Snowbirds/Snowbird crash

[OKkayak]

Although I do enjoy watching air displays, there have been so many deaths resulting from that particular form of entertainment that I too wonder if it’s time to retire such shows. Particularly from our armed forces. Because, as a mother, I know I wouldn't want MY child to suffer such an unnecessary death.

The Snowbirds have had 9 deaths since forming in 1978. If you include all the other fatalities in other air show incidents, it would be less then an average year of fatalities in the civil air sector.

Thinking like this and “throwing in the towel” because of rare tragic events is what makes this world such a dismal and negative place.

Or to be sitting home in your house. Then. Ka frickin BOOM.

Don’t live close to an airport if you’re that paranoid. More 172s have crashed into homes than any aerobatic team ever will.

[Even Steven]

Although I do enjoy watching air displays, there have been so many deaths resulting from that particular form of entertainment that I too wonder if it’s time to retire such shows. Particularly from our armed forces. Because, as a mother, I know I wouldn't want MY child to suffer such an unnecessary death.

Or to be sitting home in your house. Then. Ka frickin BOOM.

May be it's time to stop sitting in your house. With so many deaths happening inside the house, I know I wouldn't want my kid to go through this.

[oldtrucker]

It was just a normal takeoff in formation with another aircraft. It's not like they were actually performing or doing anything complicated at the time. That could have happened training at home in Moose Jaw. Could have happened on any takeoff.
Ramstein in 88- that was a bad airshow crash while performing.

[oldtrucker]

She was the public relations officer for the team. Not a pilot...and that would be the unbelievably painful part for the surviving capt.

[lensbaby]

This is just an expensive and potentially deadly PR machine for the government. Maybe it is time to end the Snowbirds program.

.

Would you like the airports closed too? I wondered how long it would be before someone trotted that one out.
Maybe ban cars too while we are overhauling?

[Catri]

Rest in Peace Capt. Casey. I pray for peace for her loved ones, for the entire Snowbirds team and the RCAF family at large.

[normaM]

so young

[nepal]

Normal takeoff, but as another poster mentioned, in one video a faint engine burst can be heard near the end of the runway, then pilot likely immediately used remaining speed to pull up to get height to return to the runway, but it then wing-stalled and spun-in due to lack of speed, while trying to make the turn back. The alternative would be to eject/ditch straight ahead, but where! Could have been a bird strike near end of runway, or compressor failure. One video does show a large bird over the end of the runway, and other birds can be heard nearby. Engine failure right after liftoff, is the most difficult situation to deal with.

It seems the highly skilled pilot made a heroic effort to return to the runway, but a very difficult task with little speed and altitude to work with.
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[gardengirl]

Such a sad day.
I remember seeing the Snowbirds for the first time when I was about 6 years old. They were performing at the Kelowna Regatta, along with the jet boats.
I have seen them many times since then. It is always thrilling, even when they are just doing a fly past.
I used to work close to the airport and you always knew who it was when you heard them.

Each time there has been an accident, there has been talk of retiring the planes. I do understand that. Regardless of the maintenance done, they are old planes. I imagine that conversation will come up again.

I have mixed feelings about the possibility of ending the program. I know it is basically PR and probably costs a lot to maintain, at the same time, it is one of the few things that makes me feel truly patriotic when I see it.
We Canadians are not flag wavers as a rule, but the Snowbirds always gets to me.

[Urbane]

Sad but at least it's good to hear that the injuries the pilot sustained are not life-threatening. It's good to know as well that the residents of the home weren't injured but very sad that there was a fatality.

I think it would be the wrong move to give up on the Snowbirds but I have to agree with Green Barbarian that it's time to upgrade the planes. Using single engine planes doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

[rookie314]

Sad but at least it's good to hear that the injuries the pilot sustained are not life-threatening. It's good to know as well that the residents of the home weren't injured but very sad that there was a fatality.

I think it would be the wrong move to give up on the Snowbirds but I have to agree with Green Barbarian that it's time to upgrade the planes. Using single engine planes doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

Sad but at least it's good to hear that the injuries the pilot sustained are not life-threatening. It's good to know as well that the residents of the home weren't injured but very sad that there was a fatality.

I think it would be the wrong move to give up on the Snowbirds but I have to agree with Green Barbarian that it's time to upgrade the planes. Using single engine planes doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

Google Lethbrige Airshow F18 crash.

[Queen K]

NBC News! The vid!


https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/cana ... e-n1208961

[Urban Cowboy]

Although I do enjoy watching air displays, there have been so many deaths resulting from that particular form of entertainment that I too wonder if it’s time to retire such shows. Particularly from our armed forces. Because, as a mother, I know I wouldn't want MY child to suffer such an unnecessary death.

I get where you're coming from, but remember this is a high risk assignment, one that the members fought hard to get, and really in the end they encountered an unfortunate set of circumstances which cost them their lives, but no more so than an auto accident victim, a chance every driver takes each time they start their car.

There have been eight casualties, but how does that compare to motor vehicle deaths? My guess is they are safer in the skies.

Insofar as unnecessary deaths go, what about dying playing hockey, or football, or skiing, snowboarding, skydiving, auto racing, they all come with risk, and by your metric could easily be considered unnecessary. Should those all be ceased as well?

[The Green Barbarian]

Bruce Springsteen's son is a firefighter in New Jersey. He has a rich dad but he's choosing a dangerous profession anyway. It would be great if we could just put kids in bubble wrap their whole lives, but in the end we have to support their dreams. As hard as that is sometimes, and as sad as the consequences sometimes are.

[oldtrucker]

A cockpit perspective
This is a ejection from a CT-155 during a engine failure from a bird strike @ Moose Jaw
They lost the engine at about 235 knots which may have been a bit faster than the CT114 was flying at that point in flight in todays crash.