The Airshow Starts Today.........

[FL Knifemaker]

We already lost one plane/pilot before it even started I wouldn't fly is some of those experimental planes for a million bucks

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2...s+in+Polk+City

While I love the old planes and seeing them flying over my house ALL DAY LONG............I just hope that none of the crash INTO MY HOUSE I'm waiting for the Stealth Bomber, that's my favorite fly by All the restaurants and roads will be jammed up for the next week

Every year there are fatal crashes, some years there are quite a few. I'm hoping and praying we've had the first and last one for this year.

[The Golden Boy]

I live in the vicinity of Oshkosh.

It's always sad when there's a crash- but inevitably, there's a crash.

[FL Knifemaker]

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

I live in the vicinity of Oshkosh.

It's always sad when there's a crash- but inevitably, there's a crash.

That seems to be the norm. Our show here in Lakeland is supposed to be the second largest in the country after Oshkosh.

[RWP]

I use to hangar with a friend that built his own plane and flew it to Sun n Fun. I was impressed as it was a very small plane with barely enough room for him and a sleeping bag.

Too bad that guy bought the farm but then again he was doing something he loved.

[Geoff St. Germaine]

A friend of mine was at an airshow two years ago where a two plane demonstration team had a head on collision. Both pilots were killed. The team was a father and son who travelled with the wife and daughter as the ground crew I believe. Very tragic.

[bmc]

Originally Posted by Geoff St. Germaine

A friend of mine was at an airshow two years ago where a two plane demonstration team had a head on collision. Both pilots were killed. The team was a father and son who travelled with the wife and daughter as the ground crew I believe. Very tragic.

I think the acccident you refer to was Jimmy Frankin and Bobby Younkin at Moose Jaw. Jimmy's son, Kyle, was there as was Bobby's daughter, Amanda. They witnessed it. Lots of airshow smoke. Some summertime haze and loss of situational awareness. Really, really sad. Two very well known names in the airshow ciruit and two families that have long been in the flying business.

As for flying homebuilt aircraft, most are kit built and have very stringent inspection stages before they're able to fly them. The kitbuilt industry has evolved substantially over the past forty years.

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Originally Posted by bmc

I think the acccident you refer to was Jimmy Frankin and Bobby Younkin at Moose Jaw. Jimmy's son, Kyle, was there as was Bobby's daughter, Amanda. They witnessed it. Lots of airshow smoke. Some summertime haze and loss of situational awareness. Really, really sad. Two very well known names in the airshow ciruit and two families that have long been in the flying business.

As for flying homebuilt aircraft, most are kit built and have very stringent inspection stages before they're able to fly them. The kitbuilt industry has evolved substantially over the past forty years.

Yep, that's the one. I didn't go because I had too much work on my thesis to get done... fortunately.

[FL Knifemaker]

A friend of mine put it in perspective. Based on the number of attendees, it would be like loosing 2-3 drivers and a few fans at each Daytona 500 I'm all for people doing what they love but DAMN the odds aren't good.

A good friend of mine has a hanger at the airport. He keeps his "toys" there. In the next hanger is a really small plane that a friend of his built and flies. It's really cool looking and is powered by a Mazda rotary engine. Each year, it seems like one of the same planes crashes. I would sell the damn thing

[bmc]

It is not unusual for pilots to built and fly airplanes with performance characteristics that are beyond production airplanes. Herein lies the appeal of these aircraft. They can be faster, more economical, fully aerobatic, etc.

In another vein, to achieve certification of an airplane, stringent requirements exist by the FAA and FAR before they're approaved for production. This results in production planes being very expensive. Homebuilts can cost far less.

Back to work. Quit distracting me TB.

[bmc]

Originally Posted by Geoff St. Germaine

Yep, that's the one. I didn't go because I had too much work on my thesis to get done... fortunately.

Airshow accidents are pretty disturbing. When you see them on the news, you are primed before they show it. A lead in story will start with "thousands of airshow spectators were horrified....". When you're at an airshow, it takes you completely by surprise. It's upsetting and stays in your mind.

