Midair Collision at Saskatchewan Air Show

[JRoc]

2 biplanes from the act "Masters of Disaster" collided today at the Saskatchewan Air Show at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.  Both pilots were killed instantly. No spectators were injured.

The aircraft involved was Samson, a recreation of Curtis Pitt's 1947 airshow plane, and a Waco with a J-85 jet engine mounted on the underside.

The pilots involved were Bobby Younkin and Jimmy Franklin.



My hearts go out to the families of both pilots.  Especially Kyle Franklin, Jimmy's son, who was commentating the demonstration.

My uncle has video footage of the crash on his digital camera - I might upload it sometime.


What makes me feel even worse about this is that one of my very good friends is a medic at the base and was on high alert for both the MoD and Snowbirds acts - she already is still shaken up from the Snowbird crash she attended to in December.

[pubba]

very sad was lucky to see them last year,were you there when it happened? you also saw them practice also didnt you.

[beaky]

That could be the worst news I've heard all year...  :-/
Few pilots have taken as many carefully  calculated, razor-edge risks as those two- I've seen that routine and always got the impression that it looked more dangerous than it really was. Just terrible... we've lost two of the very best, and nice guys, too, if what I've heard is true. True masters of the air, and very creative showmen.
 As for posting the crash footage: don't have the right to ask you not to, but I doubt I'll ever be able to look at it, even to try to learn what went wrong.
 Blue skies and happy landings, Bobby and Jimmy!

[JRoc]

I don't possess the footage - my uncle has it.  I won't upload it anyway - it's already plastered on the news here as the media was out there all day.

I just talked to my medic friend out there - at the moment, she's taking it a little better than I expected.

[JRoc]

very sad was lucky to see them last year,were you there when it happened? you also saw them practice also didnt you.

Yes. Friday (practice/media day), Saturday and today.

[Hagar]

Very sorry to hear this. What more can I say?

[ozzy72]

[Politically Incorrect]

I was surprised I didnt see this already posted until my topic got moved here.
It is sad, I saw them perform twice last year and was in awe, some of the best flying skill I have ever seen!
It was a hightlight of the show and I was looking forward to seeing them again next weekend on Dayton.
This is a huge loss and now Im not as excited for this weekend anymore  :'(

[AlphaBravo]

[Jared]

oh man!

I've actually got tears in my eyes, those two were among some of the finest people I have ever seen fly aerobatics..

And to think poor Kyle there naratating the whole show.. Man I bet that did a number on him too....

[Ben_M_K]

This is amazing, I've seen this show, and it was top notch. I heard about plenty of crashes, but when it's two people you've heard about so much, it just makes it all so real.
A sad time in aviation...

[The Ruptured Duck]

I loved their show, so sad to see them go.