Back in 1988, there was this horrible mid air collision of the Frecce Tricolori team at the Ramstein airshow, when one of the airplane plunged into the public. The lessons learned from that disaster were interpreted in two ways. The safest interpretation was to stop organising military airshows all together. That way nothing dangerous could happen at an airshow, but this wouldn't be much of an airshow if nobody was flying. This is how the German airshow organisers pretty much reacted. Even to this day, there are very few airshows in Germany.
The other reaction was what could be learned from this accident, and see what could be implemented to improve the safety of the public: the distance from the display to public, the direction of which the display is performed, no flying overhead the public,...
I hope that the organisers of the air races will learn from this terrible crash to improve the safety of both public and pilots and continue to organise the air races.
Because in the end, things going very fast, whether it is cars, boats or airplanes, have a certain degree of uncontrollability in them when things go wrong. We can only do our utmost best to try to contain the dangers to the minimum when things go out of control.

Move the Unlimited course way out over the desert and tell everybody to bring binoculars.

Any one that had ever sat in the Grand Stands at Reno had to realize the risk of airplanes comming out of the last turn headed right at the grand stands. What I do not understand is that even through the airplanes are, by the FAA, identified as "EXPIERMENTAL" why after two known failures of the Elevator Trim Tabs on race P51's were they not required to increase the diameter of the hinges/hinge bolts /linkage and mounting structure in the elevators?

I think racing should go on as scheduled in the future. Fans have a better chance of getting hurt in a car accident on the way to the races. If people are affraid of the risk, they should stay home and understandingly so. Thoughts and prayers go out to all affected in this past weekends crash at the Air Race as well as the air show with the T-28 crash.

There is risk in everything. The pilots absolutely know the risk involved and I truly believe that the spectators do as well.
Could they make some changes to try and prevent this kind of incident in the future? Probably. Should they be permanently cancelled? Absolutely not.

At 500 MPH, you are covering a mile every 7 seconds. Even moving the course out a mile would not give you 100% protection. So sad. I have been attending the races since 1976, long before there were even fences around the airport.It is the one event I really look forward to each year. It is the only place where I can see and experience these planes and see the engenuity and creativity that goes into "pushing the envelope." I also know the risks. I have envisioned just what happened when I see the planes round the Southwest pylon. I accepted the risk, and would have no regrets if it happened to me. But nothing in this world is 100% safe. If it were, it wouldn't be worth living.

What bothers me is the loss of traditions America has undergone over the last few years, all in the name of "safety". The men and women who compete in aircraft are no different than those who race cars. The same can be said of the spectators. We all know there is a danger involved, and that only adds to the excitement. Many spectators have been injured and killed at auto racing events over the many years, but no one seriously talks of suspending auto racing. Why are aircraft, with a much better safety record, suddenly subject to all the suspension talk? Makes no sense to me. I'm an 18,000 hour, ex-USAF pilot and know without doubt that the safety provisions that pilots, aircraft and racing/airshow venues are constantly under the most strenuous scrutiny. Let's not destroy another American tradition with our fears.

What bothers me is the loss of traditions America has undergone over the last few years, all in the name of "safety". The men and women who compete in aircraft are no different than those who race cars. The same can be said of the spectators. We all know there is a danger involved, and that only adds to the excitement. Many spectators have been injured and killed at auto racing events over the many years, but no one seriously talks of suspending auto racing. Why are aircraft, with a much better safety record, suddenly subject to all the suspension talk? Makes no sense to me. I'm an 18,000 hour, ex-USAF pilot and know without doubt that the safety provisions that pilots, aircraft and racing/airshow venues are constantly under the most strenuous scrutiny. Let's not destroy another American tradition with our fears.

We lost another great one, and in his final moments he had the forethought to save others. I am the son of a former USAF Thunderbird of the 60's, I have seen more that my share of air show related deaths, including Germany. My respect and honor for those pilots lost is unmeasureable and to their loved ones, i send my highest respect and condolences. Thank You for doing what you do and showing us that reverence for the clouds you dance among.

The races must go on!

Here's what I had to say about the continuance of Reno on Reno Air Races official FB page:

I do hope the races continue. Aviation is in our blood...we want to fly, and by God, we will! Sure, there are inherent risks, and the pilots that race know that all too well. The history of aviation has been riddled with disasters, yet we continue to progress, going higher...farther...faster. Now, we just have to improve the fourth element: safer. Whatever it takes to make that happen is what we as pilots and aviation enthusiasts are tasked to do.

By the way, I've created a 2011 Reno Survivor's support page on FB. It may not be a cure-all, but it's a start.

http://www.facebook.com/RenoAirRacingAssociation#!/pages/2011-Reno-Air-Race-Survivors-Support-Group/290880550925875?sk=wall

God's speed, Jimmy!

As someone that just recently obtained his lifelong dream of obtaining his pilot certificate, attending the air races has always been near the top of my bucket list. It wasn't too long ago that motorsports had issues of tires flying off of race cars into grandstands causing similar tragedies. They didn't stop auto racing due to the incidents, but they did take the time to analyze what happened and came up with an innovative way of making cars safer (now the tires have a "tether" to help keep them attached to the car in an accident). I hope that based on the outcome of the investigation that the race organizers find something tangible to make things safer, yet don’t destroy the spectacle of air racing in the process. As Niko stated above, there is only so much you can do when something goes completely out of control. You can try to minimize accidents, but like many sports it is inherently dangerous for the racers and the spectators alike. Being so close to some of that danger that racers experience is what draws many to events like this.These pilots are pushing the limits of themselves and their machines to achieve speeds that were previously thought impossible for piston powered aircraft. In stretching these limits the pilots and engineers experiment with innovative concepts in airframes, control surfaces, and engine modifications to progress things even further. It makes me think of the Bell X-1 which was uncontrollable near the speed of sound due to the shock waves preventing air from flowing over the elevator control surfaces. The solution was a fully movable tail. Without it, we would have never had controlled transonic flight. As they say “necessity is the mother of invention”, whether for safety or performance. Who knows, maybe the next invention will be some sort of emergency drag parachute that can automatically deploy when something like a trim tab flies off and slow the aircraft until control is regained.

What happened to Jimmy Leeward was a freak accident, make no bones about it. Racing highly modified P-51's, Bearcats, or Sea Fury's would be equal to stuffing 6000 HP in your Pontiac Grand Prix. Jimmy flew a tight course, close to the ground and at full nose down trim, which is required for a modified airplane traveling at over 400 knots. Jimmy also had retained a high degree of safety and even with his passion for speed, he knew what to do. When Bob Hannah lost his trim tab, "Voodoo Chile" went vertical at 10+ G's and subsequently Hannah blacked out and recovered at 9000 feet, he was fortunate. Leeward had on-board computer systems that have forward looking camera enhancements that the NTSB is looking at, there have been safety rules in place as long as Reno has had Air Racing. There are some situations you cannot avoid.

Yes, but it's not an "airshow" - it's an air race. This presents quite a different set of problems for the organizers.
Airshows in the UK are are much more inherently safe for the spectators now than they used to be because the flying display runs parallel to the public area not over or towards it.

These improvements in safety for the viewing areas at Reno air races would be much more difficult to accomplish.

I notice in one of the published photos(in which the aircraft is shown inverted)there was something wrong with the left elevator trim tab assembly.

Also, where's the pilot in these photos? One would expect to see at least the head of the poor chap in one of them. Perhaps excessive G-forces pushed him down in the cockpit.
gc

First and foremost prayers to all who perished, survived , were injured or lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy.

I would in no way be a supporter of any regulation that seeks to end Air Racing. Having said that I can't say that I would be opposed to some classification changes. I love seeing Warbirds fly & appreciate their history and performance capabilities and believe it is important for all to see these vital links of American Military History to be seen by Americans young and old.

I fully understand why the Merlin is the engine of choice for this endeavor but am not wild about seeing some of the massive engineering mods done to compete with these historically significant aircraft. Let them race but can we keep it within a reasonable proximity of % of WWII performance?

I am by no means declaring War on the Unlimited Class either but I am suggesting we now have the ability to build a better V-12 or 16 cylinder engine than even the vaunted Merlin for this task, or perhaps more speed will come from a design yet to be revealed. Likewise air frames and wings not originally designed for fuel range, ordinance & gun mounts are also going to be better performers. No reason for "Unlimited" to not start with a clean sheet of draft paper!

What, if any, changes were made to Voodoo or other Mustangs after previous trim tab failures? Are their tails basically unmodified from stock, which probably focused more on cruise than max performance? Can the tails be redesigned to be more fail safe at max speed?

Address this accident directly: eliminate the structural failure component. Second, put more onboard metrics in place to monitor stresses and G forces in real time. Even an experienced pilot is of no use while unconscious or unable to reach the controls.

Third, put a fail safe control in place that takes over in cases of obvious pilot blackout. The technology exists to allow team or race officials to command the aircraft to a fail safe mode, where wings are leveled and controlled flight is established long enough for the pilot to return to consciousness. Sure, there are big details to work out there. Get started.

The race spends millions on live engine monitoring to maximize performance and minimize engine losses. It is time to minimize human risk due to uncontrolled flight. It is within our collective grasp to never have another plane fly completely uncontrolled for one second longer than necessary. I had six seconds to watch what that plane would do, and one second to react once it nosed down. Those other five seconds are the very definition of eternity.

I refuse to accept that the race community cannot engineer an additional layer of safety for a problem which is repeating itself. Pilot and fans alike are victim to what happened. Let's go forward.

Tragic as it was, it was an accident. I believe we should keep the race.

I've never seen an air race, not live and not on TV. I've read about the golden age and Cleveland and even Reno, yet never seen the action. NASCAR is always the target and yet Indy Cars are faster. My point is that the visual sensation of speed is relative to other objects. Slow airplanes are more fun to watch than fast cars. Give fans a safe and stock series and see how many show up / tune in. This is a reality that might becoming anyway.

I remember that prior to the Ramstein crash the Frecce Tricolori toured the US. Some people mentioned that thier show had lost some of its elan. The explanation was that the FAA had reviewed thier flight profile and found it too dangerous in regards to spectator safety and required them to modify it. There have been very few air show fatalities among spectators in the US due to the FAA's efforts. Many in the media are currently conflating air race and air show. As for the Reno tragedy it shows how sometimes our best efforts cannot overcome the unexpected. Whether racing can continue is an open question I hope that air shows themselves are not adversely affected.

Having worked on the heavely modified "Ghost" in 2007 the trim tab may have caused the problem, the rod to attach the tab, was made either longer or shorter, I think longer, if the rod was still with the plane after the tab came off it may have jammed the elevator in the up position causing the steep climb, then it rolled over and came down. In at least one photo you can see Jimmy slumped forward, maybe unconscious, in the few seconds it took to all go wrong I don't think he would have had time to recover.
I believe the plane had a flight recorder and a camera rolling inside, the NTSB have found the memory card, if it can be read then this might shed some light on what happened inside the cockpit at least.

Sad that Jimmy has gone but we will always remember him and "Galloping Ghost"

Steve E B. in England

While this is a terrible tragedy,I see no difference than a Nascar,Indy,or road race crash. All are sports with a certain amount of danger that are associated with them. I think with no spectator fatalities in almost a half century, the record has been very good to this point.
I know this is no consolation to the many families devastated by this terrible tragedy, however this event was something that everyone in attendance enjoyed, or they would not have been there. It's a very unfortunate accident and my sincere condolences go out to everyone involved.

I am a pilot of 54 years myself and feel it is incumbent on all of us to continue to stress safety, safety, and more safety in all of these sporting events. I hope this event can continue with better crowd placement and other safety measures.

Roland Gilliam President EAA 1220 Carthage N.C.

I think that the greater tragedy would be to not have the races- people have died both racing and watching cars, boats and perhaps even horses... Let's make sure the dead are honored and make sure we continue to have a place where both those who participate and those who very much want to watch, can push the limit.

Our country needs that more now than ever-that's what Jimmie would want. A tragedy for sure- but real people doing real stuff, watching real stuff - it comes with an uncertain cost.

After every accident there are those whose first knee jerk reaction is to cancel all future air races as being too dangerous. To those few I say take a deep breath and lets have an intelligent, rational discussion based on the facts and not emotion.

I agree that safety is the paramount issue for all involved, the air crews, pilot and spectators. Every thing we do in life carries with it a certain element of danger.We have a choice to either live with it or in a bubble. The majority of us choose to take that risk.

I am almost 80 yrs. old. I remember the old Cleveland air races and several others. Progress has always required risk takers and courage. We don't learn much from our mistakes except that something didn't work as planned but we
gain a lot from our successes.

I worked for many years in the aerospace industry before retiring. I have seen many such failures and successes. For the former we were disappointed for the latter we cheered. But in either event we just kept going forward. That is the spirit that has made this the greatest nation on this planet. I call it tenacity. Let us keep moving in the right direction.

We were there.. couple of old folks (60`s) Drove a "Bonzai" run across US 50 from Denver in a C5.. arrived Sunday.. qualifying is a great experience. I`m just without words. and tears flow.. I thrilled at the sounds and sights at Reno. I fear that hearing and seeing these beautiful aircraft in flight might be a thing of the past.

Let`s pray not..

We were there.. couple of old folks (60`s) Drove a "Bonzai" run across US 50 from Denver in a C5.. arrived Sunday.. qualifying is a great experience. I`m just without words. and tears flow.. I thrilled at the sounds and sights at Reno. I fear that hearing and seeing these beautiful aircraft in flight might be a thing of the past.

Let`s pray not..

I was surprised and sorry to see the races cancelled even after such a horrendous accident. I'm pretty sure Jim wouldn't have wanted that to happen. He came to race and knew the risks. The spectators did too but I suspect some will now realize really bad things can happen. Maybe the grandstands should be moved to the infield. I've been there four times as a photographer and the pylon before the grandstand has always been the best vantage point. I suspect it's the point where the planes experience the highest stresses and its where both Levitz and Leeward first sensed things coming apart. Kind of puts the grandstand, displays and pits in the fallout area. I'm sure Jim would have done anything he could to avoid losing the Ghost like he did but maybe something could be done to reduce the liklihood that a mechanical failure will dump the injured bird in the public's lap.

Life is not "safe". There are unlimited numbers of ways for accidents to affect or terminate our lives. Deal with it and go on. A legendary pilot once told me his response to someone expressing a fear of flying was "When God wants you, you can't hide; he WILL find you, no matter where you are, or what you are doing." The moral of the story - live, take reasonable precautions, enjoy life, and be ready to meet your maker whenever he may call.

I saw my first air race as I child watching the races at Cleveland in the post-WWII era. I have been attending the Reno races since 1982 and as horrific and tragic as the crash was I can only hope that the 2012 races go on as scheduled. I am in full agreement with those who state that all of us who attend this event, whether we realize it or not, subconsciously understand that there is an element of danger in being anywhere near the stands while a race is in progress. This same element exists in NASCAR, motorcycle, off-road and most any other form of fast, motorized competition. Should we ban those too in an attempt to protect the spectators? I for one, hope not!
See you at the 2012 Reno National Championship Air Races!

First and foremost I want to pass on my families condolences to the Leeward family and to the families of those who died and were hurt in this terrible accident.
I have had the pleasure of attending the races for 45 years. I have witnessed many accidents and some that took the lives of the pilot(s). I have witnesssed many MAYDAYS and through the skill and talent of these avaitors they all turned out safe and ok.
My sons have grown up at the races. My wife has tolerated our passion and is still a supporter. To my family THANK YOU for allowing me to pass on to you my passion and I am glad that you enjoy it as much as I do.
We all attend the races knowing the potential danger and still we come to see our heros fly safely and as fast as possible to entertain us and to be at the top. The accident and that is what it is was, a tragic and horrific accident.
In my view and opinion Jimmy Leeward did what he could to avert a far more serious accident which saved my friends and family. Jimmy, Thank you and God Bless.
This should be looked into and then proceed with the races into the future in as safe and sane a matter that they can! Air Racing is terrific and a sport I do not want to see perish.
RIP Jimmy Leeward

Let me start by saying that I am an aeronautical engineer working for a major aerospace company as a chief engineer. People are drawing parallels between the air races and car races. There is a considerable difference. Most racing car series are based on purpose designed and built cars. Racing cars in this day and age are designed and built by teams of true professional engineers. You can witness the success of the designs by how many drivers now walk away unhurt from major race car crashes. The large teams of people that designed and built the original airplanes that the Unlimited air racers are based on were also true professional engineers. Those engineers could not foresee the use their designs would be put to in Unlimited racing. The problem with Unlimited racers is that they are VERY heavily modified from the stock airplanes. While the Unlimited teams have a lot of experience, most do not have the depth of knowledge in all the disciplines of aeronautical engineering to design and build fully safe modifications to these airframes. I have the same philosophical problem with experimental ticket airplanes that have been heavily modified by homebuilders. The people that build them and modify them usually do not know all the effects they are having on the original design. For one thing, they usually don't have the original engineering data for the design other than a set of blueprints. My recommendation to the NTSB and the FAA would be to change the experimental ticket to only allow modifications to the original design that have engineering analysis that has been reviewed by an FAA designated engineering representative. I am sure that most people here will probably not like my recommendation, but it would save a large number of lives in all experimental aircraft.

It's an unfortunate accident, and my condolences to all who suffered loss in this tragedy.

