[MoMo]

One of the last of the flying Hurricanes crashed at an Air Show at Shoream Today. Let's all say a prayer for the pilot.

WWII aircraft pilot dies in crash

The Hurricane was taking part in a WWII re-enactment The pilot of a WWII plane was killed when his aircraft crashed during an airshow display in West Sussex. A spokesman for Shoreham Airshow in West Sussex confirmed that one person died when the Hurricane went down in countryside at 1520 BST. He said no-one else was hurt or injured during the accident which took place north of the A27 on Saturday afternoon. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is expected to carry out an investigation into the crash. They were doing a mock dog fight and it looked like the plane was doing a dive, but it was going too fast and smashed straight into the ground. Holly Russell Tim Deakin, who saw the plane plough into the hillside, told BBC News 24: "Midway through the dogfight one of the planes, I'm not sure which one, literally, turned quite steeply, went into almost a straight dive and ploughed into a hill probably about a mile from the airfield." Formation flypast Two Spitfires carried out a flypast in the "man missing in action" formation shortly after the crash, he said. Around 20,000 people are believed to have attended the show on Saturday. Its website describes the weekend event as "one of the premier airshows in the UK". It is located at the UK's oldest licensed airport and includes a number of air displays and ground events. The theme for this year's event was the "50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight". Spectators said the airshow was delayed for about 30 minutes but organisers said over the tannoy system that the pilot would have wanted them to carry on. Eyewitness Holly Russell, from Worthing, said: "They were doing a mock dog fight and it looked like the plane was doing a dive, but it was going too fast and smashed straight into the ground. "It was nose down... There was a mushroom cloud of black smoke." Sussex Police have urged anyone with video or photographic footage of the crash to contact them.

[Shawn 507]

Very sad. Why dog fight when just seeing it fly by is good enough. RIP to the pilot and plane.

[MoMo]

Two thoughts strike me following this tragedy :

• perhaps these flying relics of WW2 are just too dangerous for today's pilots to take the risk flying them
• some aircraft are now so rare that they should be grounded permenantly

I know that this view will upset a lot of our Fly-Guys on MHll, but I can't help but feel sorry for the family of the pilot, and I can't help feeling that the ancient technology, the primitive controls on the planes and the diminishing cats' lives of the planes themselves, all conspire to make the risks to great. Sixty year old machines should have their rest, and be the object of admiration for future generations while pilots should not be tempted by the buzz of flying them, given the risks.

Anyway, as I said above, I'm sure that all our thoughts go out to the dead pilot's folk and friends.

MoMo

[jim]

Originally Posted by MoMo

Two thoughts strike me following this tragedy :

• perhaps these flying relics of WW2 are just too dangerous for today's pilots to take the risk flying them
• some aircraft are now so rare that they should be grounded permenantly

I know that this view will upset a lot of our Fly-Guys on MHll, but I can't help but feel sorry for the family of the pilot, and I can't help feeling that the ancient technology, the primitive controls on the planes and the diminishing cats' lives of the planes themselves, all conspire to make the risks to great. Sixty year old machines should have their rest, and be the object of admiration for future generations while pilots should not be tempted by the buzz of flying them, given the risks.

Anyway, as I said above, I'm sure that all our thoughts go out to the dead pilot's folk and friends.

MoMo

Mo , these planes are in better condition now than when they were first built. Up graded systems in the hydrolics and electrics etc.
Dont forget the the story of the axe, 3 new handles and 2 new heads but its still an old axe.

I have been around these planes for many years and the inspection of these aircraft are second to none.
In my experience lack of hours in type is more often the major problem and cause of loss of aircraft and pilot.

Its so very sad when we lose one of these "special" pilots.

My thoughts are with his family.

[Hurriup!]

Sad,sad event indeed Tragic to see an old warhorse go down and even more tragic that the pilot has lost his life.Condolences to his family.

[STARMAN 352ND]

That is so sad to hear...My thoughts and prayers go to the pilot's family.
Anyway i have been in touch with a buddy
that his father is over there at that airshow and it seems that the Hurricane might of been AE&C Serial BD707 but he wasn't sure because
he didn't see the plane land but knew it was in the air....Also on another forum there saying the same thing..
Sadly, aircraft can be rebuilt but pilots can't...

Last week at Duxford.

[JustPlaneNuttz]

Such a tragic tragic loss of 'plane and pilot. Neither can be replaced.

[chascbv]

May the pilot's body rest in peace, and his soul meet the All in afterlife; my thoughts go out to his loved ones, and those who will miss him.

It is also sad that a "living" piece of history has been lost. I agree with Shawn 507 - these machines should not be exposed to high-risk conditions, their historic value should prevail over the "fun" factor. Seeing a Hurry fly by should be great enough and fully satisfy a true plane-lover..., or so I feel.

[STARMAN 352ND]

I have been told by my friend in the UK that the pilot was Brian Brown 49 ......
Brain also flew in the jet sequences in 1997's "Tomorrow Never Dies" James Bond movie.
My god be with his family at this time and my thoughts & Prayers are with his family.
JP

This is the newspaper link my friend sent me.
http://www.theargus.co.uk/display.va...is_name d.php

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/6997875.stm

[STARMAN 352ND]

I was following up on a story and found out today the Brian volunteered his services because of a shortage of pilots that day, it was revealed today.
He was also one of the best Hurricane pilots around.
JP