Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
I can't dispute a lot of what you say.This is not only a terrible tragedy but points out that the vintage warbird "industry" really needs to get its act together. In recent years the loss of the Collins B-17 due to horribly poor maintenance and lack of pilot skills, the crash of a CAF C-47 in Texas and a P-51D in Texas in 2018, the loss of that superb B-25 in California due to running out of fuel, the loss of the TBM at the Cocoa Beach airshow due to an unrecognized but obvious oil leak, the crash of the CAF P-51B during a simple proficiency flight, and now this mid-air, should be regarded as intolerable. All of those cases were due to gross incompetence on the part of the personnel involved. We are not going to have to be worried about the FAA shutting down such exhibition flights because soon there won't be anything left to fly.
The CAF had wrecked their P-51B and crashed a Spanish He-111 several years back and supposedly decided it was time to start acting professional. All flying is an unforgiving endeavor; I saw recently where Sept 2022 saw almost one fatal general aviation mishap for every day of he month. People flying warbirds should be far more proficient, not less.
This is not only a terrible tragedy but points out that the vintage warbird "industry" really needs to get its act together. In recent years the loss of the Collins B-17 due to horribly poor maintenance and lack of pilot skills, the crash of a CAF C-47 in Texas and a P-51D in Texas in 2018, the loss of that superb B-25 in California due to running out of fuel, the loss of the TBM at the Cocoa Beach airshow due to an unrecognized but obvious oil leak, the crash of the CAF P-51B during a simple proficiency flight, and now this mid-air, should be regarded as intolerable. All of those cases were due to gross incompetence on the part of the personnel involved. We are not going to have to be worried about the FAA shutting down such exhibition flights because soon there won't be anything left to fly.
The CAF had wrecked their P-51B and crashed a Spanish He-111 several years back and supposedly decided it was time to start acting professional. All flying is an unforgiving endeavor; I saw recently where Sept 2022 saw almost one fatal general aviation mishap for every day of he month. People flying warbirds should be far more proficient, not less.
Some are but there a few young ones who are coming up the ranks who are very proficient. These aircraft are privately owned, as long as they meet US airworthy requirements, the owner/ operators can do as they wish.I think it's time to permanently retire ww2 warbirds, they are too rare now and too old be kept flying, even with top shape maintenance.
The men certified to fly them are old now too.
My buddy was in that formation, (He's ok) he's 42. The majority of these pilots are 40's, 50's, 60's. Age of the pilot or plane had nothing to do with this.I think it's time to permanently retire ww2 warbirds, they are too rare now and too old be kept flying, even with top shape maintenance.
The men certified to fly them are old now too.
That was my thought also while some planes have been lost for all the hours all planes are in the air the mortality rate still does not exceed what happens on the roadways .These aircraft are privately owned, as long as they meet US airworthy requirements, the owner/ operators can do as they wish.
You reminded me of the needless loss of that B-29 found in the ice.This is not only a terrible tragedy but points out that the vintage warbird "industry" really needs to get its act together.