Lost Another P-51

In reply to foxtrapper:

That was cool...thanks!

Differently powered airplanes. Also looked like the Skyraider was the novice formation pilot in the group: notice he did not keep as tight and consistent of formation as the other planes.

Also, I think you guys may be overestimating the visibility from an airplane. During that maneuver, looks like visibility of the P-51 would have been blocked by his cowl.

For bailout, you jettison the canopy and try to dive as far sideways from the airplane as possible. The goal is to try to jump clear of the tail. Flipping inverted and falling out is not a good idea. You can't control your exit and are likely to end up getting hit by the tail.

I can see how the B17 fire was just an unfortunate accident, and I can understand air racing too (not really a much different idea than vintage racing cars), but I dont really get the idea of using airplanes that would be equivalent to concourse cars for something that could best be compared to something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaVRxe0j0b0&feature=related

Travis_K wrote: I can see how the B17 fire was just an unfortunate accident, and I can understand air racing too (not really a much different idea than vintage racing cars), but I dont really get the idea of using airplanes that would be equivalent to concourse cars for something that could best be compared to something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaVRxe0j0b0&feature=related

Bring a kid to an airshow and watch what happens the first time they see a real Warbird fly by, especially a Merlin or Wright-Cyclone powered one. They were not performing heavy aerobatics, they were doing a fly-by and break. A lot like a cruise night with a little tire chirp. It was an unfortunate accident.

on another note.. in rewatching the video. Props (sorry) to the skyraider pilot for actually bringing his bird back to the ground with a large chunk of wing missing

He didn't have much time to pop that chute! The ground was coming up FAST.

Glad I'm inferring that he's OK!

Clem

nope.. couple hundred feet at most

BoostedBrandon wrote: I would imagine it would be WAY intense, probably more than an ejection seat, since you run the risk of clipping the tail wing, whereas the ejection seat you're along for the rife, but what a ride it is!

Ejecting from a jet is quite violent. A pilot faces forces of anywhere from 12-20 g during the initial thrust and can face spinal compression fractures. Even uninjured pilots have been reported to have lost an inch of height thanks to the spinal compression forces!

Back OT, it's sad to see another warbird bite the dust. I'm glad to hear the pilot is OK.

Seeing these pics reminds me of the pic of my grandpa kneeling on the wing of his P-51 he flew in the European campaign. Wish I still had that pic. But I know where I can get it. I'll post it here when I do.

nice pic of your Grandfather

Travis_K wrote: ...but I dont really get the idea of using airplanes that would be equivalent to concourse cars for something that could best be compared to something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaVRxe0j0b0&feature=related

Because they can. The only reason I don't race my P-51 is because my wallet won't let me have one. So I'm stuck on the ground driving an old Triumph like a nut.

If any of us had the money for it, we'd be happily racing our Mustangs around pylons and the like. And occassionally banging them up and crashing them. Just like we do with our cars.

Great shot! Since that plane has drop-tanks, I'd guess it was a bomber escort flying out of England to Germany.

By the way, I Googled "California Coaster" and the British littlefriends website (with lots of P51 info) showed a good photo of the pilot. That might be your grandfather.

I looked, and he is there. Capt. Laurel H. Phipps, 384th FS, 8th Div. That's him! I remember the picture on his patch as a Hitler looking demon getting zapped by lightning.

That's very, very cool!

My secretary's father is ~Charley Fox~, the famous Canadian fighter ace who took Rommel out of the war.

And we have an Uncle Sid who is Maj. Sydney Newcomb, a well-known P51 squadron leader in India during WW II. We actually have a patriotic comic book that was written back then about his adventures (called "Sid's Kids").

This is an interview with the P-51 pilot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLQsJS7zQOM&feature=youtu.be

foxtrapper wrote: Because they can. The only reason I don't race my P-51 is because my wallet won't let me have one. So I'm stuck on the ground driving an old Triumph like a nut.

Yep. Not too many people more willing to completely write off an expensive piece of equipment than pilots. Maybe F1 drivers.