Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Sat Apr 25, 2026 10:38 pm

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:15 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 7:24 pm
Posts: 481
Location: South Carolina
Just seen this on one of the other forums, Pilot John Parker is said to be OK. Sounds like the plane was destroyed.
Link to news story
http://krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7019496


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:29 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 3:22 am
Posts: 422
Location: Melbourne
Fingers crossed :idea:


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:36 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 7:24 pm
Posts: 481
Location: South Carolina
AAFO is reporting that John was NOT injured, the team is going to hold a news confrence soon.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:51 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:50 pm
Posts: 701
Location: Dallas / Midland TX
Yes , John is ok. The aircraft is a total loss.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:21 am 
Offline
Senior Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:22 am
Posts: 3875
Location: DFW Texas
Aero-news.net
Quote:
'Blue Thunder,' John Parker's amazing Thunder Mustang was involved in a take-off accident that put the aircraft off the runway, where a fire ensured, destroying the aircraft.


Glad to hear the pilot is safe.

Z

_________________
Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Join us for the Texas Warbird Report on WarbirdRadio.com!
Image http://www.facebook.com/WarbirdRadio
Listen at http://www.warbirdradio.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:08 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:12 am
Posts: 92
Location: Mississauga, Ontario Canada
Also glad to hear the pilot is okay.
Not another Mustang!!

That's four this summer, The list for the Gathering at the end of this month is getting shorter and shorter.

:cry:
Todd


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:37 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon May 03, 2004 8:26 pm
Posts: 632
Toddb wrote:
Also glad to hear the pilot is okay.
Not another Mustang!!

That's four this summer, The list for the Gathering at the end of this month is getting shorter and shorter.

:cry:
Todd


Not a real Mustang. A Thunder Mustang.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:38 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:48 pm
Posts: 418
Location: Houston, Texas
It was a kit-built Thunder Mustang, not a real one.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Reno
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:36 am 
Offline
Probationary Member

Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:53 pm
Posts: 3803
Location: Aspen, CO
Todd, Thunder is a sort of replica Mustang and a very nice flying plane with a Falconeer V-12 engine that I think was developed for boat racing. It is fiberglass or similar, perhaps 3/4 scale. I don't know if this was the one, but someone had a supercharged one trying to compete with P-51 s at Reno. Glad the pilot is ok, too bad about the plane, it was likely valued around $450,000.

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Reno
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:43 am 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am
Posts: 3333
Bill Greenwood wrote:
I don't know if this was the one, but someone had a supercharged one trying to compete with P-51 s at Reno.

Actually, it competed in the Sport Class (for kit-built aircraft) against the likes of NXTs, Lancairs and Glasairs, not in the Unlimited Class against P-51s.

A shame about the accident, Blue Thunder will certainly be missed at Reno next week, but, as Bill and others so rightly say, the main thing is that the pilot, John Parker, was unhurt.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Reno
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 12:52 pm 
Offline
Probationary Member

Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:53 pm
Posts: 3803
Location: Aspen, CO
Mike, I am not up on the latest, but I believe a previous Thunder Mustang tried to race in the unlimited class and came pretty close to qualifying for the bronze. Itwas either a press release or publicity or some magazine story that I read that mentioned that it was about as fast as the more stock 51s. I didn't mean they were going to run with Rare Bear or Dago or Strega,

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:40 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2004 11:38 pm
Posts: 20
Location: San Ramon, California
Blue Thunder in better days. I'm glad John was able to make it out safely.

Image

Image

_________________
Rick Pisio
http://www.rwphotos.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:21 pm 
Offline
Been here a long time
Been here a long time

Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am
Posts: 11336
My understanding is that they have instituted a minimum weight requirement for the unlimiteds now so that the likes of the Thunder Mustang can no longer compete in that class.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:14 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:50 pm
Posts: 701
Location: Dallas / Midland TX
bdk wrote:
My understanding is that they have instituted a minimum weight requirement for the unlimiteds now so that the likes of the Thunder Mustang can no longer compete in that class.


Yeah....it's the "John Parker" rule. RARA's official reason for it it was that they didn't want a light airplane running with the much heavier warbirds. Mostly because of the wake turbulence issues around the pylons. However many of us feel it was a way to prevent Mr Parker specifically from doing so. I was really looking forward to seeing Blue Thunder take on Greenamyer's Lancair this year. If they hadn't thrown the blower belts off last yer he would have probably won.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:44 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 7:28 pm
Posts: 2184
Location: Waukesha, WI
The Falconer (Ryan Falconer Racing Engines, Salinas,CA) V-12 was developed for the Thunder Mustang project and taken to other applications once completed. The demise of Thunder then lead to the more aggressive pursuit of other markets.

I worked for Ryan for many years and the engine for the Thunder Mustang, as all Ryan's products was the ultimate in achievement. He has been one of the standards by which engine builders rate themselves. The look, sound, and reliability of Ryan's engines is renowned.

Go to www.falconerengines.com for more info.

_________________
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google Adsense [Bot] and 128 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group