Plane crash/ death of pilot.
 

Not an Aerobatic pilot, just an old aggie, with lots of time on radial engines. Those engines will run all day at 75% pwr, but you cannot horse them around. Set power, work, then land. Anyone that has driven a 985 or 1340 will tell you that abrupt increases in power setting will flame out the engine,(yeah, I know, its a piston engine), but it will happen. So, perhaps it happened right at the time that Pip needed the power. It should be remembered that this was a relatively new airframe with limited pilot experience on type. I take absolutely nothing away from Pip, having met him several times, but we all need to remember that we work in the second most challenging environment known to man, and that you can never under-estimate the laws of gravity and combustion. I trust that no-one will find this post offensive, but there needs to be some balance to help all of us to learn from this tragedy..... Vale Pip, you touched my soul with your rhetoric when I most needed it, and for that I am eternally thankful. The most challenging is the sea or your mother/father-in-law:}

Wiz, it has been reported widely by many witnesses that some kind of engine spluttering and or stoppage happened during a vertical maneouvre from which there was no chance of recovery even for someone as skilled as Pip. Personally I'm leaving it at and put it down to a very unlucky event. PS some very interesting maneouvres in the video if you look closely. Thanks to the author for posting.

......the most challenging environment for man? The one you currently find youself in that is life threatening, that could be out of the bloody roads!

Pip has only left us in the physical sense, for a long time to come his memory & his experience will haunt those left behind in ways that we are not thinking of at this point in time.

perhaps a trophy in his honour in his field of expertise.


Wmk2

Used to stand out the front of Gawne's and watch Pip (normally while I was meant to be studying). An amazing pilot and person.

Lets hope this doesn't re-ignite the 'SHT airport needs to be moved' debate.

His antics will be sorely missed. RIP Pip.:ok:

Yet another reminder to us all that no matter how good we are as pilots, something can always happen at a critical point. And yet our love for flying far out weighs that. RIP Pip, another fallen legend that wouldnt have changed a thing:ok:

Funeral details for Pip
 

** yet to be confirmed - check Wed funeral notices **


1030
St Brendan's
Shepparton

Funeral details
 

That's confirmed as being on Friday, 10.30am at St Brennan's Catholic Church.

UTR