FROM THE HEART    

Our deepest heartfelt sympathy goes out to those who knew and loved Bobby Younkin and Jimmy Franklin.  This last month has been a real tough one for aviation.  We have lost two of our best.  These guys lived to fly… and they were extremely good.  It will be years before anyone comes close to being a Younkin or Franklin, if ever.  Their performance, the Masters of Disaster, did turn into a disaster, which was unfortunate.  It was one of the highest energy air show performances I have ever seen.   

I photographed hundreds of shots of the last performance ever completed by the X-Team.  It was at Fayetteville (AR).  That performance was the inspiration for our cover story in the July issue.  I was unaware at the time I wrote the story that thirteen days later Bobby and Jimmy would be killed in a Moose Jaw air show.  My guess is that the Masters of Disaster performance will continue with different performers.  It is a good show and it fulfils that need for thrill at an air show, there has never been anything like it before.

 HORSE HOCKEY 

This issue contains several accidents that happen at air show.  There has been talk moving through the national media that the recent air show accidents are a reason to stop having air show.  Horse Hockey!!!  If that is true, then why not stop driving on Interstate?  Thirty-five hundred people are killed in car accidents EVERY MONTH.  Shall we stop people from driving?  Boating accidents are numerous, shall we stop boating?  Football players are killed during a game.  Should we close all football stadiums?  Now the big one, NASCAR racing is dangerous, shall we stop that event?  OF COURSE NOT!!!   

It is true that many air events cease after an air show accident.  Santa Fe (NM) made an attempt to resume an air show in 2004.  At that event, Rick Bobbitt died while performing aerobatics during the show.  This year there was no air show at Santa Fe.  Should there have been?  In my opinion, YES! 

I am reminded of the old Vaudeville saying, “The show must go on.”  And it should.  If I might speculate as to what Bobby and Jimmy would say, I believe that both would insist that air shows continue and prosper.  Air shows were their life and love.  My interview with Bobby Younkin in 2004, proved to me that deep inside of him was a burning desire to perform and nothing could stop him.  I am sure that other performers have the same burning desire…  This “fire in the belly” is the makings of all pilots; some take it one step upward… into aerobatics.   

DAREDEVIL STUNTS 

I hate the words “daredevil stunts” when referring to the crash in Moose Jaw (CA) of the Masters of Disaster Team or any crash of an aerobatic plane.  The non-aviation media have not the least idea of what is going on in aviation.  Every time I read it I want to scream….    I penned many e-mails after the accident to various news media, requesting they do research before they broadcast. 

As I mentioned in the story on page sixteen, aerobatic performers are simply going through an aerial ballet designed to look wild and crazy, but isn’t.  As it happens on occasion, something goes wrong… either mechanical or human error.  All “daredevil stunts (ugh)” at air shows are flown by professionals who make the air show look dangerous, but keep it within their limits.  I would prefer to call it an aerial ballet or choreographed aerial performance.  Rather than calling it a “daredevil stunt”. 

The words stunt pilot and daredevil are from the movies of the 30s and 40s and television of the 50s.  In some countries, the press does actually know about things they are writing.  In America, reporters are required to know how to speak and look pretty.  I am not sure that much more is required...  And when it comes to an airplane accident….  It is amazing how it is described over the radio, TV, and newspaper… 

All accidents are bad, either in cars, boats, trains, and planes.  The description of a plane accident always falls on the lowly reporter who has only seen “Sky King” or “Air Wolf”.  His or her description of the accident always reflects it.