GregP
Major
Well, I'm at Reno and we just had a major air racing disaster. It is Friday afternoon.
It was the Gold heat race on Friday, the last race of the day. We expected Strega to jump out front and that happened, with Voodoo second, Rare Bear third and Galloping Ghost fourth. On the second lap, the Ghost passed Rare Bear (we ecxpected Stu Dawson to only run hard enough to make the race on Sunday) and set his sights on Voodoo and was gaining. We all KNEW this was a fast Mustang, and it was showing.
On the third lap, right about 1/3 of the way down the runway, an internal explosion was heard from Galloping Ghost (Jimmy Leeward) and he pulled up sharply. The engine went to about idle for only a moment and then returned to what sounded like full throttle, and the Ghost rolled to the right, toward the grandstands.
The pull-up / right roll continued but, since the Ghost was now inverted, he wound up going straight down for the stands, still at what sounded like full throttle. I was in section C with Pat Yancey (Joe's wife) and it looked for all the world like Galloping Ghost was going to hit us. The roll continued and he impacted almost straight down about 75-100 yards from us, just outside of section D stands. I watched it all the way down, trying to decide which way to try to run. It would not have mattered; it was that fast. The concussion was physical. Parts and fuel went by us and over our heads and continued maybe 100 yards past us, with a strong smell of fuel /nitrous /oil.
Unfortunately, Galloping Ghost hit in the box seats down in front of the grandstand just to our left. I could have thrown a trennis ball about to the impact point from where we sat.
Pat and I were both shaking from the adreneline rush of thinking we were in the path, but we made our way out and went looking for Joe Yancey.
Reports are 20+ dead and 75+ injured.
Joe Yancey was in the Rare Bear pits at the time and said he was pretty sure the steam boil-off cooler system exploded as Galloping Ghost came past. He thought that because the engine resumed power and the boil-off is the only other thing that could explode and leave the engine running. When it did, it probably caused control system damage to the rudder and elevator, and may well have injured Mr. Leeward, possibly severly or worse.
The race, of course, was stopped and everyone not with a race crew or emergency crew was asked to leave the field. At minimum they will stand down tomorrow, and maybe end this event. It may well spell the end of the Reno Air Races.
I for one hope not, but what will happen will happen regardless of what fans like me think.
Everyone with the Planes of Fame crew is safe and accounted for.
Not a good day for aviation or air racing, and my heart goes out not only to the victims but also to the Galloping Ghost crew and the Leeward family.
Condolences don't and won't help, but I feel for them anyway. A tragedy, if ever I saw or head of one. All for now.
Keep 'em flying, - Greg
It was the Gold heat race on Friday, the last race of the day. We expected Strega to jump out front and that happened, with Voodoo second, Rare Bear third and Galloping Ghost fourth. On the second lap, the Ghost passed Rare Bear (we ecxpected Stu Dawson to only run hard enough to make the race on Sunday) and set his sights on Voodoo and was gaining. We all KNEW this was a fast Mustang, and it was showing.
On the third lap, right about 1/3 of the way down the runway, an internal explosion was heard from Galloping Ghost (Jimmy Leeward) and he pulled up sharply. The engine went to about idle for only a moment and then returned to what sounded like full throttle, and the Ghost rolled to the right, toward the grandstands.
The pull-up / right roll continued but, since the Ghost was now inverted, he wound up going straight down for the stands, still at what sounded like full throttle. I was in section C with Pat Yancey (Joe's wife) and it looked for all the world like Galloping Ghost was going to hit us. The roll continued and he impacted almost straight down about 75-100 yards from us, just outside of section D stands. I watched it all the way down, trying to decide which way to try to run. It would not have mattered; it was that fast. The concussion was physical. Parts and fuel went by us and over our heads and continued maybe 100 yards past us, with a strong smell of fuel /nitrous /oil.
Unfortunately, Galloping Ghost hit in the box seats down in front of the grandstand just to our left. I could have thrown a trennis ball about to the impact point from where we sat.
Pat and I were both shaking from the adreneline rush of thinking we were in the path, but we made our way out and went looking for Joe Yancey.
Reports are 20+ dead and 75+ injured.
Joe Yancey was in the Rare Bear pits at the time and said he was pretty sure the steam boil-off cooler system exploded as Galloping Ghost came past. He thought that because the engine resumed power and the boil-off is the only other thing that could explode and leave the engine running. When it did, it probably caused control system damage to the rudder and elevator, and may well have injured Mr. Leeward, possibly severly or worse.
The race, of course, was stopped and everyone not with a race crew or emergency crew was asked to leave the field. At minimum they will stand down tomorrow, and maybe end this event. It may well spell the end of the Reno Air Races.
I for one hope not, but what will happen will happen regardless of what fans like me think.
Everyone with the Planes of Fame crew is safe and accounted for.
Not a good day for aviation or air racing, and my heart goes out not only to the victims but also to the Galloping Ghost crew and the Leeward family.
Condolences don't and won't help, but I feel for them anyway. A tragedy, if ever I saw or head of one. All for now.
Keep 'em flying, - Greg
