[Athens]

Died Friday when two Canadian Forces Snowbirds crashed in mid-air during a routine training flight over southern Saskatchewan.

[TheBadgerHunter]

They've had a horrible number of crashes. Really should shut down now.

[brapper]

r.i.p.

[ManOfSteal]

[ambush]

RIP but he probably knew the dangers.

[Athens]

Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
They've had a horrible number of crashes. Really should shut down now.

They average 1 death every 10 years.

[James L]

Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
They've had a horrible number of crashes. Really should shut down now.

Welcome to the nature of this type of flying. The Blue Angels, another demo team, just had a plane crash in the gulf of Mexico last week during a training flight. Since they were formed in 1946 (I think it was 1946 they were formed) the Blue Angels have had something like 23 pilots killed during airshows or during training flights.

Since 1967 I think the Snowbirds have lost 5 or 6 pilots.

It's dangerous work, and all involved accept those risks going in.

[Athens]

Originally posted by James L:
Welcome to the nature of this type of flying. The Blue Angels, another demo team, just had a plane crash in the gulf of Mexico last week during a training flight. Since they were formed in 1946 (I think it was 1946 they were formed) the Blue Angels have had something like 23 pilots killed during airshows or during training flights.

Since 1967 I think the Snowbirds have lost 5 or 6 pilots.

It's dangerous work, and all involved accept those risks going in.

Snowbird accidents



On Dec. 10, 2004, two Snowbirds jets crashed in mid-air during a practice near Mossbank, Sask. One pilot, Capt. Miles Selby, 31, was killed, and the other, Capt. Chuck Mallett, sustained minor injuries.

Other accidents:

June 21, 2001: Two jets flying in a nine-jet formation collide over Lake Erie, sending one of the jets into the water. The pilot, Maj. Robert Painchaud, ejects from his aircraft and lands in Lake Erie without injury.

September 2000: On Labour Day weekend, two of the Snowbirds' Tutor jets sustain minor damage when the wing of one craft grazes the tail of another as they are on the way to the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto. The pilots are not injured and both planes land safely.

Dec. 10, 1998: Capt. Michael VandenBos, 29, dies following a mid-air collision with another Snowbird aircraft during a training flight near Moose Jaw, Sask.

1997: Two Snowbirds touch wingtips in mid-air in Glen Falls, N.Y. There are no injuries.

1994: Two pilots eject from their aircraft near Moose Jaw, sustaining minor injuries.

1992: Two pilots eject safely from their jets near Bagotville, Que.

1992: A crash near Moose Jaw is blamed on a failed engine bearing. There are no injuries.

1991: A Snowbird jet crashes during a routine training flight near Moose Jaw. The two pilots are not seriously injured.

1989: Capt. Shane Antaya, 26, is killed during an air show at the CNE in Toronto, when his plane crashed into Lake Ontario.

1978: Capt. Gordon de Jong, 32, is killed during an air show in Grande Prairie, Alta.

1972: Capt. Lloyd Waterer, 24, is killed during an air show in Trenton, Ont.

Sources: DND, RCAF, CP


http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/snowbirds/

[Kilbey]

A horrible accident.

A terrific tragedy.

[TheBadgerHunter]

Originally posted by James L:
Welcome to the nature of this type of flying. The Blue Angels, another demo team, just had a plane crash in the gulf of Mexico last week during a training flight. Since they were formed in 1946 (I think it was 1946 they were formed) the Blue Angels have had something like 23 pilots killed during airshows or during training flights.

Since 1967 I think the Snowbirds have lost 5 or 6 pilots.

It's dangerous work, and all involved accept those risks going in.

And it is completely unacceptable. Since when did these deaths become acceptable in hat amounts to an entertainment industry. Sad.

[James L]

Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
And it is completely unacceptable. Since when did these deaths become acceptable in hat amounts to an entertainment industry. Sad.

There are deaths in many types of industries. My own (emergency health care), stuntman dying in movie productions, cab drivers getting killed in car accidents, hydro workers falling while connecting lines, etc.

No one is saying that deaths are acceptable, but if you want to shut down industries that are considered at risk you are going to shut the planet down!

These brave men and women that fly are at more risk driving their car to work each morning than they are when they fly and train in their airplanes.

In the Alaska fishing industry they can average 20 - 35 deaths per year while performing their job functions. Drivers and on the road sales agents are also very high at risk due to motor vehicle accidents.

I am not saying death is acceptable (and I see it daily at work). Air force flying is a calling, however, and the men and women who fly know the risks. When you look at the statistics these people could quite possibly be more at risk if they stopped flying and got a job on a construction site.

[Rev-O]

No one forced him to do this. He died doing what he loved. On one hand, it is a shame, on the other hand, I can only hope to die doing something that mean so much to me. God bless him.

[TheBadgerHunter]

Originally posted by James L:
There are deaths in many types of industries. My own (emergency health care), stuntman dying in movie productions, cab drivers getting killed in car accidents, hydro workers falling while connecting lines, etc.

No one is saying that deaths are acceptable, but if you want to shut down industries that are considered at risk you are going to shut the planet down!

These brave men and women that fly are at more risk driving their car to work each morning than they are when they fly and train in their airplanes.

In the Alaska fishing industry they can average 20 - 35 deaths per year while performing their job functions. Drivers and on the road sales agents are also very high at risk due to motor vehicle accidents.

I am not saying death is acceptable (and I see it daily at work). Air force flying is a calling, however, and the men and women who fly know the risks. When you look at the statistics these people could quite possibly be more at risk if they stopped flying and got a job on a construction site.

There is a problem when more deaths occur in airshow practice and performance than combat or combat training. It isn't like this is a real industry here and it seems absurd to sacrifice safety for entertainment.