16 Sep 2003, 15:38
While the video quality was poor, I did not see any evidence of engine failure - no smoke or debris associated with FOD-ing an engine.
Also, on the descending part of the split-S isn't the engine throttled back anyway? This 'lack of engine sound' may have been misinterpreted by the crowd as an engine failure.
IMO it looked like the pilot had full control of the aircraft all the way through the climb and the descent, and punched out when he determined he was out of airspace at the bottom of the maneuver. I'm not criticising the pilot but sh*t happens sometimes, even to the best of men.
Stories of the pilot intentionally steering the aircraft away from the crowd are, while admirable, pure bunk. Anyone familiar with Thunderbird routines and airshows in general (ever since the Frecce Tricolore accident) knows that, per FAA regulations, the flight vector cannot be aimed at the crowd in most if not all maneuvers. In particular, the split-S after takeoff by the #6 solo is aligned along the runway and never comes close to pointing at the crowdline - which IIRC is at least 1500 ft from the runway.
Just my $0.02,
GregD