Horrific Crash at Reno Air Races

Just read this on the Porsche forums: [I]It has been confirmed the Unlimited P 51 mustang plane "Galloping Ghost" piloted by Jimmy Leeward from Florida has gone into the stands". [/I] Jimmy Leeward was an experienced flyer and former IMSA racer, I remember him at Sebring and Dayona in an RSR. It's not known yet but it had to have been mechanical failure, one report said an elevator trim tab failed or broke off.
Air racing is as risky as it gets for participants, but the tragedy is how many on the ground were killed or injured. The video is frightening, he went in nearly vertical. :(

[url="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44556695/ns/us_news-life/"]'Mass casualties' after crash at Reno air show - US news - Life - msnbc.com[/url]

At Reno the stands are well away from the course but the way this happened, the question will be how any future races are staged.

This is insane.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/QuAnm.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/CcS91.jpg[/IMG]

Oh god, that's horrific.. condolences to all involved.

I read this article this morning. It truly is a shame that something like this would happen. I have watched the Red Bull Air Racing Series and flying at speeds approaching 300 mph around crowded areas like that is scary and amazing at the same time. My prayers go out to all involved.

Oh sweet Jesus this was awful. Fortunately the death toll has gone down from the original twelve to three. :(

[quote=kingofthering;975004]Oh sweet Jesus this was awful. Fortunately the death toll has gone down from the original twelve to three. :([/quote]

u sure? i heard it was 9

Last I heard it was nine.

A [URL="http://gizmodo.com/5841402/world-war-ii+era-plane-crashes-at-west-virginia-air-show"]T-28 fatally crashed[/URL] yesterday, but the pilot was the only casualty that time. Not a good weekend to be flying it seems. :(

[quote=coolieman1220;975024]u sure? i heard it was 9[/quote]

Three that died at the scene, 6 more from the injuries they sustained that died at the hospital.