WIX Archives

Inertia

Posted by bdk on Wed Mar 03, 2004 11:44:28 AM

In reply top Re: Spitfire video you all HAVE to see posted by steve on Wed Mar 03, 2004 12:38:55 AM

What are you anticipating going wrong?

A low and fast pass over a runway is far safer than a slow one since in the case of an engine failure you have enough inertia to select a landing spot other than immediately in front of you. You might even be able to turn around and land back on the runway.

Now if you are talking a primary flight control failure, anything below parachuting altitude would likely be fatal.

Perhaps all warbird operations should be performed at a "safe" altitude, say 10,000 feet. That would give sufficient altitude for spin recovery or bailout. Not much of an airshow though. Of course there's still the takeoff and landing dangers...

The biggest danger is clearly pilot error and the proximity to the ground (i.e. flying into it). In that case, his excellence as a pilot would certainly be in question!

: Excellent pilot he definately is but no pilot would have a
: chance at that height if something went wrong. No margin
: for error was left here! Irresponsible is a word that coul
: d justifiably be used.

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