Oh, of course, much, much riskier. I don’t know how warbirds specifically compare to GA more broadly, but GA itself is considered to have a similar fatality rate to riding a motorcycle, which is itself 28x more deadly per mile driven than operating a car.
Now add in the fact that old fighters like the P-51 can be a handful to fly, have much more complicated and unforgiving engine management profiles, and many quirky aerodynamic qualities, and it‘s inconceivable that warbirds aren’t an order of magnitude riskier to fly than a typical GA plane.
Late/Post WWII Korean war Russian fighters were definitely not beauty queens. Their prop aircraft were mostly elegant, jet aircraft looked like the theory was to put as much power behind a brick as they could.
To be fair, there are barely any local news outlets left these days and it’s almost a miracle to find one that isn’t just private-equity owned AI generated slop.
Ultra high performance tail dragger flying limited hours with a messy cockpit layout and pilots 40 years older than the guys the plane was designed for, often flying aerobatics.
There’s a significant element of risk that comes with flying warbirds these pilots clearly accept.
In the last 20 years there have been 12 fatal accidents (counting this) and 9 additional accidents with no fatalities. They list 159 in airworthy condition:
They're old, they're very powerful, so there are lots of things that can go wrong. I'd be curious to see the crash statistics per flight hour though, they might not actually be more dangerous than many other types of that age though.
Came across this post and immediately ran to Facebook hoping it wasn’t Dan, and unfortunately it was… RIP to a great man, and a great pilot. He’s got a tank of fuel that’ll last forever now up there.
A P-51 Mustang crashed yesterday, May 12, killing the pilot. From the reports so far, it sounds like the aircraft went down near Vicksburg-Tallulah Regional Airport during approach. The pilot was Dan Fordice, son of former Mississippi governor Kirk Fordice. I had seen his plane Charlotte’s Chariot a few times at a local airport over the years. Sad news.
There's a tiny bit of info here. The plane was in storage awaiting a sale (which eventually fell through).
This is the same Mustang that was stolen from a storage site in Tonopah maybe mid to late 80's. It was being stored there because it was supposedly still being held for my father as he was trying to come up with the remainder of the note which was at the time $43,000.
This is truly sad. Dan was an accomplished pilot, extremely active in NATA, hosted a lot of formation clinics, he was a very good friend to aviation, especially the warbird community. I have a lot of hours working on that mustang and several of his other planes, he/his foundation sent me to a week long class on the T6/SNJ. This is an immeasurable loss. I actually got to ride in that plane last year, it was an unforgettable experience.
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skylorde787@reddit
Dan gave me a tour of his hanger about 5 years ago he was a nice guy and experienced pilot.
Warbirds will kill you if you spend enough time in them.
Sorry for the loss.
cobramodels@reddit
Is there any statistics to this btw? Like is flying warbirds more risky than driving a car
SeaMareOcean@reddit
Oh, of course, much, much riskier. I don’t know how warbirds specifically compare to GA more broadly, but GA itself is considered to have a similar fatality rate to riding a motorcycle, which is itself 28x more deadly per mile driven than operating a car.
Now add in the fact that old fighters like the P-51 can be a handful to fly, have much more complicated and unforgiving engine management profiles, and many quirky aerodynamic qualities, and it‘s inconceivable that warbirds aren’t an order of magnitude riskier to fly than a typical GA plane.
320sim@reddit
Surely. Standard GA is more risky than driving a car
brockbr@reddit
P-51 Jet?
DrPeekinside@reddit
No. Single engine propeller
PropOnTop@reddit
From: https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/2qmm36/journalists_guide_to_aircraft_identification/
jakerepp15@reddit
Where is the Cessna? There has to be a Cessna
WhisperingSideways@reddit
Don’t forget to use the word “Tarmac” to describe runways, taxiways and aprons.
UNC_Samurai@reddit
It’s only a tarmac if you fire your football coach there before boarding the plane, otherwise it’s just sparkling aircraft pavement.
BadAngler@reddit
A propeller-driven World War II fighter jet.
Immediate-Spite-5905@reddit
wasnt there a soviet design of some sort that actually tried this? or was it just jet engine on prop fuselage
justinhj@reddit
yeah the mig 13
https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2017/08/20/the-forgotten-mig-13/
Immediate-Spite-5905@reddit
jesus christ that thing looks awful
ViceAdmiralSalty@reddit
Late/Post WWII Korean war Russian fighters were definitely not beauty queens. Their prop aircraft were mostly elegant, jet aircraft looked like the theory was to put as much power behind a brick as they could.
aka_Handbag@reddit
The La-9 would like a word 😍
ViceAdmiralSalty@reddit
The La-9 is a beautiful derp even if that engine and cowling make it look like it's got downs
Yoinkitron5000@reddit
Aeronautical hermaphrodite.
old_righty@reddit
German pilots hate this one simple trick!
misuhsipee@reddit (OP)
That’s the local news for you..
reddituserperson1122@reddit
To be fair, there are barely any local news outlets left these days and it’s almost a miracle to find one that isn’t just private-equity owned AI generated slop.