However, in honor of those lost (who were there because of their love for the Reno races), and for the sake of the history of the air races and all those who love them... unquestionably, the air-races should continue.

Safety IS always emphasized. I have attended many briefings at Reno, and SAFETY IS THE ONE THING THAT IS ALWAYS PARAMOUNT.

As I said in the beginning, this accident was unfortunate. It couldn't have been foreseen by anyone. That's all there is to it. It's in the past. Let's move forward.

Let the races go on....

The disaster at Reno is not the first time that racing officials have had to consider whether keeping a motorsport on its present course is a path to extinction. Unlimited hydroplane racing went through it. Top Fuel drag boat racing went through it. NASCAR went through it. The result was organizers were forced to admit fundamental change could no longer be avoided, and to give creative people and inventive engineers and scientists the opportunity to introduce innovations that changed the direction of the sport.

In the case of Unlimited hydroplanes and Top Fuel drag boats, the introduction of enclosed cockpits and driver capsules were innovations that turned all the existing boats into museum relics, but saved the sport. With NASCAR, it was introducing seats and head restraints that brought safety practices up to modern standards.

Just as the era of open cockpit hydroplanes and drag boats passed, the era of Unlimited racers as we know them has passed. I see a future for Unlimited air racing. I do not see a place for WWII airframes in that future. Unlimited air racing will be a lot safer with airplanes that are built from scratch to go 500 mph.

Aside from the project to rebuild Tsunami, other airplanes that can be considered as prototypes for future Unlimited racers are David Rose’s RP-4 and the Pond Racer (although in the case of the Pond Racer I think that project might have developed with less trouble if they’d used a pair of big block Chevys). Just as Unlimited hydroplanes moved away from WWII piston engines to gas turbines, I believe there is also a place for turbines in Unlimited air racing. If Unlimited air racing can be made more affordable without sacrificing performance, this could lead to growth that brings in new teams and bigger fields.

The fact that no spectators have been killed does not take away from the fact of how many pilots have been killed over the years. I have had the chance to go to three air races over the years and have seen many very close calls. I respect the pilots because they know just how dangerous it really is.

The Reno Air Racing Association has a minimum weight requirement for Unlimiteds of 4,500 lbs (imposed after the Pond Racer). The first 400 mph airplane, the Supermarine S.6B 1931 Schneider trophy racer, had an empty weight of only 4,560 lbs with the huge Rolls-Royce R Type engine and would just barely have met the 4,500 lbs minimum weight. I see no good reason for the 4,500 lbs minimum weight, other than as an artificial barrier to progress.

Around 37,000 people die every year in traffic accidents, or about 100 a day. Unless you happen to be one of the unfortunate few, 11 spectator fatalities in 47 years of air racing is a pretty acceptable risk. Living in general is a pretty dangerous activity, but it sure beats the alternative.

This plane was named after a WW2 US Navy PB4Y-1 Liberator from VB-107 that crashed on take-off at Parnamirim Field in Natal, Brazil in 1943. We have the pictures of the original Galloping Ghost.

Keep flying unlimited,its more dangerous walking down a city street in this day and age.

These are WWII aircraft, designed in short order in then cutting edge technology, for combat usage, built rapidly, and expected to have a limited life due to combat losses or obsolescence. Even intensive maintenance won't maintain these aircraft for unlimited life, especially without a factory support chain. The loss is unfortunate and regrettable, but not unpredictable.

Air racing us far more safer than just about any other form of racing world wide. American sports fans are not pathetic wimps. We enjoy dangerous sporting events whether it be racing, baseball, being hit by a line drive or bat, or football, broken necks or spinal injuries. Accidents happen!
We can't stop what we or others love to do or go to as a spectators.
Let's go racing & as they say, Ladies & gentleman, Start your Engines!!!

It's a sport, maybe a dangerous one but none the less, a sport. Like the Indy 500, people sometimes get hurt. But it is a part of human nature and the human spirit to compete in such ways. To discontinue something that exemplifies this part of our nature due to the risk associated with it would be paramount to banning all risky endeavors. Life would be truly boring. I dear say that Mr. Leeward would agree with me if he were still here today.

I have over 4000 hours flying everything from Aeronca 7EC's to F104 Starfighters. Flying involves acceptance of risk and without this acceptance we would have neither military or commercial aviation, much less private aviation. To suggest that this unfortunate incident should jeopardise air races or air shows is foolish in the extreme. We live in a risk averse society and that kind of thinking will put a stop to all progress. People that attend airshows and air races are typically strong proponents of aviation and they understand the risks to the pilots, crews, and even the spectators. For media and those that know nothing of flying and why we do it to threaten the the activity is not just dangerous it is dumb.

