Warbird Information Exchange

On Sunday during the Korean War portion of the show, the right drop tank came off Steve Hinton's F-86. Fortunately it hit the take off end of the runway, 300 Yds from the crowd.

I can see the FAA making an issue of this. Of course there was a Skyraider there that was making passes that went over the crowd line, he was pulling the turns too tight. He has some external stores on it and if one of them came off there would have been a disaster. He was making those passes even after the F-86 lost its tank.

The damage to the leading edge of the B-17 was pretty severe. While I doubt it hurt anything structural, it did rip a hole about a foot long in the leading edge of the wing.

Overall it was a pretty good show. It was a LOT different than something that we might have on the east coast. But it was enjoyable and concentrated on warbirds and military flying.

Mark H

I miss the old days when they DID fly the gaggle over our heads.

Just as they take a risk flying these incredible heavy metal masterpieces, we take a risk just being there.

I for one don't want it to ever stop.

I just have to support Steve Hinton, and the entire Planes of Fame staff.

sugar happens. And it will continue to happen, no matter WHAT people think is going to stop it.

Fate will always have its way. I certainly would wish we HAD that sort of control to protect the young and the innocent. But do we just end flying all together?

Should they just fly during the week, on a closed course, and just offer us videos?

I love when they do what they do. And I will be there for them next year and the years after that.

I have been going since I was about 6 or 7.

38 and still goin' strong!



Doc


ok OK rant over. (bitch mode OFF!)

Sorry fellas!

I agree. This could have just as easily been a modern aircraft that had an access cover or wing radome come off.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Flying over the crowd is too dangerous? I had to drive from LAX to Chino and back. Now THAT'S dangerous. The bikers REALLY make me wonder...in between the lanes of cars at 80-100 mph. Actually saw that. I was doing 75 and a guy on a "crotch-rocket" went by at no less than 100. Oh well...just reinforces the old adage: "Danger is nature's way of ridding the world of imbeciles"

Mudge the cautious

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Land of the free because of the brave

Boy, I really hate to hear that. I am just waiting for you know who, to tell me why I can't have all the external wing stores on my Skyraider. As far as violating the crowd line, I know of no excuse for that. It's the quickest way to shut down the air shows as we currently know them. No good for anyone.

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."

Pics of the tank loss over at FC..

http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php/topic,7933.msg142067.html#msg142067

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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In Minnesota, we call them Donors.

Speaking for myself, if I were to be killed at an airshow, my wife and family has it understood not to go after anyone. If anything I look at it as it was my time, and at least I went out doing what I love. It is better than being hit by a bus. That said, it is not a good idea to overfly the crowd.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Skyraider Bob has had those dummy external stores on that A-1 for years. I was there on Saturday and did not see him cross the crowd line. I wasn't there on Sunday. I was a little surprised at what happened with the Sabre, but was glad to hear that everything came out ok.

It was a great show!

Wonder if the problem could be related to unseen damage incurred during the gear up landing at DM a few months back. Just wondering out loud here.

Let's be careful about saying that. I did not see him cut the crowd line.
I saw one tight pass to clear an aircraft on take-off (IIRC), but it was not
behind the crowd line from my view. I was at the fence near the tower
(both days), so I don't know if he came close further west down the line.

IMHO, the turns away from, although close to the crowd, are safer
than the turns toward the crowd where aircraft momentum is working
against them.

I agree. I watched the Skyraider performance on both days and saw no such encroachment. The locations of the deadlines are all covered rather thoroughly at the pilot's briefing each morning before the show and the Skyraider pilot is very experienced with operations at Chino.

Well all I can say is you two guys must have been back farther than me. You saw something else, you were not looking at the right time, or you don't know what you saw. You obviously were not standing next to me and you didn't see what I saw.

This is all I can say.

On Sunday I was about 3 feet behind the snow fence about 30 feet to the right of the press area next to a sound trailer.

The Skyraider made at least 2 passes that were directly over me. Not in front of me, but over me.

If you wonder; I've spent my lifetime all 48 years of it at airports, I had a father who was an aircraft mechanic and he spent a lot of time at airports working on other people's planes, he had several of his own, we never played baseball or any sports like that, we went flying and spent time at airports. I'm a licensed pilot, I'm 48 years old, I know what it looks like when an airplane passes over my head. It wasn't in front of me, it was over me, it was over any line the FAA may have set up. For all I know the FAA cleared them to make passes like that.

This airplane went over the crowd. I didn't fly it, I just watched it.

Hope to see you all there next year.

Mark H

How high? I was at the fence in the VIP area right next to the press box and missed it I guess. Not trying to argue, just didn't see it.

I was at the fence in the press area. I don't need to post my aviation resume to know when an aircraft is over the top of me. Perhaps this happened when I was packing up my gear or looking elsewhere. No need to accuse me of not knowing what I see. I never said that you did not see it.