[Bryan316]

I want one of those ultralight planes. Hanggliders with 2-cycle fans. I'd love to do some really simple, low-altitude, low-speed flight. Just cruise along for the view.



And then drop water balloons and paintballs.

[Gumby4]

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

We already lost one plane/pilot before it even started I wouldn't fly is some of those experimental planes for a million bucks

Unfortunately, air shows create a situation where crashes become the norm. Interestingly, performance incidents are rare. It's the average joe pilot that gets in trouble. Statistics just work against air shows due the volume of air operations that occur. Most of the time, it's the unfamiliarity of the environment combined with congestion that caused crashes.

As for a million bucks to fly experimental aircraft? It really doesn't take that much money, one just needs to get addicted to flying. Of course the addiction will then cost you a million .... or two.

When I was an young pup learning to fly, I would see heavy iron taxi in front of my Piper and all I could think about was flying an airplane like that. Now that I fly heavy iron, I see an experimental airplane taxi by and all I can think about is flying an airplane like that.

[RWP]

Originally Posted by Bryan316

I want one of those ultralight planes. Hanggliders with 2-cycle fans. I'd love to do some really simple, low-altitude, low-speed flight. Just cruise along for the view.



And then drop water balloons and paintballs.

+1 Flying lawn chair! Sure looks like fun to me.

[Lesfunk]

I saw a mid air in person At Oshkosh around 1980. It was one of the most disturbing things I ever saw.
I saw a father/son die the year before in a thorpe t-18 at Oshkosh also. He stalled turning short final and snapped over on its back. Simply Terrible.

But enough of that. It's great to see Aviation enthusiasts and pilots here. I haven't flown since 2004. My family sold our Stearman. I couldn't afford to own it and my Dad was getting to old to climb up into it with his bad back.

I miss that one as well as the Cessna 195 he used to own. We used to get more attention with that than the Stearman.

[Lesfunk]

I wish I could afford a Nice 170 or a PA 12.

[peterbright]

The last one I went was quite some time ago. The fella I went with crashed on take off a couple of years later.

I only rode with him one time (I'm a pilot also). He couldn't run the engine up before take off because his brakes weren't working. When he landed he ran it off the strip into the grass to slow it down. Had all kinds of problems with his gauges...I guess his luck ran out.

[Lesfunk]

Originally Posted by Gumby4

Unfortunately, air shows create a situation where crashes become the norm. Interestingly, performance incidents are rare. It's the average joe pilot that gets in trouble. Statistics just work against air shows due the volume of air operations that occur. Most of the time, it's the unfamiliarity of the environment combined with congestion that caused crashes.

As for a million bucks to fly experimental aircraft? It really doesn't take that much money, one just needs to get addicted to flying. Of course the addiction will then cost you a million .... or two.

When I was an young pup learning to fly, I would see heavy iron taxi in front of my Piper and all I could think about was flying an airplane like that. Now that I fly heavy iron, I see an experimental airplane taxi by and all I can think about is flying an airplane like that.

Those challengers look like fun don't they?

[FL Knifemaker]

Originally Posted by Gumby4

Unfortunately, air shows create a situation where crashes become the norm. Interestingly, performance incidents are rare. It's the average joe pilot that gets in trouble. Statistics just work against air shows due the volume of air operations that occur. Most of the time, it's the unfamiliarity of the environment combined with congestion that caused crashes.

As for a million bucks to fly experimental aircraft? It really doesn't take that much money, one just needs to get addicted to flying. Of course the addiction will then cost you a million .... or two.

When I was an young pup learning to fly, I would see heavy iron taxi in front of my Piper and all I could think about was flying an airplane like that. Now that I fly heavy iron, I see an experimental airplane taxi by and all I can think about is flying an airplane like that.

I've spent a LOT of time flying. What I meant was you COULDN'T pay me a million bucks to go up in one of those experimentals. I cant fit in most of them anyway I would need an ultrlight built for two, one seat for each azz cheek

[Lesfunk]

I know how you feel. I'd love to have a little Luscombe or 120, but I'd have too much trouble pulling the yoke back

[FL Knifemaker]

I would like a DeHaviland Beaver. I'd fly it to the Keys and Bahamas to go fishing