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"Mass casualty situation" at air race crash in Reno

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by CarltonBanks, Sep 16, 2011.

  1. CarltonBanks

    CarltonBanks New Member

    P-51 crashed right into the front of the box seats. I have seen the number of dead at 12 so far, but that is not confirmed. There are videos out there but they aren't very good.

    http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9PPUI001&show_article=1
     
  2. TheSportsPredictor

    TheSportsPredictor Well-Known Member

    Condolences pouring on on the pilot's FB page. Unsurprisingly, the first one I saw said, "You were doing what you so dearly loved."

    http://www.facebook.com/JimmyLeeward
     
  3. TigerVols

    TigerVols Well-Known Member

    The pilot's aircraft is the second one in this picture:

    http://www.airrace.org/at_the_races/index.php
     
  4. Gutter

    Gutter Well-Known Member

    I feel sick. Thankfully my friends/co-workers out there are OK.

    Back story on the aircraft ... this published a few months ago: http://www.sportaviationonline.org/sportaviation/201105?pg=38#pg36
     
  5. CarltonBanks

    CarltonBanks New Member

    Just saw that the pilot was 80 years old. Should an 80-year-old really be flying an airplane going 600 mph over a crowd?
     
  6. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Tough question. He was a very experienced aviator. If there was a mechanical failure, it may not have mattered if the pilot was 25 or 80.
     
  7. CarltonBanks

    CarltonBanks New Member

    Just actually read he was 74. Still up there for this kind of thing.
     
  8. Gutter

    Gutter Well-Known Member

    One of the best pilots in the world and his medicals are all in line.
    Age had nothing to do with this.

    Witnesses are saying he likely saved hundreds of lives by somehow maneuvering the P-51 back toward the tarmac and away from the grandstand.
     
  9. Killick

    Killick Well-Known Member

    ... so I should forgo the joke about his turn signal being on for the last three laps?
     
  10. imjustagirl

    imjustagirl Active Member

    Considering the possible number of dead? Yes.
     
  11. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    Sully was 58 when he landed the plane in the Hudson. I'd think his age and experience were quite helpful there.

    Unless the pilot didn't have his faculties, there's no real reason to blame his age.
     
  12. Raiders

    Raiders Guest

    Let's just jump straight to the rash conclusions, shall we?
     
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