"As you might be aware, there was an accident at Duxford last year, where during a break to downwind the No. 2 pilot, flying a Skyraider, lost sight of his leader, flying a P-51. The wing of the Skyraider hit the belly of the Mustang, jamming the controls. The pilot was forced to bail out at very low altitude. He made it because he was very well prepared to do so.
There was a similar accident a few years ago, where two RVs ran together after the break to downwind. It was in Illinois, I believe, and it was fatal for at least one pilot.
The reason that I am passing this along is mainly for the food for thought among our RV community. Here are some of the things I see as key points:
Terry Lutz flies an RV-8 and an Airbus A380
There was a similar accident a few years ago, where two RVs ran together after the break to downwind. It was in Illinois, I believe, and it was fatal for at least one pilot.
The reason that I am passing this along is mainly for the food for thought among our RV community. Here are some of the things I see as key points:
- The pilot was ready. He had thought in advance what he had to do, and did it flawlessly.
- The canopy came off cleanly. This is something the RV community should work on. I have looked at the comments about this, and I'm not sure that release pins on each side for a slider are going to work because the canopy is still attached to the rail at the back. I don't have a solution for that, nor do I know what can be done for a tip-up. For the slider, it might be as simple as fixed handles on either side so you can jerk the canopy back positively, and hold with one hand until you are out (the other hand going for your parachute D-ring).
- The Mustang pilot hit his head on the horizontal tail as he went out, but he was wearing a helmet. The helmet he had was made in New Zealand. The folks that make them were at Oshkosh last year, and I spent some time talking to them. Good equipment, but at $2600, it's out of range for most of us. The RV community could do the research and find a company that can make good helmets for a reasonable price.
- Final point is about comm cords. If you are wearing a nice David Clark headset or similar, and you have to get out fast, it is going to jerk your head a bit when you come to the end of your comm cord. The standard plugs are not designed to quick release. If you look at the expensive helmets from New Zealand, and at military gear, you will notice a quick-disconnect about a foot from your head. The plugs are commercially available, and one thing we could do as a community is develop a conversion for headsets cords that installs the quick-disconnect. That is one step toward a safer and possibly successful exit."
- The canopy came off cleanly. This is something the RV community should work on. I have looked at the comments about this, and I'm not sure that release pins on each side for a slider are going to work because the canopy is still attached to the rail at the back. I don't have a solution for that, nor do I know what can be done for a tip-up. For the slider, it might be as simple as fixed handles on either side so you can jerk the canopy back positively, and hold with one hand until you are out (the other hand going for your parachute D-ring).
- The Mustang pilot hit his head on the horizontal tail as he went out, but he was wearing a helmet. The helmet he had was made in New Zealand. The folks that make them were at Oshkosh last year, and I spent some time talking to them. Good equipment, but at $2600, it's out of range for most of us. The RV community could do the research and find a company that can make good helmets for a reasonable price.
- Final point is about comm cords. If you are wearing a nice David Clark headset or similar, and you have to get out fast, it is going to jerk your head a bit when you come to the end of your comm cord. The standard plugs are not designed to quick release. If you look at the expensive helmets from New Zealand, and at military gear, you will notice a quick-disconnect about a foot from your head. The plugs are commercially available, and one thing we could do as a community is develop a conversion for headsets cords that installs the quick-disconnect. That is one step toward a safer and possibly successful exit."
Terry Lutz flies an RV-8 and an Airbus A380
Last edited: