Article

2011-07-12 Science & Technology

American P51 Mustang downed by French Skyraider at UK Airshow

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2011-07-12 11:19|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 Quite the display of nerves on the Mustang pilot. Calmly tried to bring it back to level, couldn't do it then let it nose over in a field while bailing out.

Nice job. Hopefully the Skyraider pilot made it down ok.

Posted by DarthVader 2011-07-12 12:05|| 2011-07-12 12:05|| Front Page Top

#2 Awww, man, dats two classic warbirds out of action.

Is it just me or is anyone else suddenly getting visions of the FNS CHARLES DE GAULLE'S PROPELLERS?

Posted by JosephMendiola 2011-07-12 20:09|| 2011-07-12 20:09|| Front Page Top

#3 did the Mustang stall?

Posted by chris 2011-07-12 20:15|| 2011-07-12 20:15|| Front Page Top

#4 All hands safe. The Spad made it back for a emergency landing. Will need to replace the right wingtip before returning to la Ferté-Alais. I saw the Skyraider under restoration when I visited France in 1989.

Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2011-07-12 20:54|| 2011-07-12 20:54|| Front Page Top

#5 did the Mustang stall?

Looks like the Elevator got knocked off and the rudder was damaged. If that was the case, the Mustang couldn't do up or down or yaw very easily. It looked like he tried to level it out the best he could only using the ailerons, but it was a lost cause. Looks like he leveled it out the best he could, cut the engine and let it plow into a empty field while he could bail out.

Posted by DarthVader 2011-07-12 21:29|| 2011-07-12 21:29|| Front Page Top

#6 The traditional airplane is designed to be nose heavy, so if you stall, the nose will point down toward relative wind the airplane sees, which lowers the wing angle of attack and the wing starts flying again as an airfoil.

The elevator helps the nose point down by elevator down control input. No elevator control, the plane points down. You have to leave. Nothing else to do but bail out.

If you ever get to the UK, go to the Imperial War Museum, air arm, located in Duxford. Five hangers of incredible aircraft!

While you are at it, go to the John Barleycorn Inn and Pub, just off the motorway.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2011-07-12 21:42|| 2011-07-12 21:42|| Front Page Top

#7 The Spad in the incident was also featured in Flight of the Intruder. I got to crawl/drool all over it; it is one big ass airplane.

Posted by USN,Ret. 2011-07-12 22:53|| 2011-07-12 22:53|| Front Page Top

00:07 JosephMendiola
23:59 trailing wife
23:52 USN,Ret.
23:49 JosephMendiola
23:46 SteveS
23:41 JosephMendiola
23:35 SteveS
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23:29 JosephMendiola
22:58 JosephMendiola
22:53 USN,Ret.
22:52 JosephMendiola
22:42 USN,Ret.
21:42 Alaska Paul
21:29 DarthVader
21:13 Secret Asian Man
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