Spitfire 'Crash' at Masterton
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Hempy
There is a good read on Neville Duke. From memory he wrote Test Pilot and the War Diaries of Neville Duke as I remember a good read although after all these years I'd like to re read them.
Google him and have a read of the Telegraph Obituary and if you can get the books you'll enjoy them.
Frothy
There is a good read on Neville Duke. From memory he wrote Test Pilot and the War Diaries of Neville Duke as I remember a good read although after all these years I'd like to re read them.
Google him and have a read of the Telegraph Obituary and if you can get the books you'll enjoy them.
Frothy
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Some of you guys need to get ya heads out ya arses
I was at the airshow for four days helping to run it. I was at the scene two minutes after it happened and you are all off the mark, based upon what the pilot told me.
As for the pilot, he is an absolute gentleman and superb pilot. I first met him six weeks ago, and he let my fly 1.2hr in the back of spit with never meeting me prior. That weekend he demonstrated superb piloting skills and displayed both the Spitfire and MX2. He let me realise my dream of flying a spit as well. He is very down to earth and approachable.
Pisses me off the tall poppy syndrome. Yes, he has some $$, but he has chosen to invest it in his passion - historic aviation - and has chosen to fly the damn thing rather than lock it in a museum.
It is sad that it happened, and he is beating himself up enough over an error let alone us (his fellow pilots) doing it as well.. What happened to support - we may all need a bit of that for when we dont quite get it right
I was at the airshow for four days helping to run it. I was at the scene two minutes after it happened and you are all off the mark, based upon what the pilot told me.
As for the pilot, he is an absolute gentleman and superb pilot. I first met him six weeks ago, and he let my fly 1.2hr in the back of spit with never meeting me prior. That weekend he demonstrated superb piloting skills and displayed both the Spitfire and MX2. He let me realise my dream of flying a spit as well. He is very down to earth and approachable.
Pisses me off the tall poppy syndrome. Yes, he has some $$, but he has chosen to invest it in his passion - historic aviation - and has chosen to fly the damn thing rather than lock it in a museum.
It is sad that it happened, and he is beating himself up enough over an error let alone us (his fellow pilots) doing it as well.. What happened to support - we may all need a bit of that for when we dont quite get it right
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I am not sure about the ground looping Harvard at the same airshow
For the four days I was there the wind was all over the place, varying from circuit to circuit at times. I only took up a Tiger Moth and cub earlier in the day, but in the afternoons the wind was all over the place at times.
I recall the triplanes used different vectors to each other for landing as it was varying so much. As memory recalls, it looked like the harvard landed into a crosswind and the wing lifted as it crossed the tarmac seal edge of 06/24 and then it went pear shaped after that as it ground looped.
For the four days I was there the wind was all over the place, varying from circuit to circuit at times. I only took up a Tiger Moth and cub earlier in the day, but in the afternoons the wind was all over the place at times.
I recall the triplanes used different vectors to each other for landing as it was varying so much. As memory recalls, it looked like the harvard landed into a crosswind and the wing lifted as it crossed the tarmac seal edge of 06/24 and then it went pear shaped after that as it ground looped.
Bastardos, I think most of the comments here are more about warbird flying in general rather than this specific incident. I wouldn't get too worried about Remoak's remarks.
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Bastardos - typical MS with changing winds (windsocks nearly always seem to be pointing in different directions), only vector not used in the show was 10, but even that was used by a couple of a/c first thing in the morning and prior to the show starting.
Harvard was landing on the most into wind vector at the time - unfortunate gust of wind (10kts +) with change of direction while tail still up slightly and wheels about to go from grass to seal at differing times.
Ground loop was lucky as it saved the crowd (and myself) from what initially looked like the aircraft ploughing straight in amongst us.
Very lucky the port undercarriage didn't collapse - guess it was built to withstand all those student landings! (Also meant the pilot could make a reasonably sedate exit as the a/c ended up pointing the way they needed to go...
)
Harvard was landing on the most into wind vector at the time - unfortunate gust of wind (10kts +) with change of direction while tail still up slightly and wheels about to go from grass to seal at differing times.
Ground loop was lucky as it saved the crowd (and myself) from what initially looked like the aircraft ploughing straight in amongst us.
Very lucky the port undercarriage didn't collapse - guess it was built to withstand all those student landings! (Also meant the pilot could make a reasonably sedate exit as the a/c ended up pointing the way they needed to go...
)
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Yeah, thanks for the clarification on the Harvard. I was out to the side a bit. I could see that in the Gold Pass area some observant spectators (pilots) were already making a scramble as the Harvard was heading that way!
Lucky pilot with that unfortunate gust of crosswind at the most vulnerable time...
