Looks like one of the red arrows has crashed during a display. Not sure about the pilot's fate yet!

linker



[Edited on 20/8/11 by Slater]

Was down in Dorset for the last week, and caught a glimpse of the display at Bournemouth from the beach at Studland. Hope pilot ejected and ok and that he managed to drop the plane in a field.

ATB

Simon

Just watched the film footage, does not bode well for the pilot. If you watch, he was the second to peel off to Starboard and from the point of maximum turn when he levels out and starts flying straight, he is constantly loosing height in a slow/gentle descent. If you take that in context with the related/accompanying story, then is does not bode well for the guy. BUT I do hope that I am wrong.

The Martin Baker MB10 (as fitted to the Hawk) is classed as a "zero/zero" seat, so as long as the pilot managed to punch out at anything like a level flight attitude he/she should be ok, let hope he/she did manage to get out (there was a lady in a previous display line up but im not sure about current flight line up)

But it does not bode well as eyewitness are not reporting seeing a chute being deployed .....

As I said before, it does not bode well for the pilot, AND, I hope I am VERY wrong in this.

Firstly, reports say that people jumped into the river to try and help the pilot who was apparently in the river possibly still in the cockpit which also in the river, if I read the reports correctly.

Then, reports also say that the helicopters were still hovering over the scene some time later, no mention of a helicopter or ambulance leaving the scene to go to hospital.

Finally it has now been over 2 hours scince the 'incident' and there is no 'Official' news from the officials. This gives two possible scenarios. The pilot is so seriously injured that the next of kin are being sought, or the worst case scenario and the next of kin need to be informed first, which in either case is the right thing to do. EITHER way, my thoughts are with pilots family, friends and colleagues.

One news paper headline gives the pilot as severly injured, but in headline only and NO supportive lineage in the story for the headline.

I'm down in bournemouth at the mo and it was a fantastic display. We have heard nothing on the speakers but i hope the pilot is ok! Only rumours we have heard is that Pilot was missing.

EDIT: Also rumoured it was Red 4, not sure who it was but Red 4 wasn't the lady.

[Edited on 20/8/11 by eddie99]

My guess would be the pilot blacked out, was a pretty high G turn there...

James

Afraid its not good news and it was the pilot of Red 4 - they called him Egg man

[Edited on 20/8/11 by eddie99]

Oh dear - footage quite clearly shows one of them flying a lower than normal turn away

I cant quite believe they would have blacked out,, these guys/gals are top notch pilots. But then also strange that they didnt eject if a mechanical failure occured. It looked like it was a "gradual" descent not a catastrophic nose down failure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14603644

[Edited on 20/8/11 by karlak]


Indeed -


Sad news and RIP

[Edited on 20/8/11 by karlak]

It has just been confirmed that the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

As I said before, my thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues.

A sad day indeeed.

Flt Lt John Egging. RIP



[Edited on 20/8/11 by jollygreengiant]