P. Richards

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This video features the last flight of Lewis Pattons A-7...

P. Richards aka SwatTeam

http://youtu.be/VZy2FbiHpQE

Robrow

Commiserations, what a great jet, lessons learned....someone in the wrong pattern?

Rob.

smitty1001

My Feedback: (29)

Nope... I was flying the jet that hit Lewis. It was a freak accident. Knowing Lewis as well as I do I can safely say that neither one of us would appreciate a thread full of speculation. It was very dramatic in the air, zero drama on the ground. An unfortunate end to two jets in the last hours of a week full of many many flights.

Incredible footage btw SWAT

AnthonyW

Smitty,
Everyone I have read are making comments about "sorry Lewis you lost your plane" but what about you! What did you lose? That hurts no matter how it happened and I can see it easily happening at any EVENT not just a jet event when you have multiple planes in the air.
I am sad for the loss of BOTH planes.

gunradd

My Feedback: (9)

He lost a beautiful shockwave that was flying so good all week. No one was at fault and it happens. So I agree no speculation needed.

lookilook

indeed both planes are a loss and the feeling of loosing your plane like this when its been flying flawless is something that i wish i wont feel.!

TimWatson

But no speculation means no fun. Dont you think RCU is already booring enough at the moment

Robrow

Yes, absolutely gutting that both jets were lost, it is something that fortunately only happens rarely and I would not want to upset any one with speculation even though it is human nature. Hopefully at least one thing would have been learned from the incident.

Unrelated to this incident I was flying at another event where on more than one occasion I had to ask while I was actually flying whether the circuit/pattern was left or right because someone was flying the wrong circuit!

Rob.

P. Richards

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The slow motion version and the entire last flight will be added to the Jets Over Kentucky unofficial DVD...

P. Richards aka SwatTeam

bcovish

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You want to have fun at other peoples expense. There is a third party involved in the accident. The owner of the Shockwave.

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

Cool Video!! The music was very fitting!! Nice job!!
Scott

TimWatson

No but what has happened has happened. No amount of speculation will change that.

Quite simple to be honest if you dont want comment or speculation why the heck would you post the video here or indeed at all. I sugest you need to get real

madmodelman

If it's that boring why come on it.

TimWatson

Well to try and spice it up

Pat Barnes

Great video and a spectacular crash indeed! Sad loss for both pilots involved, but all models eventually end up being rekitted! (or should, IMO - never been a fan of seeing good flying models 'retired'. As they say - better to burn out than fade away!) The question is, what's the next project?

ravill

My Feedback: (11)

There was a jet that seemed to be flying opposite pattern at that time.

Condolences to everyone. []

smitty1001

My Feedback: (29)

Nope... Both jets flying a left hand pattern. Probably the silhouette in the vid is deceiving. The Shockwave was in a left bank right about where you see the #1 & #2 jets turn at 10:47" in the vid, on a line that my spotter and I believed was further out and wider than Lewis was.

Both jets have already been replaced with exact same airplanes - one already ready to fly as we speak. Again, really unfortunate event, but completely without drama and amongst good friends. If the hobby was full of Lewis' and Scott's, it be a lot better hobby! Lewis and I have already agreed to do a "tribute" flight next year in which the jets actually DON'T touch.

Dieselman1220

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all involved have already shaken hands and moved on on good terms
What more needs to be said.[8D]

smitty1001

My Feedback: (29)

Probably just "ouch," and "don't do this." Danno had a good comment on the way home: He said that really altitude is the only buffer you have for seperation - the headings and such really can't be judged, especially that far away. That was way down to the left (down to upwind turn), the wreckaged landed near the VASI which you can see in the vid. Anyways... yeah... uh, this IS NOT RECOMMENDED

rcjetsaok

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I guess the next " Gadget " we see coming down the pike will ba a TCAS system... I'm sure the geeks already have the wheels turning !!!!


Danno

ravill

My Feedback: (11)

Good point.

And another good point might be that there might something to learn from mid airs. One thing might be, made by smitty1001, altitude is likely our only defense for mid-airs. Another is how two stand up dudes shook hands and moved on!

John Redman

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Perfectly said Rav!!!! Perfectly said!!!

smitty1001

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Scott and Lewis were the real men here - I went immediately to sickbay on suicide watch. Both of their perspectives RIGHT AWAY (I mean within seconds) were dead nuts on. I'm just happy I got the two weeks of therapy that I did before this thread. (figured I would only get a few hours)

TimWatson

Here is a novel idea. Only fly one plane in the air at a time

rcjetsaok

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Dennis,

I have been out many times and to a lot of events with Smitty, and I can guarantee you he has never flown more than one plane at a time !!!! In fact, there were 150+ pilots at that event and I didn't witness any of them flying more than one plane at a time !!!


Dan