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Pilot killed in air show crash at California Air Force base

MaggieD

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A pilot was killed when his plane crashed during an air show at a California Air Force base Sunday.Eddie Andreini, 77, an air show veteran, was killed in the crash, Col. David Mott of Travis Air Force Base said at a Sunday afternoon press conference.
"No one wants to see an event like this," Mott said. "Our hearts and condolences go out to the Andreini family."
Andreini was attempting a "cutting the ribbon" maneuver when the biplane crashed upside-down on the tarmac shortly after 2 p.m., Mott said. The trick involves the plane inverting and flying close to the ground so that a knife attached to the plane can slice a ribbon just off the ground...

As it happened, only the pilot was killed. This could have been a major disaster.

A 77-year-old has no business flying upside down 8 feet from the ground on purpose.
Stunt flying is for young pilots.
 
As it happened, only the pilot was killed. This could have been a major disaster.

A 77-year-old has no business flying upside down 8 feet from the ground on purpose.
Stunt flying is for young pilots.

Glad noone was hurt, but in the world of stunts, it is the experienced who perform it best. I wouldn't say he shouldn't have done it, especially if he enjoyed it and was proficient at it. It's not like these guys don't practice it over and over again. I'm just thankful noone else was hurt.
 
I don't think the age is an issue, unless his facilities were failing.

I saw a video on this on the internet news.... what a shame. But at least he went out doing something he truly enjoyed.
 
I don't think the age is an issue, unless his facilities were failing.

I saw a video on this on the internet news.... what a shame. But at least he went out doing something he truly enjoyed.

He loved crashing?
 
:roll: Really?

It's too damn early on a Monday for that.

Oh, I don't know.

I woke up this morning to Smoke&Mirrors' orange juice/electric drill/bandaid story...
 
As it happened, only the pilot was killed. This could have been a major disaster.

A 77-year-old has no business flying upside down 8 feet from the ground on purpose.
Stunt flying is for young pilots.

As someone who's flown a little recreational aerobatics I have to disagree Maggie. Civil aircraft in the aerobatic category are limited to 6 positive g and 3 negative and most airshow maneuvers don't approach those limits - they're more in the 4 g range. A healthy 77 years can comfortably handle that level of g and, assuming his hand-eye coordination is still there can fly to pretty tight tolerances. Inverted flight is a 1g maneuver btw - the biggest problem with it, if you're a bigger person, like me, is that you tend to smack your head, painfully, on the canopy once upside down.

There are plenty of older folks on the airshow circuit who do that kind of thing regularly. It's certainly more dangerous than flying from point A to point B but that's the nature of the beast age has little to do with it.
 
As someone who's flown a little recreational aerobatics I have to disagree Maggie. Civil aircraft in the aerobatic category are limited to 6 positive g and 3 negative and most airshow maneuvers don't approach those limits - they're more in the 4 g range. A healthy 77 years can comfortably handle that level of g and, assuming his hand-eye coordination is still there can fly to pretty tight tolerances. Inverted flight is a 1g maneuver btw - the biggest problem with it, if you're a bigger person, like me, is that you tend to smack your head, painfully, on the canopy once upside down.

There are plenty of older folks on the airshow circuit who do that kind of thing regularly. It's certainly more dangerous than flying from point A to point B but that's the nature of the beast age has little to do with it.

By the time most people are 77 years old, they're taking various medications, their reflexes have slowed dramatically, their eyesight and depth perception has changed. One has to wonder what kind of annual review is being done to assure that these people are safe -- not only for themselves, but for the observers. Many 77-year-olds I've known shouldn't even be driving.
 
As someone who's flown a little recreational aerobatics I have to disagree Maggie. Civil aircraft in the aerobatic category are limited to 6 positive g and 3 negative and most airshow maneuvers don't approach those limits - they're more in the 4 g range. A healthy 77 years can comfortably handle that level of g and, assuming his hand-eye coordination is still there can fly to pretty tight tolerances. Inverted flight is a 1g maneuver btw - the biggest problem with it, if you're a bigger person, like me, is that you tend to smack your head, painfully, on the canopy once upside down.

There are plenty of older folks on the airshow circuit who do that kind of thing regularly. It's certainly more dangerous than flying from point A to point B but that's the nature of the beast age has little to do with it.
Tighten your shoulder harness some more. :mrgreen: Glue a piece of foam to the canopy.
 
As it happened, only the pilot was killed. This could have been a major disaster.

A 77-year-old has no business flying upside down 8 feet from the ground on purpose.
Stunt flying is for young pilots.

If it was a mechanical failure, a young pilot would have crashed, too.
 
If it was a mechanical failure, a young pilot would have crashed, too.

Nah, he's have gotten out and fixed it. :lol:
 
The pilots that fly these vintage aircraft are old because they are the experts at flying these things. Most of these crashes are due to a aircraft malfunction, not pilot error. They simply are not as reliable of aircraft as modern airplanes.
 
By the time most people are 77 years old, they're taking various medications, their reflexes have slowed dramatically, their eyesight and depth perception has changed. One has to wonder what kind of annual review is being done to assure that these people are safe -- not only for themselves, but for the observers. Many 77-year-olds I've known shouldn't even be driving.

If he's flying aerobatics for money he would have had at least a commercial pilot certificate and held at least a 2nd class medical. 2nd class medicals require passing a physical with an aviation medical examiner once a year. The FAA has a list of conditions and medications a mile long that are disqualifying or require further documentation from medical specialists. I have an abnormal EKG but no underlying heart problems. Even so after it was found I had to provide the AME with reams of documentation and test results from a cardiologist before they'd issue my 2nd class medical. I'd hazard that most 77 year active pilots are in better shape than their peers.
 
Tighten your shoulder harness some more. :mrgreen: Glue a piece of foam to the canopy.

Lol. After the first time it happened I got into the plane and tightened the harness to the point where it was literally cutting into my shoulders. The instructor just laughed because that's apparently what everyone does. Helped a little but in truth they don't build those birds for 6' 250 pound guys.
 
What about the acrobats that all fell from the ceiling Saturday during a circus performance? None died but they all fell 40 feet. I suspect life altering spinal injuries.
 
There is smoke coming from the plane before it crashes:

 
As it happened, only the pilot was killed. This could have been a major disaster.

A 77-year-old has no business flying upside down 8 feet from the ground on purpose.
Stunt flying is for young pilots.
Probably a better pilot than most 27 year olds, but it is inherently dangerous. Plays the game, takes the chances.
 
The Stearman PT-17 he was flying was built in 1945. 69 year old aircraft...
 
:roll: Really?

It's too damn early on a Monday for that.

I know it came off as rather callous, and I guess it was. I just get tired of the "died doing what they love" phrase when a thrill seeker ends up killing themselves.
 
I know it came off as rather callous, and I guess it was. I just get tired of the "died doing what they love" phrase when a thrill seeker ends up killing themselves.

I didn't see it so much as callus, as Monday morning snark. :lol:

What better way to go though? I hope my time comes while I'm basking in the sun while tending my garden. Though not a thrill seeking activity, it's doing what I love.

How would you prefer to go?
 
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