steve dickey wrote:
Another question thats not been asked is how big was the airshow "box". Could this be a factor?, a smaller box cause confliction? Tighter turn's required? I don't remember how many years they've been having airshows at Dallas Executive but it seemed to work in the past?
I know this has been one of the biggest concerns about having any airshow at Redbird/Dallas Executive. The area around it is heavily built-up with a *LOT* of residential both north and west of the airport (off the other end of the runway from where the accident happened). There is also the problem of vertical space as the Class B floor is at 3000, meaning they really can't go "up" that far either, further constraining the box.
It became even more of an issue 6 years ago when a part of an airplane (I believe it was a landing gear door) participating in the show fell in a residential area next to the airport -
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2016/10 ... 477926139/I know there was some "adjustment" of the flight paths after this to further attempt to avoid the residential areas, making it even more of an issue.
I know the CAF has been working diligently with all the relevant groups to make Wings Over Dallas as safe as possible and the pilots do everything they can, but I think this kind of thing was in the back of everyone's minds since the move was announced because there's just an "expectation" that there be an airshow because it is HQ, but the HQ was located based on the museum/education and accessibility, not because it had the best airspace. It was always going to be a compromise no matter what and it's the reason that "Big City" airshows are so rare anymore. The restrictions make it extremely difficult and it takes a lot of determination and work to make it happen safely. I applaud the CAF and everyone for doing everything they can, but unfortunately, I don't see a future for the airshow at HQ. I see it being moved to somewhere like McKinney, Mesquite, or even Lancaster if it goes forward.