Hawker Hunter crash at Airshow.

If a piece fell off an aircraft, due to solely to its age, and not sloppy servicing say, their might be a valid argument. If a crash is due to pilot error, you can't blame the plane, whatever its age. Lets demolish all housing over fifty years old. They are not built to the latest eco-standard, there might be a grain of asbestos in it somewhere perhaps. They didn't know what they were doing fifty years ago, didn't have computers back then see, a proper house should have breeze block interior walls and lots of those foam sheets. That's what I reckon...

SimonGee;163552 wrote:

Obviously this is a tragedy form everyone involved, but playing devil's advocate, one can pose the question that although it is MUCH better to see vintage / classic aircraft in their natural environment, when most of said aircraft is fifty plus years old, should not any flying display be more 'sedate' for want of a better expression. It has to be remembered that most of said aircraft is getting old and should be flown with a bit more consideration for it's age. Rather similar to not expecting one's a ageing parent / grandparent to do a gymnastics routine.

With respect to your comments many of these aircraft are not quite as old as their history may suggest. They've been overhauled so many times over the years i expect few original parts remain and because the standards required by the CAA are so high these machines are often better than they left the factory. Remaining bits that are original especially parts essential to the safety and integrity of the airframe must still be as good as new and will be tested as such.
I work as a mechanic/engineer and have restored classic cars. I own a 1967 Triumph 2000 and because it's well maintained it's no less reliable now than it was in 1967 so in effect it's as new. From what i see coming through the garage i work in i'd be more inclined to want AA cover owning a modern car than an old one!
Rapidly getting back to aircraft, what i'm trying to say is age isn't really an issue here and it often clouds peoples judgement. In the 1950s there was that awful crash at Farnborough where the aircraft broke up mid air and the engines went into the crowd. That D/H 110 was brand new back then so basically it can happen to anything mechanical old or new. As for expecting old people to do gymnastics i'm afraid people are not like machines. People unfortunately deteriorate with age whatever you do to look after them. Machines on the other hand may look old in terms of technology or fashion but can be still as good as they day they were made and will outlive people many times over...
Anyway sadly I was at Shoreham on Saturday and still coming to terms with what i saw. In my opinion there was something wrong with that Hunter because the engine seemed just too quiet especially as it went into the loop. Lets see what comes out once everything has been examinined and my thoughts go out to all those affected directly by this.

As one of those who very narrowly escaped death in the terrible accident at Farnborough in the 1950s I agree with the thought that that aircraft then, the DH/110, was brand new!! Accidents happen, and in this instance the outcome is tragic for those involved, but media hysteria is to my mind pointless, and actually shows a lack of respect for those who have died. The media should wait until we have more idea of what exactly went wrong before they become judgemental.

I'm sure I saw a Vixen overfly Shoreham that afternoon. Unannounced. I rather thought it would have been a fitting tribute to continue the display in the Neville Duke manner. There was a cheer when the Vulcan flew past though.

Ossington_2008;163565 wrote:

I'm sure I saw a Vixen overfly Shoreham that afternoon. Unannounced. I rather thought it would have been a fitting tribute to continue the display in the Neville Duke manner. There was a cheer when the Vulcan flew past though.

There was a Sea Vixen, FAW2 scheduled to fly at Shoreham.

The media have (as usual) really made a meal of a tragedy, which is a sad reflection of the society in which we live where people seem to enjoy reading about tragedy and misfortune.

And so much sloppy reporting too. Since when has a T7 been a single seat jet?

Just been catching up with the various reports, eye-witness accounts etc. surrounding this terrible and tragic incident.

How the pilot stayed alive I'll never know but he is, not surprisingly, seriously injured.

I'm due to take my four-year-old daughter to the Cold War Jets day next Sunday for her first taste of a display but my girlfriend is now convinced we'll both be incinerated the minute we step out of the car.

MethodMan;163570 wrote:

Just been catching up with the various reports, eye-witness accounts etc. surrounding this terrible and tragic incident.

How the pilot stayed alive I'll never know but he is, not surprisingly, seriously injured.
I'm due to take my four-year-old daughter to the Cold War Jets day next Sunday for her first taste of a display but my girlfriend is now convinced we'll both be incinerated the minute we step out of the car.

Take your daughter Method Man, she will love it, my father still took me to Farnborough despite us being as close to that accident as it was possible to be without being killed, and more recently my son has taken me to a Cold War Jets Day, I wouldn't have missed the excitement for the world. Life is for living and an accident can happen anywhere at any time, your girlfriend's concerns for her daughter's safety are understandable, but you have to bring them up to be brave as my father did with me, he told me after Farnborough that he knew, as the engine came towards us, that there was nothing that he could do to save me, but it didn't stop him taking me again and I bless him for that, he knew how to bring up his daughter and I am sure that you will be the same. Good luck and enjoy the Cold War Jets, I wish I could be there.

Pauline.

MethodMan;163570 wrote:

Just been catching up with the various reports, eye-witness accounts etc. surrounding this terrible and tragic incident.

How the pilot stayed alive I'll never know but he is, not surprisingly, seriously injured.

I'm due to take my four-year-old daughter to the Cold War Jets day next Sunday for her first taste of a display but my girlfriend is now convinced we'll both be incinerated the minute we step out of the car.

You might be if you stand behind the Victor

Yes this aircraft may have been built in 1955, but I doubt if it had more than 10,000 hours on the clock.

As has been said its tragic for those whove lost loved ones, but when was the last time a spectator was killed at an airshow in this country?

The CAA has spoken:

www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=14&...mode=detail&nid=2479