The report on the P-51/Skyraider incident in the UK.

[PeterA]

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bul ... f_azdp.cfm

PeterA

[cwmc]

Nice report, spells it out pretty well. My best buddy always prompted me to exit my airplane after parking as if I was escaping, as he did. Good rehearsal for the real thing, down low especially.
Chris...

[JohnTerrell]

I love the ratio of hours on type to that of the amount of total flying hours for the "Mustang pilot" (for which of course we all know who - a terrific gentleman).

[Ken]

The enlarged photos of the collision are unbelievable.

[PeterA]

Well what a rugged old bird that Skyraider is and thank goodness for triple hinging on the ailerons.

At circuit height, I was surprised he lowered the flaps without a visual inspection.

PeterA

[ChrisDNT]

Very interesting.

When I read in the report "the pilot who was wearing a parachute...", I realized suddently that other pilots don't take a chute, happy guys who can fly by themselves

[Ken]

Well what a rugged old bird that Skyraider is and thank goodness for triple hinging on the ailerons.

At circuit height, I was surprised he lowered the flaps without a visual inspection.

PeterA

It is amazing and another testament to this fine bird. The report mentions that he lost his pitot boom, and missing so much wing, I bet he was concerned with his actual speed and the speed at which she was going to stall. He may have lowered a little flap at a time and assessed control response as he went but certainly he landed shortly after the collision and dispensed with the traditional "controllability check". The pilot has gotten, and deserved, a number of dings for causing the collision but his airmanship in recovering from the post-collision barrel roll and getting that airplane back on the ground (in 2 pieces) deserves some recognition. At least his bad day ended; had it continued, there could easily have been two piles of wreckage.

Ken

[Randy Wilson]

Very interesting.

When I read in the report "the pilot who was wearing a parachute...", I realized suddently that other pilots don't take a chute, happy guys who can fly by themselves

What I read in the report was this: "The Mustang pilot, who was wearing a parachute, considered making a forced landing in the open areas ahead of his aircraft, but faced with an abnormally aft control column position and severe airframe buffeting, he elected instead to abandon the aircraft and, after deploying his parachute, landed safely." Note the comma after Mustang pilot. That does not suggest to me that the Skyraider or other pilots were flying without parachutes - I really doubt that. It just points out that the Mustang pilot had the option to make a forced landing but chose to bail out. Not trying to be picky but I think you had a wrong impression of the statement or perhaps I missed your point. My 2 cents. All the best.

P.S. I also sit on a Strong chute, too.

Randy