WW 1 replica crashes at WPAFB

[Brian]

A replica Nieuport 28 crashed this morning while participating in the Dawn Patrol at the NMUSAF. Apparently the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of power and made a hard landing in the grass in front of the museum. The gear collapsed and the plane somersaulted onto it's top. Fortunately, though the pilot was briefly trapped in the plane, it looks like he suffered only a broken nose.
I was unable to get the tail number as yet.

[JBoyle]

Thankfully no serious injury.
I hope this doesn't make the NMUSAF reconsider they policy of letiing planes fly off the museum's front lawn.
The USAF can be pretty risk adverse.

I had my old car on display at the event in 2003, had a great time. A highlight was a full scale Fokker D. VII replica. It was still unfinished but it should be by now.

Was it there this year? Hopefully someone will post pictures..

[Brian]

The show went on without any problems on Saturday and will continue today. One mistake I made, however was reporting that the planes were using the grass IN FRONT of the museum. I guess I assumed that since that has always been where the event was held. As it turns out, this year the event was BEHIND the museum. They are still using the grass, though lol. I didn't see the D. VII, but then I have been known to miss things right in front of my face.
One highlight this year---and a total suprise to me was having Kermit Weeks there. He brought along his beautiful Fokker D. VIII and though it didn't fly, he did fire it up. Sounded like a giant chainsaw and smelled wonderful. Afterwards my wife got a pic of me with him. Hey....I'm still a big kid when it comes to celebrities

[Shay]

I made it to the Sunday Show and all I can say is WOW. I was blown away. I'm used to the typical airshows with eveything under the sun, but this was 180 from all of that. Nice and slow and right in front of your face. My hats off the to all the participants. All the antique vehicles were a sight to see. And seeing all the reenactors put eveything in to perspective. Watching them scramble around the aircraft to "Trying" to get one of the DR. I's started and being able to see them right in front of you. It was better that any history book full of black and white pictures. With all the period personnel and watching the fabric covered aircraft flying over old Wright Field it really was like being back in time for this old squid. I've never been overly familiar with the air war in the First World War as I am with later genres. So perhaps that's why I so smitten with this air show. This was my first time in going but it won't be my last. I look forward to next year.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis