Seven dead after Hawker Hunter hits cars

[Harlequin]

Would the Hunter have a flight recorder ?

no - whilst modern military aircraft have the ability , and large civil airliners have black boxes reguired, the hunter did not have one

 

[Von Smallhausen]

Ah, cheers.

 

[DJMK4]

So the pilot was pulled from the wreckage? didnt realise that

 

[Burnsy2023]

So the pilot was pulled from the wreckage? didnt realise that

It's unclear if he ejected or not.

 

[Freakbro]

Is he still alive?

 

[Harlequin]

there is a photo at the moment of impact - it shows the cockpit hinged back , which is doubtful the sequence had been initiated as the cockpit is fully separated in ejection;also the seat is a mk4 , so none rocket assist , and not technically zero-zero capable.

 

[Harlequin]

dupe

 

[WillyNelson]

One thing I have been thinking about is the directional heading the aircraft was following during the 'loop'. Now it might just be down to the positioning of the camera person but to me it looks like the aircraft enters the loop on one directional heading but exits on a different. I do not know whether that was the plan or if that actually is the case it is just how it appears to me on the video which I do find a tad strange.

I think you're right. He seems to start the loop in the direction of the display line but exits it pointing further to the west.

 

[Dis86]

It's unclear if he ejected or not.

I saw a photo where it looked like he did, cockpit cover was off and there was a rectangular lump perpendicular to the main body.

 

[DJMK4]

Is he still alive?

Critical condition in hospital I believe

 

[Harlequin]

I think you're right. He seems to start the loop in the direction of the display line but exits it pointing further to the west.

a half Cuban or quarter clover is the name of the manoeuvre he could be using = its not a plain loop

 

[Harlequin]

I saw a photo where it looked like he did, cockpit cover was off and there was a rectangular lump perpendicular to the main body.

the canopy is completely separated in ejection = it popped open on impact not ejection.

would like to be proven wrong , but that altitude is way out of parameter for a mk4 seat and successful ejection , you don't find many walking away from leaving on any bang seat under 200 feet

 

[ubersonic]

No it doesn't, and the Hunter is hardly a 'vintage' aircraft.

It's old enough to claim a bus pass, it is historically closer to the Sopwith Camel than it is to the Eurofighter. When introduced it replaced a WW2 fighter and then in the 60's it was itself replaced by another plane which was replaced by another plane which was replaced by the Eurofighter.

What part of that does not imply vintage?

 

[Harlequin]

whilst it might be `old` , like those with similar vintage cars , a lot of time and money is spent on keeping them in top condition - if not the CAA would pull its airworthiness certificate

 

[Trig]

Certainly didnt look like a loop to me...

Problem is with a lot of these planes they now fly a lot slower and softer due to trying to extend the hours before services, (Spitfires for instance don't run at full throttle or pull max G's so things like engine rebuilds are done at 750h rather than the 250h otherwise.).
The Hunter was a fighter, and a simple maneuver like this should have been well within its ability, so, at this point I'm calling pilot error, too low at start point or too slow and he stalls out a bit at the top which is why he comes off line and hits the ground.

 

[Burnsy2023]

The Hunter was a fighter, and a simple maneuver like this should have been well within its ability, so, at this point I'm calling pilot error, too low at start point or too slow and he stalls out a bit at the top which is why he comes off line and hits the ground.

So there are only two options now then?

 

[Trig]

Comparing the Hunter to the E-Types hardly the same, the Jag is in a race, where the Hunter wont have been flying as fast as it used too, its common to run older aircraft slower and softer, as said above for longevity reasons.

 

[Trig]

So there are only two options now then?

I'm no AAIB and have only seen a few video's, at this point I'd say more pilot than aircraft, but we'll see, no doubt whatever the actual reasons it'll be called pilot error IMHO...

 

[Harlequin]

this is the first time in 62 YEARS that bystander and none involved lives have been lost at a UK airshow. yes aircraft have crashed and yes pilots have died. but this is the first time since Farnborough in September 1952 , others have been killed.

 

[Muban]

Awful news indeed.

He was not in control of the aircraft before it crashed. An aircraft with its nose up and still dropping at that altitude is not flying under control. Without a huge amount of engine power on tap to push him back up there is not a lot the pilot can do. For whatever reason he did not have the altitude or thrust to complete the loop. We will find out why once the investigation is complete.

For what ever reason the pilot ended up in a stall at a very low altitude with neither the height nor power to recover the aircraft. Why that was will be discovered in the investigation.

I watched the footage once and from that I came to the same conclusion too low out of the loop without enough power, you could tell before it crashed there was just no way he was going to be able to pull out of it. Very sad. Why that ended up happening could be one or more of any number of reasons. Nothing at this stage can be ruled out (mechanical/conditions/pilot error). The age of the aircraft though is not a concern. Comparing an old aircraft with strict and high maintenance standards to a vintage car is just ludicrous and only highlights the lack of knowledge on the subject.