Thanks Mike, broadly my thoughts also,
except :-

> I'd be surprised if they'd removed any flight recorder kit ?  But don't know what would have been in a 50-y-o aircraft

Maybe the reverse,
I may be out of date on this but for a long time the military did not fit black boxes but civilian did ( maybe only passenger carrying tho' ? )
That was what all the Ch4 investigation into Chinooks was all about, some years ago, ,  twas always pilot error cos there was no contrary evidence from black boxes u c.
may all be different now, hence my wonderings ?

I wish the news media would stop calling it "vintage", they were brand spanking new when I started 'spotting' them !

From what I saw in video's of the crash, it looks suspiciously like a bird strike happened when the aircraft was at about the 10-11 o'clock position in the loop..
Just my assumption and better people than me will be looking at all the evidence.
Hope all involved have a speedy recovery.

Cheers
Mark

To follow that horrendous event theres now reports  of another airshow crash in Switzerland just coming in 

latest reports on BBC news state death toll has risen to 11, although police say more bodies may be found when the wreckage is moved.


A27 to possibly be closed for several more days while crash site cleared, and it will then need repairs.

gets worse and worse.

Quote from: MalcolmAL on August 23, 2015, 12:35:45 PM
for a long time the military did not fit black boxes but civilian did ( maybe only passenger carrying tho' ? )

That's why I said 'flight recorder' and not 'black box' ... who knows what was fitted post-RAF

Just heard from some friends who live a couple of kms away from me and his brother was going to the airshow yesterday (he lives at Brighton) and they can't get in contact with him, no reply from his mobile or anything.  They've been in contact with the UK police who state they still have some unidentified bodies but have noted his name in case he is one of them, met him many times, a lovely old chap full of life, they are just hoping his phone battery is dead and that's why they can't get in contact.   

Quote from: MikeDunn on August 23, 2015, 11:46:55 AM
Drop tanks can provide additional fuel, but the aircraft seemed to be flying 'clean'.

Just seen video footage of the earlier part of the display, and that shows the Hunter was carrying drop tanks; hence the large first explosion I assume 

Quote from: Caz on August 23, 2015, 07:01:03 PM
Just heard from some friends who live a couple of kms away from me and his brother was going to the airshow yesterday (he lives at Brighton) and they can't get in contact with him, no reply from his mobile or anything.  They've been in contact with the UK police who state they still have some unidentified bodies but have noted his name in case he is one of them, met him many times, a lovely old chap full of life, they are just hoping his phone battery is dead and that's why they can't get in contact.   

That is terrible,always harder when you start to read/hear these sort of stories, I really do hope that all is well with him.

best wishes
Simon

Quote from: MikeDunn on August 23, 2015, 07:13:30 PM

Quote from: MikeDunn on August 23, 2015, 11:46:55 AM
Drop tanks can provide additional fuel, but the aircraft seemed to be flying 'clean'.

Just seen video footage of the earlier part of the display, and that shows the Hunter was carrying drop tanks; hence the large first explosion I assume 

They would normally have been empty. When full most aircraft that use drop tanks can only really fly A to B and not do any aerobatics. I wouldn't have thought he'd be carrying any more fuel than needed for the display plus a reserve.

Why bother with them then    surely just more weight/drag ?

Probably because it's easier to leave them on for the show (empty they shouldn't have too much effect on flight) and they'd be useful when ferrying to-from shows.

Quote from: bridgiesimon on August 23, 2015, 07:50:23 PM

Quote from: Caz on August 23, 2015, 07:01:03 PM
Just heard from some friends who live a couple of kms away from me and his brother was going to the airshow yesterday (he lives at Brighton) and they can't get in contact with him, no reply from his mobile or anything.  They've been in contact with the UK police who state they still have some unidentified bodies but have noted his name in case he is one of them, met him many times, a lovely old chap full of life, they are just hoping his phone battery is dead and that's why they can't get in contact.   

That is terrible,always harder when you start to read/hear these sort of stories, I really do hope that all is well with him.

best wishes
Simon

Gosh, that is most alarming. Fingers crossed everything is ok he has misplaced his phone or something.

I have just got out of hospital and not been taking much notice of any news and on coming home this has shocked me, how awful this is and why do they allow aerobatics over busy roads.

I only hope the families of the bereaved get plenty of support.

Quote from: Geoff on August 24, 2015, 07:41:23 AM
...why do they allow aerobatics over busy roads.

Beacuase the display needs a couple of miles each end of the runway/display area for the aircraft to manoeuvre and there aren't many accessible airfields that aren't within a couple of miles of a busy road.

Update re my friends brother, they still haven't heard anything from him or the police but have now discovered the friend whom he went with is also missing so it's not looking good.  They are just hoping that he is one of the unidentified in hospital as that seems their only hope, very sad.