Not really a related note XH!

Answering your question, the Hurricane has a ‘kick down’ mechanism; this is a kick lever in the bottom of the cockpit, it actions 2 jacks that unlock the up locks on the gear, letting it fall by gravity.

JDK, I sure hope you did not think I said or implied that airshow flying (i.e. aerobatic) and plane transfer are usually the same risk!! (In some cases I suppose they could be…..but exceptionally only).

Ok, I have now written replies 2 times and lost them before posting (the forum timed me out)…hopefully 3rd time lucky….

Every activity involves risk, some people will take/accept more risk than others. We all take risk in our lives – some ride motorbikes, some only drive ‘safe’ cars. We all do mini risk assessments in our lives and mitigate the risk to some extent (usually without knowing it!). Some people live on the edge. In everyday life, those that are not so good at assessing risk for activities and putting in place adequate mitigation are usually to be found in A&E! All activities also have fast balls/ wild cards (i.e. other drivers when you are riding a motorbike, sh1t happens etc). Usually you identify your activity and then work out all the hazards – then you put mitigation to reduce the risk of an accident or incident – simple?
Generally there are 3 types of mitigation:- limitation (includes ultimate prohibition), procedures, training.
If we take the case of an aerobatic pilot flying at an airshow you can see what mitigation is in place. So why am I saying this? Well I am trying to bridge the gap between Dave Burke and Pagen01 who are both partially right….Procedures include airshow procedures, training includes aircraft type, aerobatics, limitations include gates min speed etc.

At the end of the day, even the safest activities with the most mitigation will still one day lead to an incident if you do them long enough/enough times….add in wild cards and it throws all stats out of the window. There is a chain to any adverse event…it needs to be broken.

A world where there is minimal/no risk would be a boring place. I, for one, would not want to live there!
I shook Todd’s hand when he walked thru the crowd in 2005 after his act. It was amazing. I salute him and all airshow performers. I cannot criticise what performers do or how they do it.
No-one sets up an aviation act and approaches it with a ‘don’t care’ attitude.

I am very sad at all deaths in aviation/at airshows and really feel sorry for those left behind….this thread was started to cover these tragedies and at the end of the day…that is what they are.

have you got F700s?!

i may have one or two switches

One year at Oshkosh, Gary and I watched in horror as a pilot in a spitfire kept doing stall turns……

I am thinking of training to be a diver….sadly not qualified yet. Used STASS in the dunker loads of times, but need to learn. Good school recommendations appreciated.

I looked at the tail wheel/leg….are you sure it is P47? Looks a bit like Corsair.

beautiful!