Greg Shelton Wildcat gear collapse today
Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:11 pm
Bummer. Sounds like he's okay. No info on the plane. Here is the report as seen on ASB.
http://www.asb.tv/forums/index.php?showtopic=6210&hl=
http://www.asb.tv/forums/index.php?showtopic=6210&hl=
Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:29 am
It was the first pass of his routine. He was cranking along pretty good, but when he pulled up, the gear dropped. It was determined this broke a gear strut. His landing was obstructed by the B-2 hangers, so I did not see it.
The announcer made it sound like the airboss had stated the gear did not collapse, but that they were not going risk a collapse taxiing it from the runway. It took about three hours to clear the runway, but I never saw the Wildcat after that, so I can't comment on whether or not the aircraft was damaged further on landing.
I had been taking video with my little point and shoot, but decided to take a still on this pass...Oh well. This was about 1-2 seconds before the gear dropped.
The announcer made it sound like the airboss had stated the gear did not collapse, but that they were not going risk a collapse taxiing it from the runway. It took about three hours to clear the runway, but I never saw the Wildcat after that, so I can't comment on whether or not the aircraft was damaged further on landing.
I had been taking video with my little point and shoot, but decided to take a still on this pass...Oh well. This was about 1-2 seconds before the gear dropped.
Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:47 pm
One year at Oshkosh they were going to have a tribute to some Navy pilots and were going to have 5 wildcats in attendance. One Wildcat, I believe it was Dick Foote's, decided to land at Fond du Lac to refuel before going into Oshkosh.
Well, the pattern was busy and he forgot to lower the gear. The airplane skidded down the runway centerline and came to a stop. Further inspection revealed the only damage was the curled prop tips because there is a big chunk of metal just aft of gear on the bottom of fuselage that absorbed the impact and it just slid on this item. It was something to do with the airplane being able to be catapulted.
It's a very tough little bird. They jacked it up, cranked down the gear and put another prop on it and he flew it home.
Well, the pattern was busy and he forgot to lower the gear. The airplane skidded down the runway centerline and came to a stop. Further inspection revealed the only damage was the curled prop tips because there is a big chunk of metal just aft of gear on the bottom of fuselage that absorbed the impact and it just slid on this item. It was something to do with the airplane being able to be catapulted.
It's a very tough little bird. They jacked it up, cranked down the gear and put another prop on it and he flew it home.
Sun Jun 07, 2009 2:20 pm
Here is a picture to show what Marine Air is talking about.
Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:55 pm