War Birds: Wings Over Dallas - A B17 and a P63 collided at an air show yesterday. Both planes were destroyed, and all those on board were killed. This is why I don't like to see those...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Wings Over Dallas - A B17 and a P63 collided at an air show yesterday. Both planes were destroyed, and all those on board were killed. This is why I don't like to see those old planes flying.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

And the reason this Air Force vet refuses to go to an air show. Love aircraft, but accidents are too frequent.

mudduck

I love watching them but I kinda agree too. years ago I was at an air show at Mitchum Field in Fort Worth and a A 26 attack bomber had a landing gear collapse on landing, luckily no one was hurt but the plane sat stored at the field for years. Oddly enough I saw a documentary on its restoration on one of the science channels 5 or 6 years ago.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Ava'sPapa wrote:

And the reason this Air Force vet refuses to go to an air show. Love aircraft, but accidents are too frequent.

Yes! As much as I like planes and War Birds, I never watch online air shows. A couple of weeks ago there was a fatal crash during a race. Now there are two fewer WW II planes for people to admire. They did their job. Let them rest and be admired.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

jerryc41 wrote:

Wings Over Dallas - A B17 and a P63 collided at an air show yesterday. Both planes were destroyed, and all those on board were killed. This is why I don't like to see those old planes flying.

But it wasn't the airworthiness of the planes, it was most likely pilot error. I'm on the fence with this issue. It's okay to see a non-flying antique plane in a museum but there's something far more real and compelling about smelling the oil, hearing the engines roar and seeing a low pass 50 or 60 feet above the ground.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

fourlocks wrote:

But it wasn't the airworthiness of the planes, it was most likely pilot error. I'm on the fence with this issue. It's okay to see a non-flying antique plane in a museum but there's something far more real and compelling about smelling the oil, hearing the engines roar and seeing a low pass 50 or 60 feet above the ground.

Right - pilot error. The P63 flew into the B17.

Jack47 Loc: Ontario

jerryc41 wrote:

Wings Over Dallas - A B17 and a P63 collided at an air show yesterday. Both planes were destroyed, and all those on board were killed. This is why I don't like to see those old planes flying.

All for the entertainment of the public.

mudduck

Another fact about the A 63, it was odd for fighters of the time. Like its predecessor the P39, the engine was situated behind the pilot and drove the prop with a 10 foot drive shaft. The pilot entered and exited through a door on the pilots left side. Main armament was a cannon shooting through the prop hub. Like the underpowered P39 it didnt handle very well and most were shipped to Russia and used in a ground attack role. Don't know if the ill handling trait contributed to the crash but I'm sure they'll take that into account, as far as I can see it was pilot error.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

I believe this is the B-17 involved in the tragic air accident, Texas Raiders. Took these on 11/04/2016 at the World War II Air Expo in New Orleans.

Don

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flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

I love seeing them fly and I hope they keep them flying. It's an important part of history I belive people should be able to see. Not just in a static display.

fantom Loc: Colorado

jerryc41 wrote:

Yes! As much as I like planes and War Birds, I never watch online air shows. A couple of weeks ago there was a fatal crash during a race. Now there are two fewer WW II planes for people to admire. They did their job. Let them rest and be admired.

I've been lucky enough to have traveled and seen much of the world. I've seen countless incredible sights but one of the greatest things I ever saw and did was here in the states when I flew on a B-17. I will never forget it and about once a year I go back and review the pix I took. It was a fabulous experience.

If you haven't ever visited the aircraft museum in Elmira, NY I strongly urge you to do so.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

PAR4DCR wrote:

I believe this is the B-17 involved in the tragic air accident, Texas Raiders. Took these on 11/04/2016 at the World War II Air Expo in New Orleans.

Don

Yes, that's the one. All that remains now are pictures and memories. A discussion about this online mentioned another B-17 that crashed a couple of years ago.

It seems that there is enough blame to go around for the crash, starting with the planning. This guy is very good - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C342dfNPCyg

billgran

fantom wrote:

I've been lucky enough to have traveled and seen much of the world. I've seen countless incredible sights but one of the greatest things I ever saw and did was here in the states when I flew on a B-17. I will never forget it and about once a year I go back and review the pix I took. It was a fabulous experience.

If you haven't ever visited the aircraft museum in Elmira, NY I strongly urge you to do so.

I also had the opportunity to ride in a B-17 some years back. The sounds, the smells, the vibrations, and the excitement was unparalleled. It also made me appreciate the sparseness, the limited space, the noise, and the lack of heat that the flight crews had to endure on those long missions over enemy territory.

fantom Loc: Colorado

billgran wrote:

I also had the opportunity to ride in a B-17 some years back. The sounds, the smells, the vibrations, and the excitement was unparalleled. It also made me appreciate the sparseness, the limited space, the noise, and the lack of heat that the flight crews had to endure on those long missions over enemy territory.

So true, an incredible experience, but even more so when you consider the guys who flew and fought on those planes. They cannot be admired more, truly phenomenal people.