Storm just hit SnF. - Page 10

KatieB · #91 03-31-2011, 06:43 PM

We were in our Jabiru booth when it hit. Ben and Pete (my boyfriend and my boss) hung on to the tent to try to keep it from going into the planes and hurting anyone that was out there, but it folded up and sent them both flying. (not far enough to create any injuries, thank God.) The storm might have been fairly brief but it was the most terrifying moments of my life as I laid there under the remains of the tent with the water rising, waiting for it to end, hoping Ben didn't fly away from me like a scene out of Twister. The collapsed tent protected me from the hail, but Ben and Pete were out in it and they said it hurt. Our new J230 demonstrator flipped onto its back into the street. I'm so sad for Roger and the guys at Zenith. It broke our hearts to see so many RVs and other homebuilts out there torn up, especially our friend Tony's RV-3.

And Dammit! I really wanted to see TeamRV's show performance!!

Kevin Horton · #92 03-31-2011, 06:46 PM

Wow. My heart just breaks looking at the pictures of the mangled aircraft. I had hoped to fly my RV-8 to SNF this year, but work got in the way. I was a bit torqued about that, but not anymore.

I'm so happy that no one seems to have gotten injured though. Planes can be rebuilt (yeah, I know that is easier to say if it isn't your plane that got smashed).

BigJohn · #93 03-31-2011, 07:07 PM

Here are a few photos that I took immediately after the disaster at Sun-n-fun. This is just a small portion of the damage. We took refuge in one of the big steel hangars near the Van's tent, which somehow survived with Mitch Lock and possibly other Van's folks inside.

dutchroll · #94 03-31-2011, 07:12 PM

Another one which shows a bit of a train wreck. You can see the tiedowns in the foreground just came straight out of the soil.

The pictures show a terrible material loss for some people, but take heart in the fact that there were also many lucky tents and planes which survived unscathed.

We left shortly after. The authorities were pretty much just trying to get people out of the way.

LeeM_2000 · #95 03-31-2011, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dutchroll

I am pretty sure that is Bob Barrows' Bearhawk Patrol.

eric_marsh · #96 03-31-2011, 07:28 PM

Man, I feel really badly for everyone there. What a terrible thing.

JDAviator · #97 03-31-2011, 08:16 PM

We were in the BBQ tent next to the FAA hangar when it hit. Everyone in that tent was shuffled into the block building/kitchen where the BBQ was prepared and served (I'd estimate 100 of us, give or take). We were packed in there pretty tight, then the lights went out. Everyone remained calm. As we stepped outside 10min or so later, the first thing I saw was the yellow and black Avitat Husky on floats, upside down and totally destroyed. This all happened so unbelievably fast.

I'm happy that no one (to my knowledge) was seriously hurt, but am saddened by the loss of so many aircraft - many of which were labors of love.

Sig600 · #98 03-31-2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDAviator

I'm happy that no one (to my knowledge) was seriously hurt, but am saddened by the loss of so many aircraft - many of which were labors of love.

That's what makes it so sad. Glad to hear no one was seriously hurt.

turbo · #99 03-31-2011, 08:23 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WyD7gPWTes

media center snf video.

TrutrakTech · #**100** 03-31-2011, 08:47 PM

As posted earlier, we're all ok here. Being an indoor exhibitor has an advantage of already being under cover. It was pretty scary with rain and wind noise. Being from KS personally, I've been through several tornadoes in my life.

I am saddened by the loss of so much property, but am very glad that no one was seriously injured.