4 weeks ago also to Al Pinner flying the BBMF Hurri @ Airbourne. It is immensely sad when a man is lost providing entertainment to us, but in yesterday's converation, for a flyer 'there's nothing like it'. God bless the pilot (and his family) - a man who has given so many great pleasure - the " man missing in action" Spit formation has to be the choker of the day, but the close "family" that they are will surely provide some solace RIP

No such thing as a "lowly" tech, Andy. :ok:

I was there today as well. I didn't see the accident itself, but to add to what those above have written, the almost immediate missing man flypasts by the Spits was very moving, and very fitting. How poignant that this was a BoB display.

RIP the pilot who loved flying for us, and sincerest condolences to his family and friends. A sad day for all.

I was there today too. Very saddened by events. I couldn't believe what I was seeing at first.

I recall that the two hurricanes were flying away from the airfield to the NE. The lead did a victory roll then the other one, behind and to his left, began a roll in the opposite direction and descended nose down.
As it disappeared behind the trees in the distance I hoped he could recover, but in the back of my mind I realised the chances were slim. Everyone around was shocked and saddened.

My sincere condolences to those who know him. I'm sure he would want flying to go on, after all it was clearly his life's passion.

Hi Guy's,

I was working at the show as one of the Police controllers.
A sad day for all concerned. It may be little comfort in the circs but I can tell you that both Police and Fire units were on scene very quickly but there was nothing that they could do.

All of us in the control room were grateful that the aircraft went into a dip in the downs just to the southwest of Lancing college. Had it only been 50 ft in any direction I believe we would have had more casualties.

ExSimGuy, I may be mistaken but I believe most of the area in question belongs to farmers and/or the college and that most people there were not freeloading. Enough said.

clicker

ps Forgot to add, at the debrief it was confirmed that tomorrows show will go ahead as planned.

What started off as such an amazing spectacle with the Mesrs attacking the airfield & Hurris & Spits taking off at the sound of the air-raid siren. next minute... From what I saw, it looked like he was in a turning dive, pulling up with the other Hurricane. You're right, there was a delay of more than 10 secs before a plume of smoke.

Most people stopped filming & taking pics but there were those in the crowd filming the aftermath. Why??? No doubt something will appear on youtube b4 the night is out. Shame on them.

I hope he's up there still flying.

I was up at Cranfield on Wednesday to discuss a routing with the ATC guys for a memorial flypast next week for two WW2 aircrew who were killed on a training flight from the OTU there in 1945.

After the meeting I called in at Duxford for some lunch and saw the Hurricane take off. Don't know if it was the same pilot.

Today we flew the planned route as a 4-ship flypast rehearsal, including a 'missing man' break over the crash site.

Heard about Shoreham, when we got back to North Weald. Brings the whole thing into very sharp focus.

RD

If I had been there, I too would have continued to film or take photographs, not for some sick sense of pleasure, but for the fact they may be of use to the AAIB, whom I would hand them over to, so they may be able piece together what went tragically wrong..

The show would I believe continue, not just to try and reduce the effects of seeing such a tragedy unfold in front of your eyes, but also to allow all the emergency services that need to get in there and possible out again without the chaos that would ensue on the roads as 20,000 people attempt to depart the show.

My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends involved, the only thought i can add to that is, at least he died doing something he enjoyed and loved, not lying in a bed riddled with cancer as some do.

Nutloose,

They did do a short "lockdown" to allow the emergency services to do some road closures without delay but also to allow a tannoy to go out asking for the videos etc to be handed over for the AAIB. Once the local fire brigade had taken over the scene and most of the airfield fire services returned to the airfield the lockdown was cancelled and the flying display restarted.

Once the scene was condoned off most of the roads were reopened bar a couple close the the site.

Due to the number to aircraft airbourne at the time I don't think many people saw the actual crash as they were watching a/c closest to them

StevenPJ,
Cracking pilot, cracking bloke.
RIP mate, gone but never forgotten.


Edit: Totally inappropriate comments removed.

my thoughts go to the pilot and his family he was a real gent ive never heard anyone ever say a bad word about him its seems strange i will never see him again RIP MATE See you up there
steve

The media really does get on my nerves at times. They were just interviewing someone who was at the airshow, he said 'They were reenacting an excellent dogfight when he suddenly turned and nose dived into the ground. When your flying a 70year old aircraft thats obviously going to happen'... Why is it 'obviously going to happen'!?!?!?!? Some people really irritate me.

In answer to TwoOneFour
 

TwoOneFour, been on the BBC website recently? How dare the media show a photograph of the still burning wreckage of a Hurricane. In situations like this the press disgust me.