As most of you have already heard, a tragedy occurred in the aviation community that has everyone talking. Friday, September 16th, thousands watched in horror as the highly modified, P-51 Mustang pitched violently upward, rolled over, and nose-dived into the crowd. As it slammed into the tarmac, debris blew in the crowd and smoke covered the area, while bystanders ran to help.
As of today, 9 people have been confirmed dead, including veteran pilot Jimmy Leeward, 74, of Ocala, FL. Leeward has performed in over 1200 races and has also been a stunt pilot in movies, including "Amelia" and "Cloud Dancer." At the time of transport, 56 had been taking to the hospital for injuries, many serious.
Pilot spectators and friends say that Leeward was an incredibly qualified and experienced pilot with no medical issues. They also say that it is possible he was able to veer the plane toward the tarmac, possibly preventing the death of hundreds more.
Horrific accounts of the tragedy include spectators seeing body parts scattered across the ground. "Unbelievable gore," is how it was described as one member of the crowd.
After reading comments from many of the articles out there, you hear people saying that they should shut the races down, and that it's just too dangerous.
Then, I read an article written by Patty Wagstaff, world-renowned air show/stunt pilot. What she discussed in her article was the importance of airshows to the community and the risks we take in life. She mentions that people young and old, can come to airshows and sit inside the cockpit of an airplane that they either may have flown in 1943 or can become inspired by to become tomorrow's aviators. Not only are these shows inspirational and amazing entertainment, they have served to raise millions of dollars for charity. Patty Wagstaff, herself, got started all because she had been a spectator at an airshow and became inspired.
Another topic she brings up are the risks we take in life. In her article she says this, "Is it possible to predict every risk? Not unless you avoid it. If you don't wish to get into a car accident, you must never get in a car. Avoiding the risk of driving would, of course, eliminate what you might gain from the freedom driving gives you. Not going to or flying in airshows or an air race because something bad might happen would eliminate any risk, but it would also eliminate what we gain. Rather we strive to reduce rather than avoid risk, because risk is always possible. "
I couldn't have said it any better. What we must do as aviators and enthusiasts is learn how to reduce risk and prevent tragedies as much as possible. Risk will never be eliminated in life. Jimmy Leeward died doing what he loved, and even though I don't know him personally, I don't think he would have quit doing what he loved if somebody had told him that one day he would die from it. There is not a single pilot out there that doesn't understand the risks they take by getting into the airplane each day. I may die from an airplane crash or one of a million other things, but I hope to always keep flying.
