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Latest info on the crash

I am also tired of hearing about his age also,which had nothing to do with it ,but also hearing that he was a hero,the experts say he was out like a light and was just along for the ride,which could be seen in close ups of the plane coming down .There was no head visable in the cockpit.
Same here, I wonder how many of these experts could handel a P-51 mustang with clipped wings and 3000HP, at 500+ MPH at that age? or any age for that matter. No one would able to sustain that much G force.
 
On this age thing...which was NOT a factor in this crash in any way that I can see....was discussing this crash with my father-in-law, Grif. Grif is a great guy, highly opinionated...but then, aren't we all. Grif, who is closing in on 70, felt that a guy who was 74 years old did not have any reason to be flying that racing plane...or any airplane for that matter. He said that at that age, there was too high of a chance for the pilot to have a heart attack or stroke, even after passing the stringent FAA and Air Racing health screenings. He stated that people should lose their pilot licenses when they turn 60....be it private, commercial...hit 60 and you are grounded.

I countered this with the question, "What about 74 year old people driving cars since there are a lot more old people driving cars than flying airplanes. Shouldn't people lose their driver's license when they hit 60 as the odds of a 60 or 70 or 80 year old person wrecking a car and killing some one is far greater than for a 60 or 70 or 80 year old pilot crashing a plane and killing people." He said no, that driving a car was not as stressful as flying an airplane and the odds of an older driver having a heart attack or stroke while driving is not as great as if they were flying a plane.

Yet, there are more old folks causing accidents in cars than there are old people having accidents in airplanes. That's a fact. And there are more people killed in accidents caused by older drivers than people killed in accidents caused by older pilots. That's a fact.

Now, I'm not saying that people should automatically lose the DLs when they hit 60....just as I would never say that pilots should be grounded when they hit 60. I would rather fly with a 60 year old pilot who has 40 years of flying experience than a 20 year old pilot with 6 months flying experience.

OBIO
 
I believe this was simply a 'racing' accident, an unfortunate coming together of factors and nothing to do with the age of the pilot.
And IMHO the NTSB report will reveal all, so I'd be inclined to wait for their deliberations and cease speculating on the 'ifs, buts and maybes' ad nauseum.
:kilroy:
 
Obio,

There are more people killed in, and by, cars whose drivers are under 25 years of age than there are
by drivers over 70. Fact.

The entire age issue is moot in the context of this accident, IMO.

Paul
 
It seems now the Pilot was a hero, managed to turn the aircraft so the blast pattern was away from the majority of the people..
Several accounts I have seen lately from people (who were there) credit this Brave man for doing this..
It is a Great loss to so many, that this accident happened..
And I grieve for the folks who were affected by what happened..
For all of those who lost family, or were hurt.My heart is saddened..
 
Well after pondering this tragic accident, Im thinking there going to have to slow down the unlimiteds somehow. My thoughts would be to ban the use of exotic additives and or ultra high octaine blended race fuel, and use only 100LL or something similar.
 
It seems now the Pilot was a hero, managed to turn the aircraft so the blast pattern was away from the majority of the people..
Several accounts I have seen lately from people (who were there) credit this Brave man for doing this..
It is a Great loss to so many, that this accident happened..
And I grieve for the folks who were affected by what happened..
For all of those who lost family, or were hurt.My heart is saddened..

I hate to burst the bubble but he did not turn that 51 in any direction. 3rd Air Force friend says he was not able to do anything after pulling 22Gs, even if they were 22Gs for a split second. That is 3 Air Force people, active and retired, that say this.

God is the only one that turned that aircraft and saved many lives.
 
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