SNOWBIRDS CRASH IN YQT!!
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AEROMONKEY
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SNOWBIRDS CRASH IN YQT!!
2 Snowbirds collided prior to the start of the airshow today......no word on the pilots yet
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Capt. Cool
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WTF?Boss Hawg wrote:Now they are saying there was some radioactive material on the plane, possibly uranium, so they are telling people to stay away.
Is that normal?
"FLY THE AIRPLANE"!
http://www.youtube.com/hazatude
http://www.youtube.com/hazatude
Here is the latest from the National Post......
Snowbird jet crashes in Ont.
Canadian Press
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
THUNDER BAY, Ont. (CP) -- A jet from the storied Snowbirds aerobatics squadron crashed Wednesday on its way to an air show in this northern Ontario city, exploding in a rural field just seconds after its pilot ejected safely.
Jae Malana, a civilian spokesman for the Department of National Defense, confirmed the aircraft was one of the Snowbirds. A hospital official said the pilot was in stable condition.
"I saw one of the planes immediately turn towards the ground and go at a very high speed directly at the ground and disappear," witness Scott Dougall told CKPR radio in Thunder Bay.
"After that I saw a puff of smoke come up from the ground, and I also saw a parchute at about 5,000, 6,000 feet in the air. It looked like somebody had ejected and the plane crashed into the ground."
An organizer for the air show, called Thunder in the Air, said the plane crashed just before it was to start at 5:30 p.m. ET. The event was cancelled just 10 minutes later when it was announced that a plane had crashed.
Local resident Dennis Trevisanutto Jr., who was standing on the deck of his home when he saw the crash, said he rescued the pilot after he saw the parachute descending.
"I was standing on the deck and I saw the plane going over and we heard ... a loud explosion," he told Thunder Bay radio station CJUK. "And I looked out and I could see him parachuting down into the woods. So I thought I'd take a ride over there and see if I could find him or pick him up. ... (I) ended up wandering around in the bush there and I spotted him, and he seemed to be OK."
"When I first saw him I asked if he was OK, and he said yes and said his engines failed."
Trevisanutto drove the pilot, identified by the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal as Capt. Andy McKay, 39, of Orleans, Ont., to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
Hospital spokeswoman Roberta Wood did not confirm the identity of the pilot or discuss the nature of his injuries, but said he was in stable condition.
The air show had been scheduled to take place at Marina Park, by the city's downtown harbour on the northern shore of Lake Superior.
A concert that had been scheduled to follow the event went on as planned.
The Snowbirds are next scheduled to perform in St. Catharines, Ont., on Saturday and Sunday, but it was not immediately known if the shows would be cancelled.
They are also slated to fly at the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto on Labour Day weekend.
The accident is certain to prompt renewed concerns about both the safety and the value of the internationally renowned Snowbirds, who are marking their 35th anniversary this year.
Defence Minister Bill Graham wouldn't say whether Wednesday's crash will endanger the future of program.
"Until we know exactly what happened, it's very difficult to evaluate the risk factors that was in there," he said from Ottawa.
"It's too early to give the cause. We're still trying to ascertain that."
The jets the Snowbirds fly, Canadair CT-114 Tutors, are more than 30 years old. The last one came off the assembly line in 1966 -- before most of the pilots were born.
However, the pilots have defended the program, saying the aircraft are safe and the shows they put on are part of the Canadian cultural fabric.
The last time there was a crash during an air show in Canada was on July 10 in Moose Jaw, Sask., when two American stunt pilots died after their biplanes collided before 20,000 horrified spectators.
The last crash of a Snowbird occurred on Dec. 10, 2004, when Capt. Miles Selby died in a fiery collision with colleague Capt. . Mallet during a training session just south of their Moose Jaw home base. Mallet survived the accident.
The team is comprised of Canadian Forces pilots.
He must have been in a bit of a daze if he thinks "his engines failed" Other than that he sounds okay!
Snowbird jet crashes in Ont.
Canadian Press
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
THUNDER BAY, Ont. (CP) -- A jet from the storied Snowbirds aerobatics squadron crashed Wednesday on its way to an air show in this northern Ontario city, exploding in a rural field just seconds after its pilot ejected safely.
Jae Malana, a civilian spokesman for the Department of National Defense, confirmed the aircraft was one of the Snowbirds. A hospital official said the pilot was in stable condition.
"I saw one of the planes immediately turn towards the ground and go at a very high speed directly at the ground and disappear," witness Scott Dougall told CKPR radio in Thunder Bay.
"After that I saw a puff of smoke come up from the ground, and I also saw a parchute at about 5,000, 6,000 feet in the air. It looked like somebody had ejected and the plane crashed into the ground."
An organizer for the air show, called Thunder in the Air, said the plane crashed just before it was to start at 5:30 p.m. ET. The event was cancelled just 10 minutes later when it was announced that a plane had crashed.
Local resident Dennis Trevisanutto Jr., who was standing on the deck of his home when he saw the crash, said he rescued the pilot after he saw the parachute descending.
"I was standing on the deck and I saw the plane going over and we heard ... a loud explosion," he told Thunder Bay radio station CJUK. "And I looked out and I could see him parachuting down into the woods. So I thought I'd take a ride over there and see if I could find him or pick him up. ... (I) ended up wandering around in the bush there and I spotted him, and he seemed to be OK."
"When I first saw him I asked if he was OK, and he said yes and said his engines failed."
Trevisanutto drove the pilot, identified by the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal as Capt. Andy McKay, 39, of Orleans, Ont., to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
Hospital spokeswoman Roberta Wood did not confirm the identity of the pilot or discuss the nature of his injuries, but said he was in stable condition.
