Thunder Mustang down at Reno Stead.. Pilot said to be OK

[cg51]

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

[JägerMarty]

Fingers crossed

[cg51]

AAFO is reporting that John was NOT injured, the team is going to hold a news confrence soon.

[MX304]

Yes , John is ok. The aircraft is a total loss.

[Ztex]

Aero-news.net

'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

[Toddb]

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.


Todd

[Tim Savage]

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.


Todd

Not a real Mustang. A Thunder Mustang.

[DB2]

It was a kit-built Thunder Mustang, not a real one.

[Bill Greenwood]

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.

[Mike]

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.

[Bill Greenwood]

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,

[sonichound]

Blue Thunder in better days. I'm glad John was able to make it out safely.

[bdk]

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.

[MX304]

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.

[sdennison]

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.