Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we shouldn't have small plane 'airshows'

182 replies

JeffsanArsehole · 22/08/2015 17:55

It seems every year in a small plane at an airshow there's some terrible and tragic accident. 7 people dead so far today. Sad

It's not the same as large commercial craft where out of the thousands of planes every year one or two crashes.

I don't remember a year where one hasn't crashed.

OP posts:
StephanieBeacham · 25/08/2015 18:40

Blueshoes thanks for the acknowledgment and I don't mean to take sides, hope that is clear.

There is discussion about whether he entered the manoeuvre at a high enough alt or indeed speed, hard to tell from footage, it will be looked at.

I really doubt it was about showing off. Too old and experienced for that.

He was probably pulling back from somewhere well above the bit where he levelled out - it takes time when you are fighting against an intransigent jet, to make it do anything - thus the tiny margins for error.

He got it levelled but it was stalled and pancaked..just too late to save.

We don't know why, I'm sure the aaib will know in due course

Hero? I don't know. Again we will find out once the report is published.

StephanieBeacham · 25/08/2015 18:41

Yes accidents have a habit of negating even the best laid plans. Plans need to be revised though for sure.

Sorry for cross posting.

Aked · 25/08/2015 18:58

link here Stephanie.

I think we just have a difference in opinion blue.

StephanieBeacham · 25/08/2015 19:03

Many thanks Aked.

magimedi · 25/08/2015 19:15

It has been suggested that the actual aircraft suffered problems & that is why the CAA have stopped all Hunters flying.

It is possible (& unreported, thank God) that the pilot has been able to relay that information, despite his injuries.

Everything is just speculation at the moment.

PS He wasn't performing a 'loop the loop' he was doing what is known as 'a clover'.

TalkinPeace · 25/08/2015 19:16

Everything is just speculation at the moment.

So stop repeating it

magimedi · 25/08/2015 19:25

I am not repeating it - I am just offering a bit of level headed advice amidst the wild speculation that is going on here & on other forums.

PlayingSolitaire · 25/08/2015 19:40

Regarding the new rule about no aerobatics by vintage aeroplanes, this seems a strange choice. Personally, I would rather chance an old spitfire, which was built to roll, twist and turn, performing aerobatics over my head than a enormous Airbus A380 which wasn't built to do this and frankly could cause a whole lot more damage.

BishopBrennansArse · 25/08/2015 20:21

At least nobody that disagreed with blue's opinions are vouching their views in such an offensive way.

StephanieBeacham · 25/08/2015 20:25

Sorry, Talkinpeace. Not intending to speculate but there is a lot of misinformation here and I'm trying to give some basic info regarding the bones of it. People can't form their own perspective without a few basics.

I hope I haven't overstepped the mark too badly.

StephanieBeacham · 25/08/2015 20:29

WRT an issue with the Hunter itself, it's usual to ground an a/c type until prelim investigation has ruled out any obvious major fault with it, probably within a few weeks. Other than that - was the aircraft to blame? maybe, maybe not. There are not a huge number of Hunters around so it's unlikely to be a massive problem if they're not permitted to fly for a short while.

blueshoes · 25/08/2015 21:00

The Shoreham pilot had to make a tough decision because he left himself no room for error.

StephanieBeacham · 25/08/2015 21:12

Perhaps circumstances left him no room. I think you're being overly condemnatory, without knowing exactly what took place.

It is natural to want to blame someone, but it may be prudent to wait until more facts are known.

williaminajetfighter · 25/08/2015 21:14

Yanbu. Air shows serve no purpose except to provide escapist entertainment for people to ooo and ah watching planes behave in ways they weren't really intended to fly. Air shows might allow people to appreciate the majestic beauty of a plane but ultimately it's the spectacle that is the entertainment.

How is risky flight entertaining? I wish they would be shut down altogether.

I'm pretty sure if I kept staging fashion shows where accidents - like a fire - kept occurring they would be shut down pronto. Why not these air shows??!

blueshoes · 25/08/2015 21:15

Stephanie, you don't think pilot error could be a factor?

TalkinPeace · 25/08/2015 21:21

william
I'm pretty sure if I kept staging fashion shows where accidents - like a fire - kept occurring they would be shut down pronto. Why not these air shows??!
Because this is the first time a non pilot has died at a UK airshow in 50 years

What else should they ban due to accidents and injuries to participants?

I can still feel that awful hollow feeling when I saw the 2007 crash : it affected everybody present.
A friend of mine was at the show on Saturday. It wil affect his wold view for ever.

aerobatics are part of pilot training : if we want competent pilots we need aerobatics
and if they are going to do spectacular stuff, those who want to should be free to watch

BishopBrennansArse · 25/08/2015 21:23

A car crashed into a building today killing at least two people in a fireball.

Ban cars.

SaucyJack · 25/08/2015 21:27

Why are you being so horrible BishopBrennan?

BishopBrennansArse · 25/08/2015 21:34

Right. Blaming a guy in an induced coma with horrific injuries before the facts are known is so pleasant.

Facts aren't known. Safety measures have been brought in which is fair. Calling for an outright ban is about as sane as my last post.

SaucyJack · 25/08/2015 21:39

It's quite possibly to not blame the pilot directly- but also acknowledge that Shoreham has been proven to be an unsafe venue for these sort of aerial displays.

It may never happen again. But very few of the people that live here want to take the risk in future.

Do it over the sea or in remote countryside in future.

SaucyJack · 25/08/2015 21:39

In future in future.

TalkinPeace · 25/08/2015 21:42

saucyjack
It's quite possibly to not blame the pilot directly- but also acknowledge that Shoreham has been proven to be an unsafe venue for these sort of aerial displays.

I hope for your sake that nobody from the Pilot's family
or from the organisers of the show
is having to read your posts as they are grossly insensitive, verging on offensive.

Stop speculating based on the poisonous filth that the Daily Fail has been printing and wait till the Accident report comes out.

SaucyJack · 25/08/2015 21:44

?? Did you have that little speech ready and just picked the next available poster?

I haven't said anything remotely offensive regarding the pilot.

BishopBrennansArse · 25/08/2015 22:09

It's not just the Fail. The good ol' Currant Bun has been at it too as have local news broadcaster Meridian Tonight.

MrsLupo · 25/08/2015 23:11

aerobatics are part of pilot training : if we want competent pilots we need aerobatics and if they are going to do spectacular stuff, those who want to should be free to watch

The pilots who typically do airshows seem more to me to be at the end of their careers than the beginning - or at least their vast experience seems to keep being touted as a source of reassurance. So is this relevant? Aren't the pilots in training doing it well away from the public anyway? Genuine question.