Dragon Rapide accident at Abbotsford 11 Aug 2018

[aabryant]

Several injured. News story is here https://www.vancourier.com/news/updated-a-vintage-plane-has-crashed-at-the-abbotsford-airshow-1.23397314

I'm not certain, but from various photos believe it likely to be this aircraft http://www.ruudleeuw.com/others-septer2.htm

Sad news

[Dave Hadfield]

Very sad.

I've had the Spitfire parked beside that Rapide for 2 days.

[kalamazookid]

Some information from the Historic Flight Foundation Facebook page:

This post is overdue.

As many followers of HFF know, I was the pilot of a beautifully restored DH 89 Dragon Rapide that crashed shortly after takeoff last Saturday at Abbotsford. The best news is the passengers are home and will be whole again. I was critically injured and required two surgeries, but less than four days later, the doctors at Royal Columbian (BC's trauma hospital) sent me home. From my present perch, I have resumed general ruckus-making via e-mail.

Regarding flying commitments and events for the remainder of the season, HFF will finish strong where it can and modify or substitute where necessary. The web site and Facebook will be the best sources of information. Looking longer term, we will spend the fall and winter presenting some of the best aviation programs available, constructing a second facility at Spokane's Felts Field, and preparing to pathfind in 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.

I will focus on healing and a love/hate relationship with a physical therapist. The rules allow me to fly again after I demonstrate pilot skills with a prosthetic lower left leg. Pistorius gave blade runners a bad name. I'm motivated to turn that around.

When you need a good read, pick up one of the biographies of WWII RAF ace Douglas Bader.

Thank you for many expressions of concern. HFF attracts a lovely group. I will see some of you this Saturday at Challenge Air.

John

[Sasquatch]

Thanks for the update from John, Matt. I stopped by HFF today to inquire about John and the others and was heartened to hear all were recovering.

-Tom

Last edited by Sasquatch on Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Joe Scheil]

Dear Mr Sessions,

Your post is an inspiration to all of us, and I wish you the best in your recovery. Your Situational Awareness of the important things, and your willingness to tell your story is awesome.

Joe Scheil

[JohnB]

A great message from Mr. Sessions. It's good to see his sense of humor is intact.

He's a nice guy, a skilled pilot and a very generous patron of aviation history.
I certainly wish him a speedy recovery and hope he returns to the cockpit soon.

[OD/NG]

He's a nice guy, a skilled pilot and a very generous patron of aviation history.
I certainly wish him a speedy recovery and hope he returns to the cockpit soon.

I agree. All my interactions with him have been very positive, and he's a nice guy to talk to. I wish him a speedy recovery as well.

His positive attitude will get him back in the cockpit.

There is a lot of precedence for less ambulatory pilots flying after tragic accidents. Some examples include:

Douglas Bader - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Bader

Hans-Ulrich Rudel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Ulrich_Rudel

James MacLachlan - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_MacLachlan

Alexey Maresyev - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexey_Maresyev

Gheorghe Bănciulescu - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gheorghe_B%C4%83nciulescu

[JohnB]

Also Frank Tallman...one of my aviation heroes.

[OD/NG]

Also Frank Tallman...one of my aviation heroes.

Yes, very good point! I forgot about him.

[DB2]

And "Hoppy" Hodgkinson, who like Bader was a double amputee (one above the knee, one below the knee) Spitfire pilot and POW. He wrote a really good book, "Best Foot Forward".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Hod ... AF_officer).