Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:15 pm
God Speed Jim. God, please make the rest of the week better.
Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:23 pm
Okay, Corsair....I was just checking. The comment about it taking "so long" for the fire and rescue guys to get to the scene kinda made me think you were an expert on this.
You can bet those guys got to the plane as quickly as humanly possible and felt as bad as everyone else that Jim could not be saved.
You can bet those guys got to the plane as quickly as humanly possible and felt as bad as everyone else that Jim could not be saved.
Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:32 pm
I would think resident WIXer Mustangdriver would be an authority on this.
Shay
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Semper Fortis
Shay
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Semper Fortis
Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:40 pm
Karpis wrote:Okay, Corsair....I was just checking. The comment about it taking "so long" for the fire and rescue guys to get to the scene kinda made me think you were an expert on this.
You can bet those guys got to the plane as quickly as humanly possible and felt as bad as everyone else that Jim could not be saved.
I guess I just meant it as it seemed like a long time. Last year they rushed vechicals out as a precaution for a different incident and they were out there in about a minute. I didn't mean it as a dig on them, I'm sure they tried as hard as possible. At the time there was so much smoke from the two biplanes circling that it was hard to see and it was hard to believe that one went down. Many people around me didn't even know that there was an accident until it was announced over the loud speaker for emergancy vechicals, even then they thought it was just the smoke.
Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:00 pm
My Sympathies go out to Jim LeRoy's family and friends. I was in attendance at the Moose Jaw Air Show in July 2005 when Bobby Younkin and Jim Franklin collided in midair. It is a very tragic thing to witness and it takes a moment or two to realize what has just happened. Jim was the the surviving pilot on that day and watched his fellow pilots unfortunate accident.
Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:39 pm
Gotcha, Freak.....I guess I should have realized that you weren't being mean. After 20-plus years in the fire service, sometimes I can't help but take such a comment to heart. In a situation like this, everyone has frazzled nerves. No hard feelings 
Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:12 pm
while everbody naturally thinks of the pilot unfortunately killed, it must be realized that the show spectators / attendees who witnessed the horror go home with undescribable mental baggage all of their own, alot of scars for alot of today's attendees. very sad.
Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:01 am
Just horrible, unbelievable news. I feel Jim was the most amazing performer I've seen. I'm still at Oshkosh, or I probably would have been at Dayton.
Just a few weeks ago, I read a post by Jim himself on the airshowbuzz forum that discussed his thoughts regarding a post someone else had made about the risk, thoughts that I agreed with entirely when I read them, and still do. (link below):
http://www.airshowbuzz.com/forums/index ... =193&st=20
(page is #2 and scroll down near bottom)
Just a few weeks ago, I read a post by Jim himself on the airshowbuzz forum that discussed his thoughts regarding a post someone else had made about the risk, thoughts that I agreed with entirely when I read them, and still do. (link below):
http://www.airshowbuzz.com/forums/index ... =193&st=20
(page is #2 and scroll down near bottom)
Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:33 pm
Don't have much to add. I was at the show Saturday and thankfully didn't witness the crash due to being back behind a huge crowd. I saw Jim on his downward track and thought that the last roll was cutting it too close. I saw him first perform at the show in Johnson City, TN back in 2002 I think, and felt compelled to shake his hand afterwards because it was such an unbelievable performance. As the proud son of a Marine, I was excited to see the Corps logo on his plane.
what a horrible day.
Semper Fi, Jim, and Godspeed.
Dave G
what a horrible day.
Semper Fi, Jim, and Godspeed.
Dave G
Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:08 pm
Was at the show again today. I was surprised but Codename: Mary's Lamb still performed with Skip Stewart and the Shockwave truck. The crowd cheered the whole time.
Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:19 pm
I was going to take my 12 year old son with me to the show this weekend, but he wanted to stay with some friends instead. My Dad came in to see his first ever airshow (he is 69) along with several members of my family. We were sitting less than 100 feet from where Mr Leroy's wife and son were. I cannot explain the horrible feeling that came over me when I saw the plane go in and turned to look at the place where his family was. I was struck with the greatest sense of sadness I have ever felt in my life. My family saw me cry, but I am certain that is no solace at all to the Leroy family. I am still so saddened by this. I think the airshow announcer could have shown a lot more restrain in his comments about "all of these performers know that the ground is very unforgiving" and after asking the crowd several times to turn in any videos that they may have, they put on what sounded like waltzing music. Very distasteful to say the least. My thoughts and prayers are certainly with the Leroy family tonight and for some time to come.
Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:21 pm
Horrible news about Jim. He was pushing it pretty hard, and he knew it, but unfortunately, fate is the hunter.
One thing that should be noted though is that, in both accidents this weekend, no one on the ground was hurt or, from what I can tell, even endangered. Pilots know the risk, and accept it, but the people on the ground shouldn't share in it, and fortunately the rules the ICAS and others have put in place have still provided a safe environment for the crowds.
