Yak 52 into the sea - Brisbane
 

Any news on the Yak-52 that went into the ocean today, off Brisbane? Was it VH-YSZ or VH-YYK?

Search underway for missing plane | NEWS.com.au

No. 3?

Dr :8

Nine television says ex Hempels.

a/c was ULT

http://archive-server.liveatc.net/yb...2008-0130Z.mp3

ATC recording from AF can be obtained from the above link. You can hear the a/c call sign readback by the PIC on that recording about halfway through.

Very sad...

heard the aircraft on that feed. Certainly sounds like Mr Hempel himself, could be wrong though. Very sad for all involved.

VH-ULT

Had Just shut down @ YBAF and watched the Yak take off from 04L while i was still on the apron, quite a awful feeling when I saw the aircraft was missing on the news tonight. My thoughts are with the family of all concerned .

A very tough week for Australian GA :(

Deepest condolences for the families & friends of Barry & his passenger. Nothing worse than hearing news like this for the entire industry.:sad:

Barry Hempel feared dead in Stradbroke Island air mishap | The Courier-Mail

AN experienced aerobatics pilot and a passenger are feared dead after a converted Russian stunt plane plunged into the ocean off Stradbroke Island.

Barry Hempel, 60, owner of Hempels Aviation at Archerfield, was believed to be piloting the Yak-52 during a joy flight off Stradbroke Island.

Witnesses near Jumpinpin, which separates North and South Stradbroke islands, reported seeing the red plane perform a series of dives and loops before going into a steep dive about 12.30pm.

"We kept expecting to see him flying back up again because he had been doing all kinds of tricks for about 15 minutes, but he just never came out again," fisherman Wayne Marsh said. "He was doing loops and back flips and steep descents but this time he didn't miss the surface, he just went straight in."

RACQ Careflight, rescue helicopters and a flotilla of boats searched near Jumpinpin Bar but were hampered by choppy conditions. A propeller was reportedly found late yesterday but the search was suspended before any other wreckage was found.

The search was expected to resume at first light today.

A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said it was possible but unusual for planes to sink without a trace.

He said the plane was classified as a war bird – a military aircraft converted to civilian use. "They have a slightly higher risk because they're built for the military, which has different standards from civilian aircraft, and usually bought second-hand from overseas," he said.

Mr Hempel's wife, Mariane, was with her daughter, Natalie, 10, at an Australian Youth Choir event when she was told her husband's plane was overdue.

She raced to Archerfield and waited anxiously with Natalie and son Aaron, 9.

Friends and family comforted the Hempels at the Archerfield office last night and relative Margaret Hempel described the two young children as "distraught". "They've been told their father won't be coming home tonight," she said.

Chief pilot at Hempel's Aviation Michael Lawrence said the family's state of mind was "terrible". He said he did not know the identity of Mr Hempel's passenger and heard of the crash on the plane radio.

Another family friend said Mr Hempel was a very experienced aerobatics pilot.

"He was just the best pilot in Australia," she said. "He's really just been the best with everything he's done with flying."

The company's website says Mr Hempel has more than 29,000 flying hours in aircraft ranging from WWI biplanes to jet fighters and airliners.

Aww no!
that's not very good at all, though I never met or associated with him, My mate who is an SPL at Hempels and I used to joke about him flying with "Barry Hempel Himself!".

That's really saddening. Condolences to his family, and Hempels aviation too.
Lets only hope for the best.

Pyro

That's sad. Imagine going out like that, after 29000 hrs up. What a loss to the industry. My condolences to the Hempel family.

Hempels Aviation - About Barry Hempel

http://www.yakkes.com/thunderbolt2/52-2/86_7110.php

R.I.P Barry and the pax.

Condolences to his lovely family. Barry was very much a doting father who'll be sadly missed...

Very sad news.

I knew Baza for 30 years - he was one of those larger than life characters we meet from time to time, who took life by the scruff of the neck and gave it a really good shake.

We first met when he did my Bonanza endorsement (in a V-tail) back when SE aircraft required individual endorsements. He always stopped for a chat whenever our paths crossed over the years.

Condolences to his family.

Dr :8

Barry signed off my RPPL nearly 30 years ago today.

Gutwrenching :(

Archerfield without him and Humphrey Maltman won't be the same. :(

Just heard on TV another light aircraft missing South of Brisbane at 10:00 today, no further details.

"Archerfield without him and Humphrey Maltman won't be the same."


You're not wrong... so much experience between the 2 of them. Have been lucky enough to have learnt from both of them.

Thoughts are with Barry's family, and that of his passenger.

R.I.P.

R.I.P Barry
 

I was in Brissy yesterday and watched Barry's Yak fly over and it put me in the mood to do the same...later back home we pulled our Yak out of the hangar and enjoyed ourselves as well. back on terra firma the phone was running hot to tell me of the one missing in Brisbane and the subsequent feeling of shock....I have flown with Barry on a number of occasions (although I did not learn to fly at Hempels, I've done the odd check ride with him) He was a character to say the least and will be missed...My condolances to Barry's family and to those of his passenger.:sad:

Barry Hempel&squo;s plane found in Gold Coast sea search | The Courier-Mail

Wreckage has been found, well done to all involved in the search

RIP Barry and to his passenger

R.I.P

I only met him once, but by golly, he left a lasting impression, great bloke:ok:, lovely and chipper, we had a good chat about all sorts of things...

My thoughts are with his family and friends,:sad::(

RIP BAZZA
Condolences to Mariane, the kids, and the rest of his family.


SP-FAO What an experience