Bystanders and participants die and/or are injured EVERY DAY on our roads. In fact, there's a way better chance of one dying ON THE WAY to the air races that AT THEM.
Risks are understood by racers and attendees - it's NOT some video game. It's real. And racing should go on.

I'd certainly like to see the race continue but perhaps moved. I think Mojave, CA is probably a safer venue. It would have the added benefit of being an overall longer race course with at least 2-3 lengthy and level-flight paths as opposed to Reno's where planes and pilots are subjected to the stresses of the almost continuous 3g left-banked laps.

In the 1980s my family and I attended many Reno air races. We always had a great time and would hate for the races to be stopped by unknowing safety advocates.
My Dad was a pilot and in his younger years attended the Cleveland air races. Reno for him was to be alive again and remember the air races in Cleveland as young man. He loved flying and airplanes. He would have hated to see the tragedy in Reno but he would have wanted the racing to continue as do I.
The thrill of the Reno air races should continue forever!

I suspect the lack of availability of liability insurance in future years will doom the Reno Air Races.

I have attended Reno since 1973 when my friend Lyle Shelton and the Rare Bear won for the first time. These are sacred memories for me and my family. Move the pylons or whatever will make the races safer, but keep them coming. Tragedies like this, however sad, are the ties that bind aviators into the family of flight.

Rest in Peace, Jimmy Leeward, Ralph Twombly, Gary Levitz,
and all deceased race pilots!

Mike Larkin

First, I acknowledge the tragity of losing a loved one is very great and my sympathies go out to all the families and loved ones, however, the thrill of an airshow or an air race is sharing in the excitement - and danger - of fast machines pushing the limits. Why do you think so many people go to these events. Stopping air shows and air races is ridiculous because if you take the approach to life that you only do what's safe, .... you stop living! You never get in an airplane, you never get in a car, ...heck, you never even get out of bed and I am sure someone would find some angle to say staying in bed isn't even safe! Let's keep living life to it's fullest, stop the panzies from regulating our lives, and .... experience the thrill of life!

It was said in the article that no spectators have been injured in 47 years at the races. This is the perfect reason not to cancel these races.
If you want to cancel these races because of one accident you will have to cancel every football game, baseball game, motor race, and many other sports because there have been many injuries to spectators and even deaths as a direct result of the action at the sport event.
Please don't make a knee jerk reaction to one accident which will then spoil a way of life and enjoyment that thousands of people have experienced over these 47 years.

Pretty soon we should stop driving because it's dangerous? Come on people we must understand it's dangerous to drive on the freeway if you dont want to take the chance of dying on the freeway dont drive on the freeway! I want to go to future races and I also understand there is a chance that in another what 100,000,000 times I dont know what the odds are . but its crazy! Let me go to the race let me drive on the freeway lets just live a little before we die. Stay home if you don't want to live.

So many thoughts..... Air racing is extremely exciting. It's very hard to think about anyone losing their life at Reno, much less watching it happen. There is a place in this world for air racing, and there are a lot of people who have supported it. I believe the sport will survive. I want it to survive. I think there's room for modifications that will bring both safety and opportunity.

This was a trajedy in many ways, and also an accident. As pilots always do, we should allow investigators to do the amazing things they can do, learn from this, adapt and, most of all, keep flying.

Thank you, Linda Shiner and Air&Space for posting this article so soon after what happened. Somebody needed to do it, and you showed me yet again why I'm a member, and why I so much enjoy reading your magazine.

Been there twice,loved every minute.I'm sorry for the loss of the pilot and spectators.but you can't make everything totally safe. I hope the races continue. GOD bless America whats left of it.

Air racing has always been a hazordous business but those involved know the risk. With tody's advancing technology and the quest for greater speed and performance we may be exceeding the limits of the airframes that were not designed for these speeds or the low level maneuvers associated with the pylon course. One must also consider the age of the pilots who fly these highly modified aircraft and their ability to handle the speed and the greater G forces involved in pylon racing. This not meant to question the ability or the qualifications of the pilots for they are all truly marvelous airman but age does deteriorate our response time and our ability to handle the physical stress on our bodies.

