Here comes the runway....REALLY FAST
- Thread starter av8trxx
- Start date
av8trxx
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the tip. I was able to search and locate this blurb-
"The 7th video clip you show above was of a de Havilland Canada Buffalo (I think). It was being demonstrated at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK in 1984, I was there as at the time I worked as a student engineer for part of the GEC group in the UK.
The aircraft was being flown by an ex-RAF Red Arrows team leader (I forget his name) and at the time was making a steep approach to a short landing. It was a cold, gusty day and I was near the eastern end of the static park watching the aircraft descending steeply. As he was coming down there was a sudden sharp gust of wind from the east, an instant later I could see the aircraft being to sink very rapidly and immediately the elevator up angle became very marked. One of my friends also there said “I don’t think he’s going to make it!” He was right.
After the impact both impact-triggered fire extinguishers fired and snuffed out the burst of flame from both engines as the wings crumpled, the undercarriage broke and most of the propeller blades flew off. After this we walked down to see the very tired and crumpled aircraft sitting on the edge of the runway with the airport fire service in attendance putting foam down onto the fuel that was spilled all over the place. It was instructive to note that several of the aircraft in the static park, inlcuding an F-16, had holes of various shapes and sizes in them where pieces of debris had hit them. I’m quite amazed still that there were no injuries among the spectators along the railings facing the runway at the edge of the static park. The show commentator was busy telling everyone that despite the damage the fuselage was intact and the survival chances of passengers in such an impact were very good. I did note that it took a while for the crew to vacate the aircraft, maybe because they were suffering from jelly legs syndrome.
I’ve seen other videos of the crash where it is possible to see one propeller blade executing a ballastic trajectory over the top of the crowd and the static park, heading off towards the car parking area. As we walked back towards our coach at the end of the day, we passed by the spot where the blade landed in the car park, It had basically flattened one car from the windscreen back to the tailgate, although the car was very old and worth very little. Either side of this, and undamaged, were two brand new shiny expensive Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce cars. So at least someone had some luck that day. "
http://www.rapp.org/archives/2004/09/aircraft_crash_videos
"The 7th video clip you show above was of a de Havilland Canada Buffalo (I think). It was being demonstrated at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK in 1984, I was there as at the time I worked as a student engineer for part of the GEC group in the UK.
The aircraft was being flown by an ex-RAF Red Arrows team leader (I forget his name) and at the time was making a steep approach to a short landing. It was a cold, gusty day and I was near the eastern end of the static park watching the aircraft descending steeply. As he was coming down there was a sudden sharp gust of wind from the east, an instant later I could see the aircraft being to sink very rapidly and immediately the elevator up angle became very marked. One of my friends also there said “I don’t think he’s going to make it!” He was right.
After the impact both impact-triggered fire extinguishers fired and snuffed out the burst of flame from both engines as the wings crumpled, the undercarriage broke and most of the propeller blades flew off. After this we walked down to see the very tired and crumpled aircraft sitting on the edge of the runway with the airport fire service in attendance putting foam down onto the fuel that was spilled all over the place. It was instructive to note that several of the aircraft in the static park, inlcuding an F-16, had holes of various shapes and sizes in them where pieces of debris had hit them. I’m quite amazed still that there were no injuries among the spectators along the railings facing the runway at the edge of the static park. The show commentator was busy telling everyone that despite the damage the fuselage was intact and the survival chances of passengers in such an impact were very good. I did note that it took a while for the crew to vacate the aircraft, maybe because they were suffering from jelly legs syndrome.
I’ve seen other videos of the crash where it is possible to see one propeller blade executing a ballastic trajectory over the top of the crowd and the static park, heading off towards the car parking area. As we walked back towards our coach at the end of the day, we passed by the spot where the blade landed in the car park, It had basically flattened one car from the windscreen back to the tailgate, although the car was very old and worth very little. Either side of this, and undamaged, were two brand new shiny expensive Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce cars. So at least someone had some luck that day. "
http://www.rapp.org/archives/2004/09/aircraft_crash_videos
tonyw
Well-Known Member
It was a Buffalo. I showed the clip to someone who was there. Apparently, there was a shift in the wind so the pilot was flying with a tailwind, and just before that happened, the guy who was there said, you know, it's going to really screw things up with them flying downwind.
Anyway, he told me that nobody got hurt, but someone's car ended up with a prop as a hood ornament!
Anyway, he told me that nobody got hurt, but someone's car ended up with a prop as a hood ornament!
tonyw
Well-Known Member
Well, the pilot was looking to demonstrate the Buffalo's short field capability. I guess, in a way, he did.
What's impressive is that the pilots walked away from that, uh, landing. And if you check out the fuselage, it doesn't look like it got damaged! Hell, I'll bet they could have flown that again if the put a new landing gear and wings on that thing.
Also, the announcer at the show said nothing for a few minutes, and then he said something along the lines of, ladies and gentlemen, there's a runway blockage that we'll have to clear in order to continue the show.
That cracked me up, and I need to get revenge on the guy who told me this because coffee and nostrils are not a good combination.
What's impressive is that the pilots walked away from that, uh, landing. And if you check out the fuselage, it doesn't look like it got damaged! Hell, I'll bet they could have flown that again if the put a new landing gear and wings on that thing.
Also, the announcer at the show said nothing for a few minutes, and then he said something along the lines of, ladies and gentlemen, there's a runway blockage that we'll have to clear in order to continue the show.
That cracked me up, and I need to get revenge on the guy who told me this because coffee and nostrils are not a good combination.
av8trxx
Well-Known Member
“The only accident at Farnborough thus far that (announcer Stratton) Richey has witnessed was the injury-free de Havilland Buffalo prang in 1984. “John [Blake] was commentating, and as the aeroplane began its approach he said, ‘Now ladies and gentlemen I want you to watch this landing. It’s going to be spectacular, a show-stopper.’ John soon turned to me and said he had a feeling he wished he’d never said that. He was right. In it went, and some major bits and pieces fell off.” When the wreckage came to rest, the hatch in the roof of the cockpit opened and a head appeared, slowly surveying the scene to see what was left of the airplane.
There was more, according to Richey’s memory of the mishap. “Allegedly, HM’s Customs and Excise turned up at the de Havilland chalet later that day with a bill for permanent importation of goods, since they weren’t going to be taking the aircraft home to Canada.
That evening, I heard the operator of one of two big cranes, summoned to remove the scattered pieces of Buffalo, ask his mate, ‘Hey, Fred, you want a wing or a leg?’”
http://www.ainonline.com/Publications/farn/farn_02/farn_02d2_downmemorypg50.html
There was more, according to Richey’s memory of the mishap. “Allegedly, HM’s Customs and Excise turned up at the de Havilland chalet later that day with a bill for permanent importation of goods, since they weren’t going to be taking the aircraft home to Canada.
http://www.ainonline.com/Publications/farn/farn_02/farn_02d2_downmemorypg50.html
