warbird1 wrote:
Warbird Kid wrote:
I never read the accident report about Joe before. I didn't know it was caused potentially by all the extras on the wings!

Too sad.
Here's the accident report:
http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20 ... 5462&key=1It's unknown whether the extra drag was causal to the accident, but I agree with RMAllnut's point - safety should always trump everything. That is a lot of extra drag and not something I would want to have on my airplane if I were operating in mountainous or heavily wooded areas.
Forgive me, and with all due respect to the friends and family members of Joe Tobul, but I didn't see anything stated regarding the dummy bombs or missiles listed in the NTSB report. While I understand that you are eluding to the extra parasite drag that these items cause (undeniable), I don't know what this has to do with, or could factor into a different outcome, but even with that, I strongly feel that it is a moot point and somewhat inappropriate to incorporate into the NTSB findings. I will probably erupt a firestorm over that comment, but I strongly dislike when folks dispute facts found in an NTSB report, or add a spin to them. That being said, I'm going to somewhat gingerly state the following. These are supposed to be unbiased reports, and they usually are. I'm not a Warbird pilot, but I am a pilot, and I'm not familiar with that area of SC. I'd imagine that being low and slow in a landing profile on a base leg with a crippled engine did not help his glide rate, but add a heavy bird to the mix (heavier than a Cessna 172) with a glide ratio that would already rival a brick, you have even less time and options before altitude and airspeed are now but wishful thinking when your engine isn't producing sufficient power. Being an aircraft accident static (and survivor) and having people comment on it myself, It strikes a nerve.
On a different note, the new F4U-4's paint scheme; I do want to say that the new paint scheme is awe-inspiring and breathtaking! A job well done!