Warbird Information Exchange

Gone!

Not again, just hope the pilot might have made it.

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

They're saying it passed Pylon 8 and went inverted. No other details have been posted, but I feel for the families.

KRNV is reporting that it was a red L-39, but either way, it doesn't sound good.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20763879

Pilot reported to be Brad Morehouse of Wyoming. No word on his condition.

http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S= ... enu113_1_3

Very sad news again ..... also looks like the races have been canceled ...

Brad was confirmed as killed in this news report, along with another pilot yesterday.

http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/9768017.html

darn it.


My condolences to their families.

Lynn

The races are NOT cancelled. They were just suspended for today, following the crash. Everything will resume tomorrow.

Saw the crash today, happened right in front of me. Coming around Pylon 8 and he just kept rolling and went right in. It was horrible. Nothing left.

Oh they didn't suspend races for the rest of the day. The unlimiteds ran around 4.

Man, this is like sprint car racing in the 70's. I lost so many friends and competitors but hard as it was, we all were "invincible" and took the risk knowing full well that it would happen to the other guy.

What I see now, unfortunately, is that when I was racing, I was young, single and full of fire and "braver than Dick Tracy". To compete now, pilots are older, successful businessmen, families, etc., a little tougher to accept but it is still a high risk profession.

We can look and say, "this has to stop" but it won't, and shouldn't. I feel very sad for all the losses this year but every one of the gents lost, would not have traded all their experiences and joys if they knew going in, today was the day. These are not kick back, laid back people. They live hard, fly hard, and face and accept the consequences.

I grieve for those they left behind but can appreciate the motive that drove them to the crossroads of "fate meeting circumstance".

God Bless all our lost friends. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your life and your passion.

_________________
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

I've been to the races a few times and really enjoyed it.
But it's kinda scary and I worry about my friends. It's so hard
on the planes and just plain dangerous. When our #44 T-6 is
done with racing I'll be very happy. I remember Sam having the rudder
and vertical cut off his YAK by Pardue's Sea Fury and the fatal T-6 mid
air a few years back. I look uopn these deaths has needless. I feel
so badly for their families. The phrase "at least they died happy"
doesn't work for me.

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

Jack, I feel pretty much the same way. I came close to going to last couple of years, but I am glad I am not there now. Man it is hard, I say a prayer for those guys every day, knowing they are running nearer the edge. Neither of those lost was a friend, but that only makes it a touch better. Howard is an old friend and a good one, and there's guys like Tiger, Dan, and Dan, Gary, and others. Every time someone is lost it is like a small piece of a dream turns dark.

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

I was in front of Merlin's Magic Pit on the line when it happened. I had the Canon Mark III out and clicked off 24 frames. Out of respect to the pilot's family I'm not going to post the pictures.

At OSH with Gerry Beck, you could see 2 Mustangs colliding. Here you see L-39 parts coming out of a fireball. The parts include pilot, which is something that shouldn't be shown.

All I can say was that the jets were high, wide, and fast and two tried to get back inside the course (if they weren't out, they were on the edge), the L-39 got in the wake turbulence, started rolling and was pitched down at about 30 degrees from 150 feet. I'd say they were going 450+ MPH at impact. Not much left, not even a real fire. Most of the burning was fuel in the air.

I'm sure someone will put a video on YOUTUBE.

Mark H

So you won't post a photo because it "shouln't be shown," but you'll eagerly describe the gruesome aspects of the crash that killed my aquaintence. That's just great. Thank a lot for that.

YGBSM.

_________________
Buck Wyndham
Editor, WarbirdAlley.com
Warbird Instructor Pilot