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It looks like a terrible accident. The bottom of the smaller plane was above the B-17 so it's entirely possible the pilot couldn't see the bomber...in a blind spot. It's also possible the smaller plane's pilot misjudged his turn radius.
It looks like a terrible accident. The bottom of the smaller plane was above the B-17 so it's entirely possible the pilot couldn't see the bomber...in a blind spot. It's also possible the smaller plane's pilot misjudged his turn radius.
From the limited video so far, the P-39 is at fault. Really sad. Every time one of these incidents happens I wonder if the FAA will make the requirements far more strict, eliminate formation flying, acrobatics if more than one plane is in the air, etc.
Looks like the P63 was making a simulated attack run on the B17. Got way to close and this terrible accident occurred. Perhaps there should a review and possible new rules about how these air shows are conducted. Condolences to the families of those who perished.
Officials have not confirmed the number of fatalities but said the B-17 had a crew of four or five people, while the Kingcobra was flown by a single pilot. No paying customers were on board.
So very sad and gut wrenching. Several videos from different angles.
agreed, and angering. These 're-enactors' around the country have a worse record than every single 3rd world airline in the world. If I were the FAA I would put on some strong clamps on these vintage aircraft and how are they rated in type? since there is no more type, I dont see IP's - making this all 100% experimental...they were what, 30 minutes away to be full of PAX?
for example, that B17 would have been group B, >2 engines, tailwheel. Is there ANYTHING like it on the planet and even if there is, does it fly like a 17? Each one of these aircraft were built and flown when they were essentially inventing the game and the handling characteristics were not a +1 on some other aircraft.
Granted, the 17 pilots had no choice, I have seen enuf ww2 film that these kind oif mishaps was 100% fatal and even if they were up high, when mortally wounded the spin characteristic rarely allowed ANYONE to get out, other than the waist gunner that fell out. but the 63? what was on his mind? either he went brain dead or some part of the 63's handling did not go his way as he shallow dove on the 17
and the P63 pilot had to be greener that green FOR AN ATTACK RUN. Im sure he had many hours of single engine hi po tail draggin aircraft In the war, most of the attacking fast aircraft like the me-109 would be in the 250-300kt range and the german pilots practiced the approach and overshoot to avoid exactly what happened - the B17 was so damn lumbering slow a crippled one even slower. In this instance, the 17 was likely flying well under formation speed and for the show the 63 well over a strafing run. in real life the pilots walked the guns into the fuselage from an above (preferred for air speed) or side so the tail and waist gunners were least effective when they encounter a straggler. they had to pump lead and then overshoot the aircraft and turn to give no more than 1 defensive gun at a time to return fire. When B17s came apart, historically they shed *a lot * of parts to the rear so you never select a run from the front that puts you behind and below the aircraft (aside from the B24 which more often that not just simply blew up in all directions)
point being, no foe in ww2 fielded an aircraft like the 17 so the tactic was never practiced by us pilots. the germans however, spent all day practicing attacks from 12 oclock from the front at a closing speed of 500 miles an hour and in the event of stragglers or even the full box, like that pilot did to hit the top of the wing and take out the engine lube tanks. engines seizing up over germany is just as good as a knockdown
This pilot had no idea what it was like to attack something much slower - indeed if you read the comments on any video more than one person remarked the 63 pilot could not have been more on target if he did this on purpose. since no one on the planet alive has this training, and no one on the planet alive can give this training, it has to be banned outright forever. Or else more relics are going in.
and its not like we have a ton of these lying around
And the kids were saying, "Was that supposed to happen? Was that supposed to happen?"
Heartbreaking.
That was almost as hard as watching the actual crash.
I'm a fan of air shows, but I'd rather just have the B-17 fly along and take off and land, so we can admire that beautiful plane in all its glory. Simulated combat just might not be such a good idea in these cases.
That was almost as hard as watching the actual crash.
I'm a fan of air shows, but I'd rather just have the B-17 fly along and take off and land, so we can admire that beautiful plane in all its glory. Simulated combat just might not be such a good idea in these cases.
I am not a fan of formation flying unless it's straight and level. Too many things can go wrong, and too many pilots have egos the size of a city that make them believe they can never do anything wrong. And, many warbird pilots are old, with slower reactions, worse vision, etc. Plus, these warbirds are full of gasoline, which makes any explosion far worse.
I'm OK with high performance fighters flying single aircraft displays, but I would not like to see multi-plane displays except for active military.
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