Bad day at Duxford

[Mictheslik]

Hi all,

Not seen a thread for this yet, but there were 2 incidents at Flying Legends today. Firstly, a Fokker DrI replica groundlooped whilst landing after a display.

Worse was to come though when during the run and breaks following the final Balbo, a P51 and skyraider collided. The skyraider lost about a third of the starboard wing and managed to land back at Duxford. The mustang was seen to nosedive into a field. Fortunately the pilot managed to bail out.

Photos:
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthre ... 391&page=3

News article:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/BR ... 072011.htm

Not a good fortnight for historic aviation after the Jungmann and Seafire incidents last week. Glad I went to the show yesterday now.

Finally, a photo of Big Beautiful Doll, the mustang involved in the collision taken yesterday. (SimV uploader not working for me at the moment...)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/592 ... 7fb2_b.jpg

Thankfully there were no injuries

.mic

[Hagar]

Looking at those photos I find it incredible that the P-51 pilot, Rob Davies* I believe, managed to bail out safely from that altitude. He must have lightning fast reactions. I'm delighted nobody was hurt.

From what I've read there were several incidents during the show. Perhaps the least said about that the better.

*PS. http://www.simplyplanes.co.uk/rob_davies_mustang_pilot.shtml

[Mictheslik]

Looking at those photos I find it incredible that the P-51 pilot, Rob Davies I believe, managed to bail out safely from that altitude. He must have lightning fast reactions. I'm delighted nobody was hurt.

From what I've read there were several incidents during the show. Perhaps the least said about that the better.

Indeed, very quick thinking.

On the other matter, I did think yesterday that some of the displays may have been getting a bit low and overflying parts of the crowd. However, that's the flying that I go to Legends to see and it would be a real shame if it was diluted after these incidents.

.mic

[beaky]

Looking at those photos I find it incredible that the P-51 pilot, Rob Davies* I believe, managed to bail out safely from that altitude. He must have lightning fast reactions. I'm delighted nobody was hurt.

Quite the feat! They both reacted perfectly, IMHO. But they both were really lucky. A couple of feet and it would have been very different.  :-/
How about that Sandy? Very tough; typical old-school Douglas product.


A bittersweet but happy ending!! 

[Mictheslik]

Video is up as well.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qME7VefLxFw

.mic

[ozzy72]

This is terrible news but at least nobody was hurt. I saw Doll a while back at Duxford, sad to see the state she is in now

[expat]

The double blow, she had only just last month had a major service and new paint job..

Matt

[beaky]

A few words about the accident from the P-51's owner/pilot... includes a much clearer shot of the impact. Imagine deciding in a heartbeat to exit your precious Mustang in flight! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLQsJS7zQOM&feature

[Hagar]

[quote]A few words about the accident from the P-51's owner/pilot... includes a much clearer shot of the impact. Imagine deciding in a heartbeat to exit your precious Mustang in flight!

[patchz]

I had concluded that the Skyraider clipped the P-51 but hesitated to say anything since the investigation was not complete and

I had to watch the video several times to be sure in my own mind. But after watching this last video, it's pretty obvious what

happened. I think Rob's attitude about the whole thing was exceptional and very professional.

[skoker]

You think you had problems? 

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Beech-N3 ... 1950214/M/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Fokker-D ... 1949320/M/

It was still a good airshow...  I actually got a tan that day...

[expat]

It had recently been sold to new owners in Germany. http://www.meiermotors.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121&Itemid=18&lang=en

Thanks for that, I am going to Herringsdorf the week after next, better take my camera with me (just in case )

Matt

[expat]

[quote]You think you had problems?

[C]

I had concluded that the Skyraider clipped the P-51 but hesitated to say anything since the investigation was not complete and

Well, from the video it's fairly conclusive that the P-51 and Skyraider flew two completely different types of break; a fairly sedate climb then break by BBD, and an aggressive climbing break from the Skyraider. Sadly, a combination of both led to the fighting for the same space in the sky.

Run in and breaks are a potential minefield when flown in a "vic" formation as seen here - particularly if the leader breaks first. Had they broken from echelon, it probably wouldn't have happened.

[todayshorse]

Blimey. I took a shot of BBD at RAF Waddington, i think it was last year.....

[img]https://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1313536149.jpg
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