Airshow act turns tragic.

[Driving Rain]

http://shelby-utica.patch.com/articles/ ... e-air-show


A man has died after falling from a stunt plane at the Selfridge Air Show on Sunday, according to a spokesperson at the Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center.

Todd Green fell 200 feet to the ground when he tried to switch from his airplane to a helicopter at approximately 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the show at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, according to a press release from the 127th Wing Public Affairs.

Green, who was a wing walker, was flying on John Mohr’s Steerman aircraft.

Green was taken to Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center. Hospital spokesperson Diane Kish said he has died.

The 127th Wing Public Affairs said more information would be released as it becomes available.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgf5SUJ2OAo

[Doc]

I'm sorry. He did, what? Darwin at work.

Same thing when somebody tries to climb from one car to another while driving along the highway....really STUPID!!

[robertsailor1]

Stupid is one way to see this but for the people out there its just a passion. Like low level aerobatics, some people live a long life and many others don't. Most of us want to live a protected life and there is nothing wrong with that but there are people out there, risk takers, that often really make things happen. When everyone thought the world was flat and you'd sail off the edge some risk takers crossed oceans and without them we wouldn't be here. Its sad when a life is taken like this but he may have lived a higher quality life than those that are twice as old.

[SuperchargedRS]

Airshow performer dies and we get this

I'm sorry. He did, what? Darwin at work.

Same thing when somebody tries to climb from one car to another while driving along the highway....really STUPID!!

...classy



RIP Todd Green

Stupid is one way to see this but for the people out there its just a passion. Like low level aerobatics, some people live a long life and many others don't. Most of us want to live a protected life and there is nothing wrong with that but there are people out there, risk takers, that often really make things happen. When everyone thought the world was flat and you'd sail off the edge some risk takers crossed oceans and without them we wouldn't be here. Its sad when a life is taken like this but he may have lived a higher quality life than those that are twice as old.

+1

[BankAngle1987]

A sad weekend for airshows indeed. We're also mourning the loss of airshow veteran aerobatic pilot Bryan Jensen who lost control during a precision spin and was unable to recover. Our thoughts go out to the families of these men. And to those who would criticize their acts as foolish or stupid, the thousands of hours of rehearsal leading to each event speak otherwise. These are well-trained individuals who, though they risk death with every performance, are passionate about what they do. RIP Todd and Bryan.

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/20/30 ... plane.html

[robertsailor1]

Not a good weekend for sure, another one to add to the mix

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?secti ... id=8317982

[floatplanepilot]

I'm sorry. He did, what? Darwin at work.

Same thing when somebody tries to climb from one car to another while driving along the highway....really STUPID!!

Inappropriate and tasteless. Back to sensitivity training for you.

[Rowdy]

Jesus doc... I expected more from you buddy.

Sad to hear. Saw the video. creepy.

condolences to the family

[square]

Doc's not wrong he's being honest you don't have to ride him. These three accidents are an ineffable tragedy that will not be forgotten.. God bless them.

[Gogona]

Not a good weekend for sure, another one to add to the mix
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?secti ... id=8317982

For that topic, it would be more appropriate to mention British airshow tragedy first: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-14616984

However, the preliminary description of NJ accident is wrong. This one is more accurate - http://www.philly.com/philly/news/128186413.html

[winds_in_flight_wtf]

I agree with one of the youtube commentators - the crowd got more of a thrill as he was cartwheeling towards the ground (as if it was suppose to happen)

Sad indeed

[Tim]

always thought wing-walking was dumb. now im sure. sad somebody died...but not surprising.

[TheCheez]

I'm sorry. He did, what? Darwin at work.

Same thing when somebody tries to climb from one car to another while driving along the highway....really STUPID!!

So you're the first to come out and blast this guy, but in the Res Bay discussion you were against people analyzing the causes out of respect for the dead.....hmm

'Nuff said. I should think'

[dashx]

Inappropriate or not he stated his true feelings.





Life is full of risks. Isn't it?

In any case Doc watch out: Darwin at work in the home.......http://www.videojug.com/interview/death-in-the-home

[Doc]

I'm sorry. He did, what? Darwin at work.

Same thing when somebody tries to climb from one car to another while driving along the highway....really STUPID!!

So you're the first to come out and blast this guy, but in the Res Bay discussion you were against people analyzing the causes out of respect for the dead.....hmm

'Nuff said. I should think'

You're comparing a crash of a 737 with somebody falling out of an airplane??? If a teenager dies climbing from a Chev to a Ford at 70 mph on the freeway, it's a "stupid" thing to do.....BUT climbing out of an airplane into a helicopter is OKAY???? It's dumb, stupid, moronic, immature, careless, boneheaded, and totally UNNECESSARY! I don't "feel" for the guy. I'm a firm believer that "stupid" should hurt. Live with it.

[Tim]

must say i have to agree with doc. this is a do or die stunt every single time, no outs, no safety net. he did what we always say you should never do (as a pilot anyways) which is back yourself into a corner with only one out. the REALLY tragic part is that 75000 people had to see it happen.

[KK7]

People take risks every day to enjoy life, without risk life becomes very boring. Smart risks are calculated and the potential outcomes are known. Kids jumping from one car to another on a highway don't usually put much thought into the potential outcome. This man was a professional and no doubt knew what the risks were and what could happen. This was his passion, he enjoyed it, and he died doing something he loved. He didn't put innocent bystanders at risk. Putting him down after his death is a pretty shameful thing to do in my opinion.

[linecrew]

..the REALLY tragic part is that 75000 people had to see it happen.

+1

[Gogona]

It's dumb, stupid, moronic, immature, careless, boneheaded, and totally UNNECESSARY! I don't "feel" for the guy. I'm a firm believer that "stupid" should hurt. Live with it.

He ran exactly the same risk, as ALL low-level aerobatic performers do. So would you say the same words about any unlucky airshow pilot?
Or maybe you might tell your straightforward opinion to Kyle Franklin, for example?

Putting him down after his death is a pretty shameful thing to do in my opinion

+1

[robertsailor1]

There are two kinds of guys and a bunch in between. Risk takers on one side and risk avoiders on the other. Most of us are in between. The real risk takers look at the avoiders as people that might out live them but it will be a very boring life and is not for them. The avoiders don't need the adrenalin rushes of the risk takers and are happy working collecting stamps or working in the garden.
You could go back to the days when we all played in sand boxes and pretty much be able to pick out who was who by watching the kids play.
Whether its long boarding, surfing,sky jumping,aerobatics,motorcycles or whatever the risk takers are drawn in to different activities that are thrilling. Lots and lots of these folks are hurt badly and a few are killed but it will never stop them from engaging in these activities.
The avoiders are happy to engage in zero risk activities and look at the risk takers as "Stupid" or idiots or whatever. Neither side has any appreciation for the other as they can't understand why someone would behave the way that they do.
Hence the debate..Your either stupid or boring. I was just viewing a very cool vid of a real risk taker that I'm sure everyone will enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWfph3iN ... r_embedded

[Doc]

He ran exactly the same risk, as ALL low-level aerobatic performers do. So would you say the same words about any unlucky airshow pilot?

As far as I can tell, low level aerobatic performers very rarely leave the confines of their aircraft. Not very many of them leave their aircraft to climb into a helicopter while in flight. Don't think I've even seen one air show pilot pull this off. Or even attempt it? So no, they don't run "exactly the same risk..."

[robertsailor1]

Your point is well taken but then that's what makes it so unique, hence the rush. Look I'm an old fart sort of and I ride and race motorcycles and I know that when I'm hitting the far side of 250k in the straights and something happens my ass will be grass but I still do it...as carefully as I can. I own a little aerobatic bipe and I love to play around in it BUT you'll never get me parachuting, I'm afraid as hell to jump from a plane. I'm sure that fellow that moved from bi-plane to chopper figured he was reasonably safe as well, he had done it many many times but of course when you play with snakes you really increase the odds of getting bit. You just hope it comes later in life than sooner. He wasn't as lucky.

[Gogona]

Not very many of them leave their aircraft to climb into a helicopter while in flight. Don't think I've even seen one air show pilot pull this off. Or even attempt it? So no, they don't run "exactly the same risk..."

But listen, there is absolutely no necessity in climbing out of the aircraft! Do I need to remind you how many experienced pilots killed themselves just due to the recovery failures? They were remaining buckled up in their cockpits, though. And when the engine quits, they also have almost no chance to land safely. All of us know, that low altitude kills. And that's why I'm talking about equal risks.

Could you say then "Oh, it was so idiotic to fly THAT LOW!"? Therefore, we should refuse low-level aerobatic at all as "stupid and unnecessary", or accept it and respect all the performers no matter what exactly they are doing. Double standards don't work here – you, guys, either have your popcorn and sympathy after, or go to the zoo instead. Sorry.

[cgzro]

So no, they don't run "exactly the same risk..."

I agree, I think that wing walking / especially climbing from one a/c to another is a bit more dangerous than low level aerobatics. Certainly based on the recent statistics it appears that way.

I'm not sure however its sensible to get into calling 'stupid' what other people do for fun/entertainment/challange or to earn a living because its a slippery slope and there is always somebody that will consider your activities 'stupid' and suggest you not be allowed to do them.