Remarks: I was on the other side of the airport when I saw a bunch of emergency vehicles congregated near a taxiway. Went out to my car to get my scanner, and eventually found out this 404 was orbiting over the airport with a gear problem. The plane did a low approach on a cross runway for its company maintenance, and then resumed orbiting. A little while later, the pilot said he was out of options, and would like to land gear up. This was the result. Everybody was OK.
Remarks: I was on the other side of the airport when I saw a bunch of emergency vehicles congregated near a taxiway. Went out to my car to get my scanner, and eventually found out this 404 was orbiting over the airport with a gear problem. The plane did a low approach on a cross runway for its company maintenance, and then resumed orbiting. A little while later, the pilot said he was out of options, and would like to land gear up. This was the result. Everybody was OK.
Remarks: Crashed on takeoff on the night of December 20th, no cause found as of the time of writing. Very glad everybody got out, but unfortunately 38 people were injured, with two initially in "serious" condition. Apologies for the quality, I did my best while trying to hold the camera steady exiting the runway in a Lynx Q400. Shame I had my short lens on too.
Remarks: Some great smoke trails on a low approach for 17L. Note the United A32X in the background. The aviation gods must have smiled on me because soon after this, this Sea Fury made a low approach over 17R, the runway I was standing off the end of on some farm equipment. Soon after the Sea Fury landed, a Super Hornet departed 17L and made a right turn in full afterburner almost directly overhead. Here's a little history of the aircraft from Classic Wings: "Thought to be Iraqi Air Force aircraft 250, this aircraft was first flown on 10 June 1948 as ISS20 and subsequently stored until flown to Iraq in late November 1949. Another of the Jurist/ Tallichet recoveries which spent time in storage before being purchased by Russ Francis who displayed the aircraft in a blue RAN colour scheme
as N21SF. Sold on to Wiley Sanders the Fury suffered a belly landing at Troy, Alabama following undercarriage failure. There after purchased by Charles D. Hillard, Fort Worth, TX in 1994 the aircraft was trucked to Breckenridge and rebuilt with Wright R-3350 engine and a tail from a Fury.' Unfortunately Hillard was killed at 'Sun & Fun' on 16 April 1996 upon landing when the aircraft flipped over and he was pinned and suffocated before help could reach him.The first flight took place in 1996 with the registration N222CH. Hillard wanted the aircraft to be instantly recognised as his and had it painted in 'Texas' colours and named it 'Lone Star' Once rebuild was again completed the aircraft was operated by Nelson Ezell out of Breckenridge, flying at Reno as Race #21, 'Sea Fury', N254SF. Currently owned by Joe Thibodeau, Denver CO."
Remarks: Low approach over 17R, right after a low approach on the left... must be way too much fun! Here's a little history of the aircraft from Classic Wings: "Thought to be Iraqi Air Force aircraft 250, this aircraft was first flown on 10 June 1948 as ISS20 and subsequently stored until flown to Iraq in late November 1949. Another of the Jurist/ Tallichet recoveries which spent time in storage before being purchased by Russ Francis who displayed the aircraft in a blue RAN colour scheme
as N21SF. Sold on to Wiley Sanders the Fury suffered a belly landing at Troy, Alabama following undercarriage failure. There after purchased by Charles D. Hillard, Fort Worth, TX in 1994 the aircraft was trucked to Breckenridge and rebuilt with Wright R-3350 engine and a tail from a Fury.' Unfortunately Hillard was killed at 'Sun & Fun' on 16 April 1996 upon landing when the aircraft flipped over and he was pinned and suffocated before help could reach him.The first flight took place in 1996 with the registration N222CH. Hillard wanted the aircraft to be instantly recognised as his and had it painted in 'Texas' colours and named it 'Lone Star' Once rebuild was again completed the aircraft was operated by Nelson Ezell out of Breckenridge, flying at Reno as Race #21, 'Sea Fury', N254SF. Currently owned by Joe Thibodeau, Denver CO."
Remarks: Kent Pietsch is either the best airshow pilot out there or the craziest. Regardless, here he's dragging a wingtip, after losing an aileron. 2008 "In Their Honor" Airshow.