The races should go on without interruption, it is part of our heritage. Those involved in the sport of air racing should put their collective heads together and determine what changes need to be made in the course layout, aircraft design and modifications and the limitations of pilots to prevent such tragic accidents in the future.

It is my belief that all who participate in "any" type of racing (cars, planes, horses, boats and etc. etc. are aware there is certain amount of danger and that the spectators are also aware.
There is danger in many of the things we do like driving, riding a bike, swimming and many many other things we do.
So do we outlaw everything???
Leave the air races alone and quit trying to legislate against everything we do for fun.

Life will never be 'safe'... no matter where we go or what we do. To try and sanitize our existence to eliminate all risk goes against all that which makes us human.
There have been enough comprises to our beloved traditions.
If there are those who wish for a completely safe, plain vanilla life, might I suggest you enjoy kite-flying and watching the soap box derby.
Let the rest of us decide what evel of risk we deem appropriate for ourselves.

While the races are clearly dangerous for all involved, many things are dangerous, and you can't ban them all. Today, I would guess a similar number of people died choking on a french fry or hitting a tree while texting from a car. Sad as they are, accidents happen. I have the greatest respect and sadness for the tragedy that happened, and the lives lost. I think that some things can be improved safety wise, and should be. But banning everything that could cause a person harm isn't possible. I felt much more at risk driving to the races every year since 1984 than being in the pits or stands.

This tragedy BTW had nothing whatever to do with WW II aircraft as noted by others. Newly engineered and built airframes have done very poorly by comparison, and it is they that are now on the junk heap and caused loss of life. That Galloping Ghost survived the 11 G pullup that Jimmy could not attests to the great design and massive strength of the Mustang.

This is a country built by explorers,risk takers etc.Death tugs at everyone's elbow everyday.We can die from sneezing,so being afraid won't do any good.I served in the U.S.Army as a Flight Engineer on CH-47 Chinook helicopters and I faced risks on every flight.I had a helicopter mishap in Korea in 1984 that caused a back injury. I continued flying over the next 7 years and I learned one thing,I lived to fly and if I died doing it,I would of died loving what I did.
KEEP THE AIR RACES...IT'S AMERICAN!

Accidents which involve injury and death are always unfortunate and regrettable. But, accidents are what they are and they will always happen regardless of our best efforts. Still, care is usually taken to avoid any trouble. If we want to stop the carnage in automobile accidents the best way seems to stop usinmg them. Never going to happen. Let the air races continue. they are always going to remain safer than driving.

Just an idea to make a safer race course.

Rotate the Unlimited course a tad clockwise so that the spectators will be sitting abeam along the long straightaway. Currently they are sitting near a corner (pylon 9) where the racers are turning with more centrifugal and G forces which is a higher risk location.

John Stewart - Vancouver.

Aerodynamically and structurally, the airframe in the Pond Racer worked fine.

Rules change instituting 4,500 lbs minimum weight was so the warbird clique could maintain the status quo, not for safety.

http://www.barnstormers.com/eFLYER/2008/010-eFLYER-FA01-ChangeRules.html

Any worthwhile endeavor comes with an inherent amount of risk.

Any time there is speed, whether on land, water, or air, and you have spectators, there is always risk to everyone. Let the races go on.

Slow the Unlimiteds down simply by going back to the Thompson trophy race distance of 300 miles. People aren't going to push WWII airplanes to 500 mph if they have to make them last for a race that takes 45 minutes.

It is of course sad to lose anyone in this tragedy. And our hearts go out to all involved. Biut, no, racing should not be abolished. If Jim could speak to us he would say continue I'm sure.

Many heartfelt condolences to the Leeward family and all those injured, the families of those deceased, and those affected by this horrible tragedy.
I watched the entire accident unfold. It was just sickening to watch. There was no way the pilot was in any sort of control of that plane. Looking at photographs, one of the trim tabs was sheared away, and the two sides of the elevator were no longer connected. There is little chance the aircraft would have been controllable. I have designed several high speed aircraft and what we are seeing with Voodoo Chile, Miss Ashley II, and now Galloping Ghost is the weakness in the Mustang design; the tail is very susceptible to flutter. Simply, a stock Mustang is good for 450 mph at 25,000 feet. The Unlimited birds are pushing 500 mph at about 8,000 feet density altitude. The air pressures are a lot higher down low. Moreover, the full nose-down trim required to maintain control exerts tremendous pressure on the entire system. Structurally, the design can take it. But, we are at the design limit. If any sort of flutter is introduced, the loads quickly go beyond what can be tolerated. In 1940, the effects of compressibility were not fully understood, and in a sense feared. Thus, the tail airfoil sections were approached from a stability standpoint, and not from a transsonic standpoint. These aircraft are experiencing the effects of compressibility on the tail group.
Our best option for continuing to fly this way is to remove the tail group at the break just forward of the tailwheel, redesign the airfoil group, and use either a full flying horizontal stabilizer, a la F-16, or use a full flying trim and do away with the trim tabs. Re-incidencing the stab will not do, as it makes the pilot fight the aircraft at slower speeds. Being able to adjust the incidence angle will allow effective, strong trim adjustments, and when combined with an airfoil resistance to flutter, will actually lead to higher speeds and greater safety.

