Won't this weekend ever end??

[seabee1526]

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/homepage_showcase/accident-at-selfridge-air-show

[Robbie Roberts]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20110821_One_pilot_dies__another_survives_midair_crash_in_South_Jersey.html
And one in south Jersey, as well, on the 20th. Yak vs. Lancair IV-P...

BAD season for airshow people this year for sure.
Can't wait for it to end.

Scott

[mazdaP5]

[The Inspector]

Yet another fatal incident with an airshow performer. Wing Walker Todd Green fel off the upper wing of the biplane he was on while attempting a transfer to a helicopter @ the Selfridge Airshow on Sunday.

[tex-fan]

found this artical. http://www.windsorstar.com/news/windsor ... story.html , VERY sad day. I'll pray for his family and friends.

[Ztex]

Topics merged

[Pogmusic]

Why was he not wearing a parachute? Yes, at 200' and 95kts it MAY not have opened; but, I had an emergency exit from a Cessna 182 at 400' at about the same speed and didn't have any height opening issue -- I had change the jump suit cause it's now stained issue. Even a fully line extended, unopened canopy will provide drag enough to give a small chance of survival... Ready for the flak.

[warbird2]

Why was he not wearing a parachute.

As I understand it wing walkers do not wear parachutes because of the drag factor. The parachute backpack trys to pull you off the plane.

[ZRX61]

I thought I was going to witness a crash at an airshow yesterday. Hammerhead stall in Bearcat?? WTF??

[Pogmusic]

Why was he not wearing a parachute.

As I understand it wing walkers do not wear parachutes because of the drag factor. The parachute backpack trys to pull you off the plane.

I can SORT of understand that; but, I have over 1500 logged jumps and have climbed all over all sorts of airplanes while in flight. On top of C-45s and 47s, hanging from struts on high wings, out cargo and passenger doors. ... Yes, there IS drag; but, you get use to it and compensate for it.

I am so sorry that it happened.

[Trey Carroll]

I thought I was going to witness a crash at an airshow yesterday. Hammerhead stall in Bearcat?? WTF??

Let's hear about that.

[Iclo]

From what I read: a parachute could be very dangerous for the wing walkers himself and the plane. An accidental opening when outside of the plane could eject the wing walker, could block the control surface, etc..

[ZRX61]

Let's hear about that.

Not saying any more until I check YouTube for vid's in a week or so.. but there was a collective "Oh sh*t" from a few people.

[CrewDawg]

My condolences to Todd Green and his family as well as to the other aviators lost this past weekend and thier families. As the official statement from Selfridge ANG Base said, "as airmen we all know the inherent dangers....." but it's still tough when we loose a fellow aviator. Two other people that I am thinking of is John Mohr (the pilot of the Stearman) and Kyle Franklin (friend of Todd Green). I first saw John at Thunder last year and have since gotten to know him a little while picking his brain for our Piaggio Royal Gull project. Absolute top notch guy, very professional and careful. And Kyle, while I have never had the pleasure of meeting him, I can't imagine what he's going through. First Amanda and now his good friend, all in one season. I am looking forward to seeing him at the Alliance Air Show, but will totally understand if he decides to take the rest of the season off.

We always say that aviation is a small world, but the warbird and airshow families are microcosoms of the aviation universe. It always hurts when we loose a family member, even when it's a distant 4th removed cousin.

Please keep all concerned in your thoughts and prayers, I am.

[ZRX61]

What ticked me off was the TV coverage of the wingwalker fall. Fox news showed the guy falling to his death EIGHT times, back to back, as they talked about it.