The inside tumble will always be my favorite maneuver. Seeing the outpouring of love from the aviation community has been awe inspiring. It’s clear how many lives he touched. This one hurts. Rest in peace, Rob.
Awful. Hopefully the accident report is insightful. Anything could have happened but with someone this skilled my mind goes to a medical emergency or something kind of catastrophic flight control failure. He was the best I ever saw.
Carbon fiber planes are a huge liability, as it fails catastrophically, without warning.
Absolutely false.
Not only can you detect most common carbon failure modes well in advance, the forces required to cause sudden catastrophic failure would also cause catastrophic failure in structures made from metal. Carbon is also far more fatigue resistant than metals, especially aluminum, which is a highly desirable characteristic in an aircraft structure.
There's a reason basically all new wind turbine planes and aircraft are using large amounts of structural carbon.
Carbon fiber will break or splinter when compressed, pushed beyond its strength, or subjected to high impact. It will crack if hit with a hammer. Machining and holes can also create weak areas that can increase the likelihood of breakage.
There are also some disadvantages to using carbon fiber. Carbon fiber does not yield. Under load, carbon fiber will bend but will not permanently conform to the new shape (elastic). Once the ultimate tensile strength of the carbon fiber material is exceeded, the carbon fiber suddenly fails. Engineers must understand this behavior and include safety factors to account for it when designing products.
Once the ultimate strength is exceeded, carbon fiber will fail suddenly and catastrophically even if it is stronger then strength steel. No magic, no offense.
So bizarre that he flew 3 h on a plane that has been stressed to the limit continually and his wing falls off on approach. Must be some sorta loose fasters.
Curious for the NTSB report when they finally release it. My father in law was friends with Rob so this one struck home. When my FIL was finally cancer free, they all went up to do some formation flying and aerobatic flying together. He will be missed.
It's like drifting a car, except you're in an airplane upside down in a controlled stall. It's awesome to watch in person. The engine sound is so cool.
On a related note, if you like seeing aircraft make physics their bitch, you should check out the R/C scene:
I’m glad I was able to watch him perform in-person when I had the chance. He was the reason why I got involved in aerobatic flying. A sad day for his friends, family, and the aerobatic community. He will surely be missed.
Just learned about him from these posts. RIP to an absolute legend. So crazy how it sounds like he was landing under completely normal circumstances when this accident happened. RIP legend
Talked with him and his wife at a couple air shows, they were both really nice and pleasant. He had a longer conversation with my son at one and explained a whole bunch.
wingoveruhd@reddit
The inside tumble will always be my favorite maneuver. Seeing the outpouring of love from the aviation community has been awe inspiring. It’s clear how many lives he touched. This one hurts. Rest in peace, Rob.
-Poliwrath-@reddit
All the crazy shit he did in the air and he dies during what was meant to be a routine landing?
johnnyribcage@reddit
Awful. Hopefully the accident report is insightful. Anything could have happened but with someone this skilled my mind goes to a medical emergency or something kind of catastrophic flight control failure. He was the best I ever saw.
Pdlbprbbbabybjoep@reddit
He was the best I've ever seen. RIP buddy
tollbearer@reddit
The wing literally fell off. Carbon fiber planes are a huge liability, as it fails catastrophically, without warning.
rsta223@reddit
Absolutely false.
Not only can you detect most common carbon failure modes well in advance, the forces required to cause sudden catastrophic failure would also cause catastrophic failure in structures made from metal. Carbon is also far more fatigue resistant than metals, especially aluminum, which is a highly desirable characteristic in an aircraft structure.
There's a reason basically all new wind turbine planes and aircraft are using large amounts of structural carbon.
Zestyclose_Walk_8212@reddit
Carbon fiber will break or splinter when compressed, pushed beyond its strength, or subjected to high impact. It will crack if hit with a hammer. Machining and holes can also create weak areas that can increase the likelihood of breakage.
rsta223@reddit
And literally everything in your statement also applies to high strength steel.
Zestyclose_Walk_8212@reddit
There are also some disadvantages to using carbon fiber. Carbon fiber does not yield. Under load, carbon fiber will bend but will not permanently conform to the new shape (elastic). Once the ultimate tensile strength of the carbon fiber material is exceeded, the carbon fiber suddenly fails. Engineers must understand this behavior and include safety factors to account for it when designing products.
Zestyclose_Walk_8212@reddit
They will break in different ways
Once the ultimate strength is exceeded, carbon fiber will fail suddenly and catastrophically even if it is stronger then strength steel. No magic, no offense.
Any_Purchase_3880@reddit
Reminds me of Jim Tweeto. Sometimes routine flying just turns deadly.
micahpmtn@reddit
Tweeto died in a plane crash?