The limiting factor that was mentioned once here but was ignored is simply this :1 Who will insure this race now for liability ?
2. Who will sponsor it now with the danger of bad publicity?

The potential was there for all to see with what was almost a miss ,imagine a direct hit.
Its not the flyers accepting the risk ,thats a known factor ,its the spectators ,many not very informed about what is actually happening .

Would love to see it continue with those 500 MPH million $$ plus planes . If NASCAR begins putting em in the stands then they will be under fire as well.

I think a good place to start would be to put ALL Unlimiteds through an instrumented methodical flight test program conducted under the supervision of engineering test pilots. The fact others haven't crashed doesn't mean a lot of them may be being pushed very close to the margins.

What happened is a terrible tragedy. Of that, we can be sure.

Analysis will determine a cause and from it will come suggestions or mandates. Crews will comply with those directives.

Let us not forget too that there are many years of successful racing before this tragic event and there can be many more years of racing to come.

It's my hope that the rich history of air racing at Reno continues.

God Speed the victims and condolences to the families and friends of those killed. Let us not forget them.

The racing should go on!! I regularly attend the races and when the aircraft are over the course they are well away from the crowds!! We don't stop flying due to accidents, that is simply un-American!!

My condolences to the families of those involved.

However it is heartening to see the positive attitudes of those responding. Let's make things work better, rather than to ban yet one more exciting but potentially dangerous activity.

It would make much more sense to be looking at banning some boring but dangerous activities. There are many of those that go unquestioned - like needing to drive to the supermarket or to the workplace, for instance, or having to work in a hazardous occupations without proper safety gear.

I suspect that it will be the insurance companies once again that will have the final word. No one in this country seems to understand the words "at your own risk" and when a tragedy strikes are looking to win the lottery for their sorrow. The law firms will gladly take on the cases as it is surely their own "lottory" that will again pay for their exspensive cars and homes and golf club memberships.

I imagine if the races can survive the law suites the cost of holding the event will drive the ticket cost to the point that many people will lose interest. Pilots and planes will be hit with their own costs and eventually will fold from the pressure as well.

I still really wish the air shows and races would raise the "floor" so that more people can see the action and at the same time give the participants a little more time to recover if that is possible. We loose good people and great aircraft even if they avoid the crowd. Hopefully a few changes will take place to try and make it as safe as possible without destroying the sport.

When tragedy strikes at the races, everone loses except the law firms.

I have 550 hours in the Mustang, much of it in Korea, and those of us who have experienced speeds of over 400-450 in it, remember that it did take full nose down trim and them some foreword pressure on the stick to keep control. Without full nose down trim at these speeds, I doubt that anyone could maintain aircraft control. Immediate loss of the "tab" at those speeds would have caused sufficient "G" forces to incapacitate anyone, no matter how proficient the pilot. The pilots at Reno know the risks as do the spectators. Let the races go on!

Just read that the stands were an estimated 800 feet from the race line. So if the pilots are brave for pulling 3Gs at 500 knots at 200 feet, what does that make me for sitting just 800 feet from that same danger? This tragedy clearly shows that the fans are just as much at risk. Deaths are unacceptable. Embrace the challenge. NASCAR added new safety fences, roof flaps, new helmets and slower speeds. Drag boats added safety capsules. Reno needs something more than "he died doing what he loved."

As horrible as this tragedy was, it could have been so much worse! Mr. Leeward's foresight in using an anti-detonation coolant undoubtedly saved many, many lives.

Compared to the Thompson Trophy National Air Races, the safety record at Reno has been horrible. One pilot got killed in the pre-war races (1930 through 1939) and one pilot got killed in the post-war races (1946 through 1949). On average, since 1972 one pilot every other year has gotten killed at Reno.