P47 crashed in New York
Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36404322
looks like engine failure and a body has been recovered
looks like engine failure and a body has been recovered
Eric Mc said:
Tragic.
I would have thought he would have opened the canopy before impact - if he had time, of course. He could have been knocked unconscious by the impact too.
From what I've read, because of its big, deep fuselage, the P-47 wasn't the easiest aircraft to ditch.
Knocked unconscious on impact would be most likely scenario, only would have needed to have been out for a moment or two really with it sinking, even with canopy open.I would have thought he would have opened the canopy before impact - if he had time, of course. He could have been knocked unconscious by the impact too.
From what I've read, because of its big, deep fuselage, the P-47 wasn't the easiest aircraft to ditch.
It looks remarkably in one piece on lifting it out of the river, but then they are built like the preverbal brick sthouse.
RIP Bill Gordon
Eric Mc said:
I would have thought he would have opened the canopy before impact - if he had time, of course. He could have been knocked unconscious by the impact too.
IIRC the general plan for ditching is canopy open, straps tight - but nothing is perfect and you only get one chance. Unlucky.Simpo Two said:
Why he didn't eject? Hovering a helicopter over it can't have helped it float though.
This may help.https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/...
Simpo Two said:
Interesting, thanks. It seems there was to much for him to do in the time available, but it seems he wasn't thinking clearly before that.
I guess it's easy to judge through the prism of history, but all things considered he was just very unfortunate so many things worked against him, some of which should have been there to help. The aviation & marine worlds are fraught with danger even now, back then combining the two meant a lot of learning was done the hard way.MarkwG said:
I guess it's easy to judge through the prism of history, but all things considered he was just very unfortunate so many things worked against him, some of which should have been there to help. The aviation & marine worlds are fraught with danger even now, back then combining the two meant a lot of learning was done the hard way.
Agreed. When I read of the likes of Eric Brown, one reason he surived was because he was always thinking, always aware of every risk, always had a way out ready so that if something went wrong he could react instantly.I can only assume that Cdr. Russell had his head in the office so didn't know he was still rolling.
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