jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

This has bothered me for a long time. Not only pilots, but also spectators, are killed in airshow crashes. I could never understand why pilots feel compelled to fly old fighter planes or other very old planes just to show people that they can fly. If a 737 crashes, that's horrible, but there are lots of other 737s around the world. If a Mustang P-51 crashes, that plane is gone forever. All sorts of rare, impressive planes have been destroyed in crashes during airshows.

What prompted this was a report on another fatal crash a few days. ago. A 22-year-old(?) woman was flying a Grumman AT-6, and it crashed. Both she, her passenger, and the plane are gone forever.

Another video explained the crash of an old fighter from the Spanish air force. It was "original not restored." I wasn't able to find that one again.

A third example is different. A 1939 JU-52 tourist plane crashed in Switzerland. It turned out that the pilots for the company were daredevils, and they didn't follow company policy. The fleet of JU-52s was poorly maintained, and examination after the crash showed that the airframe was deteriorating. The company made lots of mistakes, and a crash was inevitable.

Here's a comment that many of you won't like, but I've heard it in several crash investigations. Military pilots sometimes take unnecessary chances when flying commercial airliners. In the military, the goal is to get the job done, but that doesn't apply to commercial aviation. They will do whatever it takes to complete the mission, which is great in time of war. In commercial service, pushing through in bad weather or continuing on with a damaged plane isn't necessary. In the JU-52 example above, both pilots were ex-military, and they relied more on their military training than flying safely. They got themselves into a box canyon at a low altitude, something they had done many times before, but this time, updrafts and downdrafts put them into a stall.

Rather funny - The narration in the JU-52 crash was done by a computer, and when it came to "JU-52," owned by JU-Air, it pronounced those words phonetically. We would say "J" "U," but the computer saw it as a word. It sounded all right, sort of, but it was funny seeing how the CC put it onto the screen.

Airshow crashes in this century - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_air_show_accidents_and_incidents_in_the_21st_century

BebuLamar

"Not only pilots, but also spectators, are killed in airshow crashes. I could never understand why pilots feel compelled to fly old fighter planes or other very old planes just to show people that they can fly."

What compelled the pilots is the spectators.

Plieku69 Loc: The Gopher State, south end

Yesterday I read an opinion piece from a Seattle news site spewing condemnation on air show for the amount of air pollution they cause. The writer wants them banned to protect the planet.
This weekend is Seattle Harbor days and the Blue Angeles will be performing.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Absolutely true! People just love airshows, as indicated by the large numbers of attendees at the shows all around the country.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I love airshows, Jerry. They are no more dangerous than auto races, football games, or any other form of entertainment we all enjoy. I think it's great to have the opportunity to see historic airplanes in the air.

marine73 Loc: Modesto California

It's not to show people that they can fly but to show the aircraft and what it is capable of, especially the warbirds. A lot of people have never heard the sound of a radial engine at full throttle or seen a warbird except in photos. Crashes can happen at anytime and can be caused by any number of things including pilot incapatation.

Aircraft in civilian use goes through an annual inspection, this is a complete open up of all areas of the airframe and flight deck/cockpit, all cables are checked for corrosion, fraying, proper tension etc., the flight controls are checked for any damage, the airframe itself is inspected for damage, corrosion etc., the eng is inspected for worn, torn, damaged tubing/hoses etc. These inspections are not cheap as it requires the use of license techs and inspectors. Before the aircraft is returned to service all repairs have be completed and sighed off by an inspector.

Commercial aviation goes through what is called phase inspection to complete an Annual inspection. There are usually four phases where only a portion of the aircraft is looked at in detail. By the time phase four has been completed it's time to start over with phase 1. Every 4 to 6 years the aircraft goes into heavy maintenance where the aircraft is gutted and everything is completely inspected and any mods the company wants to incorporate such as a new interior configuration, updated Lavs, etc. The military also uses the phase inspection program.

BebuLamar

In my opinion these old aircrafts are air worthy and crashes rarely because something wrong with the aircrafts (of course new or old there always chances that the aircraft malfunction) not any more than a new aircraft. But the crashes are due mostly to the type of manuvers that are risky.

Busbum Loc: 85367

Jerry,
In that link you put up, I was at the EAA air show in Wisconsin on 07/27/2007 when two P51's crashed on landing killing one of the pilots, sad event, here is a pic I took of the accident, though not a very good image, pretty far away;

(Download)

JeffL Loc: New Jersey

I guess we should ban NASCAR races, motocross, motorcycle races, 4-wheelers, boat races, etc. to protect the planet. Don’t forget all of the air pollution caused by the Macys’ July 4th fireworks.

JeffL Loc: New Jersey

Over 90% of aircraft accidents are due to pilot error. It doesn’t matter if the aircraft was built yesterday or in the 1940’s. The antiques and warbirds are probably inspected more frequently and thoroughly than the average general aviation aircraft. However, anything mechanical can break, no matter how old.

n4jee Loc: New Bern, NC

I guess you think we shouldn't drive antique automobiles or take pictures with old cameras because they might get damaged.

stu352 Loc: MA/RI Border

Also, before each flight, a good pilot will give his airplane a comprehensive inspection, more than some states do to our cars every year. A light out? A tire a bit soft? A drop of oil where there shouldn't be one? Something not right about how a control feels? Fuel sample doesn't look right? Nope, not going anywhere until that's sorted out.

Pilots making mistakes, getting outside their personal envelope of capabilities, or the capabilities of their aircraft, either accidentally or deliberately, will always happen. Happens with drivers on the freeway every morning, too.

BebuLamar

I think most air show accidents are due to pilots had to push the limit to make a show. Otherwise those old war birds are just as safe as a brand new jetliner.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't care why the plane crashes. When it crashes, that's one less old plane for people to see. If they don't fly, they don't crash. Fortunately, they remain available online.

BebuLamar

Now I don't want crashes that kill people but I rather the see those old planes fly then got destroyed because of flying than just something to look at. Just like I would rather see people use old cameras and break them rather than making them paper weigh.