Watch Ray’s displays closely. A masterclass in energy management and making the straight forward look difficult, low level. Sadly, I feel, the accidents mentioned stem from poorly executed high risk manouvres, little regard to enegy/ escape gates and a gung-ho element. To compare like with like is unfair.

Sad news. Great display pilot and a really nice guy.

Well put Warbird UK. The ‘boys-own’ idillic views on this whole subject have no place in the future of not only display flying but the operation of vintage aeroplanes altogether.

Oh dear.I think that you’ve got the wrong end of the stick. We’re not talking about unlimited aerobatics in a warbird simply poorly and unneccesary routines that involve little room for error and seem to be focused on displaying the pilot skills rather than the aircraft. None of the previously mentioned accidents that resulted from a departure were from advanced aerobatics simply too slow too low.

Airshow aeros

The big issue with low level flying, let alone aero’s, in any aeroplane is continuity. Little room too play with. The aeroplanes that we are discussing here are high energy machines, when it goes wrong it will do so quickly and eat up a great deal of sky. As mentioned the Brietling display consists of simple aeros, but they do it on a professional level with plently of practise, it shows! A smooth low level flat display vs an aerobatic display of ANY nature if far far safer and usually more impressive.
Nothing worse than a totally aviodable accident, the result of simply a high risk routine. I believe that the time has come for the CAA through the GA/DA world to really think twice before issuing DA’s in certain cases. If the BBMF and Shuttleworth type organisations can do it then so can all the rest.