MaggieD
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2010
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A pilot was killed when his plane crashed during an air show at a California Air Force base Sunday.Eddie Andreini, 77, an air show veteran, was killed in the crash, Col. David Mott of Travis Air Force Base said at a Sunday afternoon press conference.
"No one wants to see an event like this," Mott said. "Our hearts and condolences go out to the Andreini family."
Andreini was attempting a "cutting the ribbon" maneuver when the biplane crashed upside-down on the tarmac shortly after 2 p.m., Mott said. The trick involves the plane inverting and flying close to the ground so that a knife attached to the plane can slice a ribbon just off the ground...
As it happened, only the pilot was killed. This could have been a major disaster.
A 77-year-old has no business flying upside down 8 feet from the ground on purpose. Stunt flying is for young pilots.
I don't think the age is an issue, unless his facilities were failing.
I saw a video on this on the internet news.... what a shame. But at least he went out doing something he truly enjoyed.
He loved crashing?
:roll: Really?
It's too damn early on a Monday for that.
As it happened, only the pilot was killed. This could have been a major disaster.
A 77-year-old has no business flying upside down 8 feet from the ground on purpose. Stunt flying is for young pilots.
As someone who's flown a little recreational aerobatics I have to disagree Maggie. Civil aircraft in the aerobatic category are limited to 6 positive g and 3 negative and most airshow maneuvers don't approach those limits - they're more in the 4 g range. A healthy 77 years can comfortably handle that level of g and, assuming his hand-eye coordination is still there can fly to pretty tight tolerances. Inverted flight is a 1g maneuver btw - the biggest problem with it, if you're a bigger person, like me, is that you tend to smack your head, painfully, on the canopy once upside down.
There are plenty of older folks on the airshow circuit who do that kind of thing regularly. It's certainly more dangerous than flying from point A to point B but that's the nature of the beast age has little to do with it.
Tighten your shoulder harness some more. :mrgreen: Glue a piece of foam to the canopy.As someone who's flown a little recreational aerobatics I have to disagree Maggie. Civil aircraft in the aerobatic category are limited to 6 positive g and 3 negative and most airshow maneuvers don't approach those limits - they're more in the 4 g range. A healthy 77 years can comfortably handle that level of g and, assuming his hand-eye coordination is still there can fly to pretty tight tolerances. Inverted flight is a 1g maneuver btw - the biggest problem with it, if you're a bigger person, like me, is that you tend to smack your head, painfully, on the canopy once upside down.
There are plenty of older folks on the airshow circuit who do that kind of thing regularly. It's certainly more dangerous than flying from point A to point B but that's the nature of the beast age has little to do with it.
As it happened, only the pilot was killed. This could have been a major disaster.
A 77-year-old has no business flying upside down 8 feet from the ground on purpose. Stunt flying is for young pilots.
If it was a mechanical failure, a young pilot would have crashed, too.
By the time most people are 77 years old, they're taking various medications, their reflexes have slowed dramatically, their eyesight and depth perception has changed. One has to wonder what kind of annual review is being done to assure that these people are safe -- not only for themselves, but for the observers. Many 77-year-olds I've known shouldn't even be driving.
Tighten your shoulder harness some more. :mrgreen: Glue a piece of foam to the canopy.
Nah, he's have gotten out and fixed it. :lol:
There is smoke coming from the plane before it crashes:
Probably a better pilot than most 27 year olds, but it is inherently dangerous. Plays the game, takes the chances.As it happened, only the pilot was killed. This could have been a major disaster.
A 77-year-old has no business flying upside down 8 feet from the ground on purpose. Stunt flying is for young pilots.
:roll: Really?
It's too damn early on a Monday for that.
I know it came off as rather callous, and I guess it was. I just get tired of the "died doing what they love" phrase when a thrill seeker ends up killing themselves.
Put his air-brakes on?
There is smoke coming from the plane before it crashes:
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