The air show had been scheduled to take place at Marina Park, by the city's downtown harbour on the northern shore of Lake Superior.
A concert that had been scheduled to follow the event went on as planned.
The Snowbirds are next scheduled to perform in St. Catharines, Ont., on Saturday and Sunday, but it was not immediately known if the shows would be cancelled.
They are also slated to fly at the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto on Labour Day weekend.
The accident is certain to prompt renewed concerns about both the safety and the value of the internationally renowned Snowbirds, who are marking their 35th anniversary this year.
Defence Minister Bill Graham wouldn't say whether Wednesday's crash will endanger the future of program.
"Until we know exactly what happened, it's very difficult to evaluate the risk factors that was in there," he said from Ottawa.
"It's too early to give the cause. We're still trying to ascertain that."
The jets the Snowbirds fly, Canadair CT-114 Tutors, are more than 30 years old. The last one came off the assembly line in 1966 -- before most of the pilots were born.
However, the pilots have defended the program, saying the aircraft are safe and the shows they put on are part of the Canadian cultural fabric.
The last time there was a crash during an air show in Canada was on July 10 in Moose Jaw, Sask., when two American stunt pilots died after their biplanes collided before 20,000 horrified spectators.
The last crash of a Snowbird occurred on Dec. 10, 2004, when Capt. Miles Selby died in a fiery collision with colleague Capt. . Mallet during a training session just south of their Moose Jaw home base. Mallet survived the accident.
The team is comprised of Canadian Forces pilots.
He must have been in a bit of a daze if he thinks "his engines failed" Other than that he sounds okay!
Last edited by DA900 on Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Rectum, damn near killed 'em
Sadly I think you're right Brint. Even though the govn't burns more money in a day in terms of waste than the snowbirds need a year I'm afraid that's it's only a matter of time. These things will become more and more common as the tutors get older. Glad to hear the pilot and folks on the ground are safe.
It'll be a sad day for Canadian culture and history if the Liberals decide to kill something that matters to this country. But than again, I wouldn't put it past them to think of "optics" for the next election.
"We don't need no flying aerobatic cadilacs for airshows, we just can't afford it. Now, pass me more hundreds I have gun regestry to run."
It'll be a sad day for Canadian culture and history if the Liberals decide to kill something that matters to this country. But than again, I wouldn't put it past them to think of "optics" for the next election.
"We don't need no flying aerobatic cadilacs for airshows, we just can't afford it. Now, pass me more hundreds I have gun regestry to run."
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Flying Low
- Rank 8
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- Location: Northern Ontario...why change now?
The Snowbird went down west and just slightly north of my place. For those of you who know Thunder Bay...north of John St Rd and west of Belrose. I was just leaving for the airshow and saw the Tutor jet go overhead. A few seconds later after looking away I heard a loud bang...I looked up and saw the pilot under his chute and the plane going down followed by a big cloud of black smoke. Over the next five to ten minutes all kinds of emergency response vehicles were going through the neighbourhood on the way to the site. One of the Snowbirds remained overhead.
Glad to hear the pilot is OK!
I have watched the Snowbirds since I was very young. It will be a sad day if they disband them. This team is a tribute to Canadian professionalism!
Glad to hear the pilot is OK!
I have watched the Snowbirds since I was very young. It will be a sad day if they disband them. This team is a tribute to Canadian professionalism!
Last edited by Flying Low on Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"The ability to ditch an airplane in the Hudson does not qualify a pilot for a pay raise. The ability to get the pilots, with this ability, to work for 30% or 40% pay cuts qualifies those in management for millions in bonuses."
I know its early to arm-chair quarterback, but anyone who has flown into Thunder Bay is probably familiar with the John St. dump. My guess would be ingesting one of the many sea-gulls bombin around in the area could cause a little havoc....
In either case its great to hear that he's alright, and nobody was hurt on the ground..
In either case its great to hear that he's alright, and nobody was hurt on the ground..
If a 39 year old Captain gets shot out of an aircraft due to bad some bad luck, and the media and government turn up the debate about shutting it down, I'm curious as to what the reaction might have been if this had of happened a week ago.
http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/news/2005/08/23_e.asp
It would be incredibly sad, although typically Canadian, if it took something like that get the Government to increase defence spending!
http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/news/2005/08/23_e.asp
It would be incredibly sad, although typically Canadian, if it took something like that get the Government to increase defence spending!
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Redneck_pilot86
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I am in the aviation industry in thunder bay and was @ the airshow. I think that the pilot did an excellent job in avoiding a populated area an also saving his own life. I know alot of people in thunder bay were upset that the show was cancelled, but they should just be thankful that there were no casualties.
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sprucemonkey
- Rank 8
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Are you suggesting that the ejected pilot had some chips while waiting to be rescued on the ground?
"FLY THE AIRPLANE"!
http://www.youtube.com/hazatude
http://www.youtube.com/hazatude
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. ._
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Man, we gotta get those guys and gals some new planes. I don't see why the government can't just get the Bombardier engineers to design a state of the art cheap, efficient and safe jet trainer. We could sell 'em all over the place. As far as I know, no one makes a Hyundai type plane for poor militaries (like ours). That would be a market niche I think we could fill.
I guess it's like the Sea Kings- you gotta have a bunch of pilots die before the government does anything.
Glad the guy's OK, though I hear punching out of a Tutor can really mess up your spine. Good job keeping the plane away from any civvies on the ground bud!
-istp
I guess it's like the Sea Kings- you gotta have a bunch of pilots die before the government does anything.
Glad the guy's OK, though I hear punching out of a Tutor can really mess up your spine. Good job keeping the plane away from any civvies on the ground bud!
-istp
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No Conflict
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