Mid-air at Duxford, Pilots ok

[davidbray]

There is a clear video of the collision on the BBC website now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-14101641

[warbird_patrick]

Glad both pilots made it back safe. Here is another video showing the full accident.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_A4xdGFXoE

[Shay]

Glad everyone is OK.

Very eerie that it was a Mustang depicting the 78th Fighter Group that crashed at Duxford. Take a look at the link below. It's almost as if the past is repeating itself.

http://www.ulongbeach.com/crashes.html

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Dudley Henriques]

Holy smokes!

Formation flying is serious business, folks, and this is precisely why.

That video should be required viewing for all formation pilots...with particular focus toward deconfliction responsibilities between flight leads and wingmen when maneuvering (like the pitch up/pitch out being performed). I know I'm going to show it to my USAF T-38 students when we're in the initial formation phase in the future...

Post collision, looks like some good flying on the part of both pilots. Extremely quick actions on the part of the Mustang pilot to bail out in that amount of time, too!

As has been said, metal can be replaced but people can't. Just like with Liberty Belle, this one is a 'happy ending' IMHO.

Just viewed several clips of this accident and we're discussing it now on the display safety network. Pending further briefing and revelations our collective thoughts at this point are;
Breaks from initial, especially involving dissimilar aircraft from formations other than Echelon with lead on the break side pose special problems requiring careful attention not only in flight but in the pre-flight brief.
In this case, the break appeared to involve a severe timing issue, coupled with differential g producing individualized turn rate and radius resulting in a post break maneuvering sequence with all aircraft out of plane in the break. Obviously not a good situation.
These pilots were extremely lucky.
This has been a VERY bad season thus far. It's time for the entire industry to take a hard look at safety. Some changes are definitely indicated.
Dudley Henriques

[Speedy]

Well said, Dudley. Just glad everyone is okay.

[Django]

They're both extremely blessed that they were able to walk away! Thank God for that! What a shame though. That particular Mustang was gorgeous after arriving in Germany. They must all be heart broken at the loss of the Mustang, yet besides themselves with joy that the pilot got out.

I don't quite understand the dissimilar formation though. Why have a Skyraider flying with Mustangs in the first place? And why not have the other Mustang in #2?

I have to say the chute surprised me. How many fighter warbird pilots wear chutes?

[Taylor Stevenson]

I have to say the chute surprised me. How many fighter warbird pilots wear chutes?

Every warbird fighter pilot that I know wears one. In my opinion, you'd be stupid not to. No warbird is worth staying with in a bad situation.

I wear one in everything from the Cub to the T-6.

[CH2Tdriver]

I have to say the chute surprised me. How many fighter warbird pilots wear chutes?

Not sure about UK CAA but USA FAA Regs require a pilot to wear a chute for any aerobatic activity that will exceed 60 degrees of bank angle. This requirement is waived for CFI candidates receiving their mandatory spin/recovery training.

Peter

[Django]

Thanks, I had no idea it was required.

[Jim Beasley]

The Balbo always has a mix of planes and invariably you'll have dissimilar aircraft in the formation. I've done it a number of times and it can get interesting up there. As long as everyone is paying attention these aren't problematic formations. I agree with Dudley that if you do that sort of break you've got to know what each other is going to do and have a clear understanding regarding the cadence of the break. When I was leading the horsemen we did that break and I pulled like heck vertical and then to the downwind. I kept thinking "there ain't noone gonna catch me with this amount of g on board." The key as Matt said is to never lose sight of the guy in front of you.
-----
I don't quite understand the dissimilar formation though. Why have a Skyraider flying with Mustangs in the first place? And why not have the other Mustang in #2?

[Dora9a]

Here is a better video with some slow motion of the collision.

Cheers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmsJW0-6 ... r_embedded

[ChrisDNT]

Here is a better video with some slow motion of the collision.

Cheers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmsJW0-6 ... r_embedded

Video is already gone

[bluehawk15]

Another factor may have been if the Mustang had a slight speed change. The Skyraider is kind of massive, and probalby wouldn't be able to slow as quick as the Mustang. I remember being in a similar formation, two Mustangs and a Sea Fury. I was in the backseat of the #2 Mustang, and Sandy Sansing was flying the Sea Fury as #3. We were going to do some formation acro, but Sandy split off and played by himself. After landing I asked why and he said he couldn't get the Sea Fury to slow down as fast as the Mustangs were during some manuvers that cost airspeed.

[redvanner]

Here is a better video with some slow motion of the collision.

Cheers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmsJW0-6 ... r_embedded

Video is already gone

Have a look here:

http://www.flyingfilm.co.uk/

Michael

[Ken]

The Balbo always has a mix of planes and invariably you'll have dissimilar aircraft in the formation. I've done it a number of times and it can get interesting up there. As long as everyone is paying attention these aren't problematic formations. I agree with Dudley that if you do that sort of break you've got to know what each other is going to do and have a clear understanding regarding the cadence of the break ...

I'm not accustomed to seeing Lead break from the center of the formation and cross #2's flight path. Not a judgment, an observation. If that's what they briefed, then okay. Time will tell if everyone was operating on the same page ... it's one thing to make a mistake ... it's another to be put into a situation you weren't expecting and make a mistake. At least the two pilots (and one AD-4) are safe.