So soon after the Gnat crash, this is time to take stock, and get a grip on the situation. I would be pleased to see a (temporary ) moratorium on vintage jet aerobatics and aggressive manoeuvres (including the Vulcan) until we have some perspective and public confidence in the situation.

Expect calls for more draconian and sweeping measures from various quarters. What a dreadful day.

Today’s CAA ruling is the right response, and whilst you will never please everyone, it is a measured reaction to an extreme event, and leaves the door open for review when appropriate.

For those that want a review of airshows, get a grip, every airshow and display has gone through the appropriate authority channels before the organisers put on the event. whether a pilot sticks to that depends on many factors which have to be reported. If he breaks these he needs a very good reason.

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As vintage aircraft enthusiasts, a ‘carry on as before’ attitude may suit us just fine, but seven (so far ) innocent deaths will probably compel authorities (CAA, BADA, HAA) to review procedures and parameters.

It is not a provocative observation but a FACT that nearly all the high profile display accidents in recent years had their origins in unsuccessful attempts at aerobatic figures.

”For the benefit of the uneducated. I will translate” – Edward Fox –

Aboard a Fieseler Storch, the pilot of the German plane from the Second World War was victim of a crash this morning on his way to the air show to be held tomorrow at the Bourget Lake. The driver has fortunately been slightly wounded by spoiling in a field in the municipality of Domessin near Chambéry. From Saint-Rambert d’Albon in the Drôme, the driver with his old plane was performing aerial demonstrations as part of the event. The aircraft was heavily damaged. An investigation was opened by the force of air transport.

That fin looks suspiciously flat. Has she been all the way over on to her back?

Certainly looks that way. Perhaps the airframe was ‘righted’ with a rope on the tailwheel, so that is came up and over, and walloped onto the ground, which broke the fuselage. Would not be the first time that had happened.

What a shame, anyway. For a while, it was the only flying ‘Mosquito’ .

“Grunt” makes no difference IMO – an engine failure in a Cessna could be the same as in a Spitfire?

I am not sure what your point is here.

Are you really suggesting that an EFATO in a Cessna 150 is of equal magnitude of hazard to the same scenario in a Spitfire?

A good outcome, all things considered.

It was a mercy that this was not one of the joy-riding fleet two seaters which are now flying very frequently with various operators since the CAA granted approval.
Twice the headcount equals twice the risk, of course.

I did wonder what happened to Flug Werk. It did seem too have gone VERY quiet!

That is a shame. They did some very impressive engineering, but the FW 190’s have mostly had rather troubled flying careers, which may well have affected the prospect of future orders.

Very sad news. Mr Cox was a well known and popular figure in the PFA/LAA movement.

He operated the Bede on the Irish register after the CAA withdrew permission to fly the type in the UK.

Designer Jim Bede died just a few days ago, aged 82.