Lucky pilot with that unfortunate gust of crosswind at the most vulnerable time...
Remoak.....
The owners may legally be able to trash their toys if they want (or if they simply can't help themselves), but that is only because the law offers no protection. Now, if you owned an old house or building that was designated as a "heritage" site, you wouldn't be allowed to do ANYTHING to it - change the plumbing, put in a new power point, whatever - without written approval from the appropriate authority (the Heritage Trust in the UK).
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My point being that classic warbirds, like classic cars or classic boats, are not protected by legislation (a GOOD thing), but rely on the respect and self-control of their owners for their survival. Sadly, the potential for disaster is relatively high with many of these aircraft, and when you mix that with inexperience and a less-than-professional attitude - well, the accident stats tell the story.
There would be no point in legislating some form of protection, if you did that most would probably never fly again (a BAD thing).
All you can do is hope that enough of the original warbirds wind up in the hands of responsible owners or societies. That may mitigate the losses caused by the less responsible owners.
I still think that the comment of Pete Kynsey, which I quoted earlier, is the only correct way to approach the really rare warbirds.
There would be no point in legislating some form of protection, if you did that most would probably never fly again (a BAD thing).
All you can do is hope that enough of the original warbirds wind up in the hands of responsible owners or societies. That may mitigate the losses caused by the less responsible owners.
I still think that the comment of Pete Kynsey, which I quoted earlier, is the only correct way to approach the really rare warbirds.
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OMG has anyone read this thread from start to finish.............
Its like chineese whispers with all your 2cents worth,
makes me laugh reading this crap that gets posted buy all the aviation experts.
Maybe thats why pilots have a rep as being "pilot wankers" who knows, apart from all you guys of course.
Go ahead hit on me for my post, I dont care, this **** keeps me ammused.
FYI $200k for the prop, Bulk strip, wing repairs landing gear repairs etc I wouldnt expect much change outta $1.5m and maybe 1 year outta the air.
It wasnt a ground loop 500boy, The landing gear did fail when it slammed into the runway cause it was under the aircraft when it stalled on finals!
Had the owner been a little more friendly to people saying hello to him everynow and then, I may not have laughed when I heard it crashed.
Its like chineese whispers with all your 2cents worth,
makes me laugh reading this crap that gets posted buy all the aviation experts.
Maybe thats why pilots have a rep as being "pilot wankers" who knows, apart from all you guys of course.
Go ahead hit on me for my post, I dont care, this **** keeps me ammused.
FYI $200k for the prop, Bulk strip, wing repairs landing gear repairs etc I wouldnt expect much change outta $1.5m and maybe 1 year outta the air.
It wasnt a ground loop 500boy, The landing gear did fail when it slammed into the runway cause it was under the aircraft when it stalled on finals!
Had the owner been a little more friendly to people saying hello to him everynow and then, I may not have laughed when I heard it crashed.
Had the owner been a little more friendly to people saying hello to him everynow and then, I may not have laughed when I heard it crashed.
And do you think that your attitude is any better? Disgusting
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Well, all I can do is reiterate that I had only met him less than 2 months earlier and he was very approachable and a gentleman.
Of course, I have no idea who mattahm is but maybe he has a personal axe to grind
Regardless of the individual, it was quite sad and most definitely not a laughing matter to see such a beautiful aircraft in such a state
Of course, I have no idea who mattahm is but maybe he has a personal axe to grind
Regardless of the individual, it was quite sad and most definitely not a laughing matter to see such a beautiful aircraft in such a state
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The aircraft hit the ground in 3 point attitude after going into a rapid descend from
about 10-15 ft A.G.L with the pilot not visual with the runway. The undercarriage
gave way and the aircraft came to rest on the runway after sliding for about 100
meters from initial contact. Pilot thinks the sudden loss of height was caused by
dramatic changes in wind direction and speed.
about 10-15 ft A.G.L with the pilot not visual with the runway. The undercarriage
gave way and the aircraft came to rest on the runway after sliding for about 100
meters from initial contact. Pilot thinks the sudden loss of height was caused by
dramatic changes in wind direction and speed.
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Messrs Chuckles and Bastardos - 
What a shame that it probably won't be flying at Omaka at Easter - especially after its ordeal with the cousins last year.
I am sure that Db is as disappointed (and more so) as the rest of us.
Thank God he is safe and that the a/c is not too badly pranged.
Looking fwd to a few yarns in the club after the airshow at Easter.
Best
K
What a shame that it probably won't be flying at Omaka at Easter - especially after its ordeal with the cousins last year.
I am sure that Db is as disappointed (and more so) as the rest of us.
Thank God he is safe and that the a/c is not too badly pranged.
Looking fwd to a few yarns in the club after the airshow at Easter.
Best
K