One thing that should be noted though is that, in both accidents this weekend, no one on the ground was hurt or, from what I can tell, even endangered. Pilots know the risk, and accept it, but the people on the ground shouldn't share in it, and fortunately the rules the ICAS and others have put in place have still provided a safe environment for the crowds.
Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:32 pm
6trn4brn wrote:I was going to take my 12 year old son with me to the show this weekend, but he wanted to stay with some friends instead. My Dad came in to see his first ever airshow (he is 69) along with several members of my family. We were sitting less than 100 feet from where Mr Leroy's wife and son were. I cannot explain the horrible feeling that came over me when I saw the plane go in and turned to look at the place where his family was. I was struck with the greatest sense of sadness I have ever felt in my life. My family saw me cry, but I am certain that is no solace at all to the Leroy family. I am still so saddened by this. I think the airshow announcer could have shown a lot more restrain in his comments about "all of these performers know that the ground is very unforgiving" and after asking the crowd several times to turn in any videos that they may have, they put on what sounded like waltzing music. Very distasteful to say the least. My thoughts and prayers are certainly with the Leroy family tonight and for some time to come.
I saw it on CNN - they were begging people to send in video, cell phone pics, etc. I was extremely disgusted, to say the least. Then they interviewed a vidoegrapher from a local affiliate who had taken the shot they keep playing over, ad infiitum of the rolls on a downline. The anchor said something about, "well, most photographers are also experts in aviation (what??!!) and I'm sure you are too, (whatt??!!) so what is your opinion?" I couldn't believe the tripe this guy was spouting. I couldn't remember if it was last year or the year before of the mid-air between Bobby and Jimmy (time goes by so fast . . .) so I googled it. That's when I saw the WIKI entry that I posted earlier.
Just disgusting all around.
Honestly - I love to fly aerobatics, I love to watch them executed well, I love to watch and hear these planes fly. But I hate airshows. I learned aerobatics from Bill Thomas - he never stopped attending airshows a long time ago, and I understood what he was saying then but now I am at the same point.
Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:54 pm
I made it out to the show today. Skip stewart's and Kent Shockley performance was awesome and I'm sure emotional for them.
I enjoyed and felt Vlado's and the Heritage flight's Missing-man formation in honor of Jim, did him right.
Pretty much todays show was dedicated to Jim's Memory
Shay
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Semper Fortis
I enjoyed and felt Vlado's and the Heritage flight's Missing-man formation in honor of Jim, did him right.
Pretty much todays show was dedicated to Jim's Memory
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Mon Jul 30, 2007 1:15 pm
I was there and saw the accident and I too am not quite sure that the less-than-1-minute response time is accurate, but at the same time, when the Adrenaline starts flowing, time seems to slow down. I wait for the NTSB or FAA to report on what the response time was.
I also thought Jim was going low, but I thought it was to make sure he and Steve didn't hit because Steve was on a down-line near him at the same time. He pulled out and looked to almost have enough room from my viewpoint, so I was shocked when I saw it merge with the ground and stop.
At the airshow, they were begging for all the video to go to the announcer's stand or the expo center for the investigation, so I doubt that media will get much until the NTSB or FAA releases the video back to the owners.
It was a sad end to the day. Jim was in high spirits Saturday and was excited that the stunt guys were going to get most of the glory that day because of the low ceilings keeping most of the jets on the ground or confined to less-crowd impressing low shows.
I was unable to make Sunday's show before having to get to the airport for my flight, so I'm glad to know that things went on as planned and the crowd showed up to support these fine men (and women) in this difficult time. My thoughts really go out to the F-15 pilot on Saturday in addition to Jim's friends and family because he was directly across the runway from Jim when he hit. He was probably the closest person to the accident and he was visibly shaken by it.
I also thought Jim was going low, but I thought it was to make sure he and Steve didn't hit because Steve was on a down-line near him at the same time. He pulled out and looked to almost have enough room from my viewpoint, so I was shocked when I saw it merge with the ground and stop.
At the airshow, they were begging for all the video to go to the announcer's stand or the expo center for the investigation, so I doubt that media will get much until the NTSB or FAA releases the video back to the owners.
It was a sad end to the day. Jim was in high spirits Saturday and was excited that the stunt guys were going to get most of the glory that day because of the low ceilings keeping most of the jets on the ground or confined to less-crowd impressing low shows.
I was unable to make Sunday's show before having to get to the airport for my flight, so I'm glad to know that things went on as planned and the crowd showed up to support these fine men (and women) in this difficult time. My thoughts really go out to the F-15 pilot on Saturday in addition to Jim's friends and family because he was directly across the runway from Jim when he hit. He was probably the closest person to the accident and he was visibly shaken by it.