Is this for real?

[jimclarke]

I just saw a video that was emailed to me showing an aerobatic plane similar to an extra 300 that loses a wing during a performance and still manages to land safely.  Hopefully one of you has seen it also.  Is this real or is it a very elaborate hoax?

Happy flying,

Jim

[Mictheslik]

The video is almost certainly a fake, but it has happened (well....the wing hasn't been completely lost.....but it's come loose)

Here's an account of a Zlin's wing partially falling off and having to fly an inverted circuit to keep it on before rolling out on final.....

IT all really depends on the amount of thrust availabel to maintain the knifedge....and not many aircraft (even high performance aerobatic aircraft) have enough to do so for the time in the video (assuming we're talking about the same thing). It can however happen in RC aircraft which generally have a very high thrust to weight ratio. Here's a nice video of a very skilful landing following the sme kind of incident....just this time it's RC

.mic

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[pepper_airborne]

A DC-3 has once lost a part of the wing and managed to safely land back. I also remember reports of an F-15 loosing part of a wing and still being able to land, above normal landing speed that is.

[Isak922]

A DC-3 has once lost a part of the wing and managed to safely land back. I also remember reports of an F-15 loosing part of a wing and still being able to land, above normal landing speed that is.

You mean WAY above normal speed...

Normal is about 130kts... This F-15E was going over 220kts I believe!  :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmgKMW2eW80

[specter177]

Yea, the F-15 lost almost it's entire wing.

[beaky]

The video is fake- the aiborne stuff is a RC plane, taking full advantage of the much better power-to-weight ratio. They did go to great lengths, though- it perfectly matches the real one seen after the landing.

[beaky]

Here's an account of a Zlin's wing partially falling off and having to fly an inverted circuit to keep it on before rolling out on final.....

An amazing bit of flying, but I would have been out of that sucker as soon as I knew what was wrong...maybe sooner!!

That's why you wear a chute for that kind of flying.

[Hagar]

Here's an account of a Zlin's wing partially falling off and having to fly an inverted circuit to keep it on before rolling out on final.....

An amazing bit of flying, but I would have been out of that sucker as soon as I knew what was wrong...maybe sooner!!

That's why you wear a chute for that kind of flying.

That was in 1970. I'm not sure he was wearing a parachute. No mention of baling out as an option in his report.

PS. "Had a parachute been carried I would have climbed as high as possible and used it."

[C]

Here's an account of a Zlin's wing partially falling off and having to fly an inverted circuit to keep it on before rolling out on final.....

An amazing bit of flying, but I would have been out of that sucker as soon as I knew what was wrong...maybe sooner!!

That's why you wear a chute for that kind of flying.

I think you'll find he was a bit on the low side. Neil Williams' own account says he was pulling out a 1000ft. For an aircraft where a manual bailout is required, this isn't much. As a guide, the RAF's Tutors have a min abandonment height (IIRC) of 1500ft.

He just happened to be one of the technically most skillful pilots who ever lived.

[Hagar]

He wasn't wearing a chute. Check his report.

[C]

He wasn't wearing a chute. Check his report.

Exactly my point. Other than an inflight fire, there'd be little point to wearing/using one. Conincidence would have it, on this occasion enough control (albeit inverted) may have allowed its use

[Hagar]

He wasn't wearing a chute. Check his report.

Exactly my point. Other than an inflight fire, there'd be little point to wearing/using one. Conincidence would have it, on this occasion enough control (albeit inverted) may have allowed its use

This was in 1970 when the regulations were different. Had it been today he would have worn one.

[C]

He wasn't wearing a chute. Check his report.

Exactly my point. Other than an inflight fire, there'd be little point to wearing/using one. Conincidence would have it, on this occasion enough control (albeit inverted) may have allowed its use

This was in 1970 when the regulations were different. Had it been today he would have worn one.

I suspect sport parachutes would be a fair amount smaller and lighter now too compared to 1970 technology.

[expat]

He wasn't wearing a chute. Check his report.

Exactly my point. Other than an inflight fire, there'd be little point to wearing/using one. Conincidence would have it, on this occasion enough control (albeit inverted) may have allowed its use

This was in 1970 when the regulations were different. Had it been today he would have worn one.

I suspect sport parachutes would be a fair amount smaller and lighter now too compared to 1970 technology.

During my days of beening single and fancy free, I went gliding every weekend that I could. The chutes we wore and still do today where said to be able to save your life if they where opened at the latest passing through 300 feet. I was always skeptical about this until one day a friend of mine was sat in his car with his feet out the door and his back to the inside of the car. His youngest child came up, grabed the "D" ring and ran. The chute deployed..............smashing the the passenger window. There is a rather large and powerful spring to throw the chute out to catch the airflow and save ones life.

Matt

[C]

He wasn't wearing a chute. Check his report.

Exactly my point. Other than an inflight fire, there'd be little point to wearing/using one. Conincidence would have it, on this occasion enough control (albeit inverted) may have allowed its use

This was in 1970 when the regulations were different. Had it been today he would have worn one.

I suspect sport parachutes would be a fair amount smaller and lighter now too compared to 1970 technology.

During my days of beening single and fancy free, I went gliding every weekend that I could. The chutes we wore and still do today where said to be able to save your life if they where opened at the latest passing through 300 feet. I was always skeptical about this until one day a friend of mine was sat in his car with his feet out the door and his back to the inside of the car. His youngest child came up, grabed the "D" ring and ran. The chute deployed..............smashing the the passenger window. There is a rather large and powerful spring to throw the chute out to catch the airflow and save ones life.

Matt

All depends on relative velocities.