Face88888888@reddit
A “propeller driven” jet.
brockbr@reddit
Well - I thought of saying that too, but turbo-props do exist, so was it a turbine converted P-51?
evanc3@reddit
Still wouldn't really be "jet propelled"
Face88888888@reddit
Yeah, I would’ve let it slide if it was a turboprop. But I really doubt this was retrofitted with a PT6 or any other turbine engine.
Torkin@reddit
As much as I love the p-51 I have seen/heard of far too many crashes in the last 20 years.
ThatBaseball7433@reddit
Ultra high performance tail dragger flying limited hours with a messy cockpit layout and pilots 40 years older than the guys the plane was designed for, often flying aerobatics.
There’s a significant element of risk that comes with flying warbirds these pilots clearly accept.
TexasBrett@reddit
How many have actually been lost?
You also have to remember that all skill levels of pilots might be flying these. Just takes money.
Torkin@reddit
https://mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/accidents/ has a list (missing this one as it just happened)
In the last 20 years there have been 12 fatal accidents (counting this) and 9 additional accidents with no fatalities. They list 159 in airworthy condition:
Total Complete P-51 Survivors 308
Airworthy Condition 159
On Display (non-flying) 66
Repairs / Restoration 54
In Storage 29
Unknown 9
TexasBrett@reddit
Be interesting to see how this compares to normal aerobatic aircraft.
Messyfingers@reddit
They're old, they're very powerful, so there are lots of things that can go wrong. I'd be curious to see the crash statistics per flight hour though, they might not actually be more dangerous than many other types of that age though.
SoH_ArBiTeR@reddit
This is devastating to hear. I met the guy and the bird when he came to BTR in 2019.
Airplane_nerd111@reddit
Am I reading this correctly? The article says "P-51 Mustang, a propeller-driven World War II fighter jet". What part of a P-51 is a jet?
DisturbedForever92@reddit
They edited it to Plane now
smallaubergine@reddit
Give them a break, they spent a lot of time letting the AI write the article for them
Airplane_nerd111@reddit
Haha yeah
Mal-De-Terre@reddit
The oil cooler exhaust.
Airplane_nerd111@reddit
Ah the Meredith effect
FxckFxntxnyl@reddit
Came across this post and immediately ran to Facebook hoping it wasn’t Dan, and unfortunately it was… RIP to a great man, and a great pilot. He’s got a tank of fuel that’ll last forever now up there.
jawshoeaw@reddit
Unironically you do get some “jet” like thrust from exhaust in some circumstances
misuhsipee@reddit (OP)
A P-51 Mustang crashed yesterday, May 12, killing the pilot. From the reports so far, it sounds like the aircraft went down near Vicksburg-Tallulah Regional Airport during approach. The pilot was Dan Fordice, son of former Mississippi governor Kirk Fordice. I had seen his plane Charlotte’s Chariot a few times at a local airport over the years. Sad news.
CumminsInYa@reddit
Stolen in 1984. That’s wild. I’d like to hear more about this event. I wonder what the plan was. Either way, sad to lose another pilot and 51.
rhineauto@reddit
There's a tiny bit of info here. The plane was in storage awaiting a sale (which eventually fell through).
https://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/who/case/227
73Ncommando850@reddit
This is truly sad. Dan was an accomplished pilot, extremely active in NATA, hosted a lot of formation clinics, he was a very good friend to aviation, especially the warbird community. I have a lot of hours working on that mustang and several of his other planes, he/his foundation sent me to a week long class on the T6/SNJ. This is an immeasurable loss. I actually got to ride in that plane last year, it was an unforgettable experience.
Coreantes@reddit
Sorry for your loss!
AliceInPlunderland@reddit
Blue skies and tailwinds Mr. Fordice. Sad day for the warbird community.
johnnytrupp@reddit
Dang I just saw him perform at the red white and blue air show in Monroe, RIP
wanderingmanimal@reddit
Stop flying history and ruining it you morons
post-explainer@reddit
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misuhsipee@reddit (OP)
https://www.vicksburgpost.com/news/dan-fordice-killed-in-plane-crash-in-tallulah