Any_Purchase_3880@reddit
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192387/pdf
micahpmtn@reddit
Thanks for the link. Terrible news.
Tomislav_Stanislaus@reddit
Remember Ken Block.
PraetorAudax@reddit
Surprisingly many experienced pilots have crashed in routine landing.
CplKingShaw@reddit
Life is a bitch most of the time. Doesn't surprise me at all.
Product_Immediate@reddit
Routine accidents don't surprise me, still going to be very interesting to read and study what happened
mnztr1@reddit
So bizarre that he flew 3 h on a plane that has been stressed to the limit continually and his wing falls off on approach. Must be some sorta loose fasters.
Pdlbprbbbabybjoep@reddit
That's a good point. Rip Rob
ChronicWombat@reddit
The only "wing fell off" report I've seen is from a source I'd regard as unreliable.
mnztr1@reddit
I concede that anything is unreliable at this point.
lackinsocialawarenes@reddit
The wing fell off?
nicspace101@reddit
Should've pressed the 'wing stays on' button.
ThEGr1llMAstEr@reddit
https://youtu.be/3m5qxZm_JqM?si=5H2zZAPJ45H43VSK
mnztr1@reddit
that is what witnesses report.
DJJbird09@reddit
Curious for the NTSB report when they finally release it. My father in law was friends with Rob so this one struck home. When my FIL was finally cancer free, they all went up to do some formation flying and aerobatic flying together. He will be missed.
Just-Big6411@reddit
Had the privilege of seeing him in person. Absolutely amazing what he could do with that airplane.
aChemicalRXN@reddit
That crazy wiggly stuff 0:18 into the video made my jaw drop. What even is that?? Wow.
ViperThreat@reddit
It's like drifting a car, except you're in an airplane upside down in a controlled stall. It's awesome to watch in person. The engine sound is so cool.
On a related note, if you like seeing aircraft make physics their bitch, you should check out the R/C scene:
RC Stunt planes do some incredible shit
RC Helicopters are literal demon spawn.
opteryx5@reddit
I love how RC gives us a chance to test aviation physics in a really cool harmless way. No human need be at risk.
II-WalkerGer-II@reddit
WTF was that heli doing, my brain can’t even think that fast. Incredible.
nicspace101@reddit
I know, right. Such a hero.
GOD-PORING@reddit
Damn only started checking out air shows recently and just found out about this guy. RIP.
One_Exercise2715@reddit
Oh wow. I went up for a private ride with him once because he was a close family friend of a girl I was dating. Super nice guy and an amazing ride.
AdPuzzleheaded9829@reddit
I’m glad I was able to watch him perform in-person when I had the chance. He was the reason why I got involved in aerobatic flying. A sad day for his friends, family, and the aerobatic community. He will surely be missed.
b00c@reddit
watching him flying you were convinced it's a model airplane and the guy with controller is hiding somewhere behind trees.
Muchablat@reddit
Honest question here. How does he fly like that? I mean, isn’t the weight and balance out of whack with balls that big?
nicspace101@reddit
Opposite. Overcompensation.
FreshSky17@reddit
If anyone reading this wondered how he died
You already know
Rolex_throwaway@reddit
I’m reading this comment and looking for a way to interpret it as anything but absolutely abhorrent, but I’m struggling. You should delete this.
nicspace101@reddit
How is it abhorrent?
Crystal-kim@reddit
Wasn’t it said he survived the crash ? If not I missed an épisode 😭😭😭
NoSwimmers45@reddit
Initial unconfirmed reports were that he survived. It was later confirmed that he had perished.
Crystal-kim@reddit
😭
Danitoba94@reddit
.... If I already knew how he died, I wouldn't be asking...
BlessShaiHulud@reddit
What am I missing? I know he died due to crashing his plane but it was during a normal landing, not during any aerobatic routine.
Is the cause of the crash known already?
nicspace101@reddit
Any crash video?
trailcamty@reddit
Dang, saw this on the flight radar sub and he was ok at first.
RoboticWitness@reddit
Just gorgeous natural talent
rudoffhess@reddit
Just a lurker but damn he was born 80 years late
johnnyribcage@reddit
Best I ever saw.
norcalfxdb@reddit
Insane
AntiZionistJew@reddit
Just learned about him from these posts. RIP to an absolute legend. So crazy how it sounds like he was landing under completely normal circumstances when this accident happened. RIP legend
MaximumComplete6246@reddit
NTSB final on this will be interesting. Didn’t he have a forced landing a few years ago? RIP
Calling_left_final@reddit
What kind of plane is that?
flylikebird@reddit
MXS-RH
italyqt@reddit
Talked with him and his wife at a couple air shows, they were both really nice and pleasant. He had a longer conversation with my son at one and explained a whole bunch.