Reno 2011

[Bird]

Re: Reno 2011

I believe that the minute the plane started to go south (so to speak) when the parts broke--the pilot was doing everything possible to get it back.
But with the "G" forces-no one can say for sure what is happening or what is possible--it could be like a train wreck--you see it coming but there is nothing you can do.

[jim cooper]

Re: Reno 2011

According to the pilot of "Voodoo" the failure of the trim tab, and the abrupt climb of his P-51 was so violent, he was pushed down in the bottom of the cockpit, to the floor, and did not regain his senses until he had climbed to 9,000 feet. Its perfectly possible that during this current accident, the 74 year old pilot had no control whatsoever and was out cold during the entire process. The Voodoo pilot experienced 10 to 11 G's! At 400 or more miles an hour, the trim tab becomes a BIG DEAL, and the pilot probably can't react with any reasonable input other than to kill the throttle....if he could reach it which in this current case he probably could not even if he were mentally capable. JC

[lfries]

Re: Reno 2011

Just rreceived this link from a friend. It is about 10 min long. toward the end there is some blank space but more pictures after.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoncG...ayer_embedded#!
>
>This is a great video of the Galloping Ghost and her competitors
>while starting engines on the apron, the takeoff and last ever race for her.
>
>Watch closely and you'll see the start of the disaster at 7:38 where
>she bobbles oddly and starts to pitch upwards. The tail wheel drops
>out at this point.
>
>The 8:50 time stamp of the trim tab separation is during an imbedded
>slow-motion replay.
>The actual real-time separation of the trim tab is closer to 7:42

[lfries]

Re: Reno 2011

If you had tickets for Saturday and Sunday here is a refund link. http://www.airrace.org/refund/index.php
If you plan on attending next year you don't need to do anything.