Made of balsa?

/how rare is a balsa plane

He was just going out like all of his other compatriots did during the great war.

/Fun fact: One of the reason Allied aircrew fatalities were so high in World War I compared with the Germans was that the British and French, and later American pilots were not equipped with parachutes because of the fear they would inspire cowardice. The situation was so bad that in 1918, Allied airmen were taking to the skies to combat relatively veteran German pilots with an average age of 19 and an average of 30 hours of in-field training.

{sob}

RIP, brother.

I always had a thing for the Vampire.

topcon: I always had a thing for the Vampire.

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Can't be a vampire. It's in the sunlight and doesn't Sparkle.

A rare wooden plane

marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

I completely disagree with you on going to air shows only to see something bad happen.

marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

You don't go to air shows to see something bad, you go to air shows to see something really cool. Like a jet demonstrating vector thrust or the Blue Angels performing acrobatics.

Not sure why anybody would got to Nascar though.

Poor blighter pranged his kite.
RIP

marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

I go to Airshows because I enjoy walking through history. I've been able to see the cockpit of a B-17, the machine-gun positions, set in a ball turret. I've been able to set in the cockpit of a P-51D Mustang, and imagine what it would be like to have been in one of the greatest fighters of World War II. I've gotten to fly in an AT-6 Texan, and see the massive engines of a Vought F4-U Corsair.

These were the machines which helped fight against some of the most evil people history has ever known. Their stories are larger than life, and to just watch them dance in the skies once more is a beautiful thing. They represent the sacrifices of so many men and women who's stories will never, ever be told because they lie in the ground of France or under the Pacific.

Interesting that deHavilland named a plane after a bird that doesn't exist in the UK.

Free toothpicks

Slaves2Darkness: You don't go to air shows to see something bad, you go to air shows to see something really cool. Like a jet demonstrating vector thrust or the Blue Angels performing acrobatics.

Just saw them last week. Very cool.

marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

I think you are mistaking air shows with air racing.

Well that sucks. I've been to the Shuttleworth Collection, it's an awesome little air museum.

I don't remember the DH53, though, I was too busy drooling over their Sopwith Pup, Tripe, Bristol, and Albatros.

Snargi: marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

I think you are mistaking air shows with air racing.

Ya don't go to air racing to see anything bad happen either. You go to it to see machines being flown balls to the wall, instead of just being babied around the sky like at an ordinary airshow. When the Unlimiteds come around past the grandstands at Reno, it raises the hair on the back of your neck. It's visceral.

Crashes happen and it's horrible, not a draw.

Hey, it's always a risk to show these things off but it's nice to keep 'em going. With that said, I have always disliked De Havilland planes, they seem like poor designs and this one is no exception. The CG looks way too high on that thing.

I lol'ed untill I saw it was a fatal crash.

/Sad this landing turned out to be fake (probably).

Mad Scientist: Slaves2Darkness: You don't go to air shows to see something bad, you go to air shows to see something really cool. Like a jet demonstrating vector thrust or the Blue Angels performing acrobatics.

Just saw them last week. Very cool.
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And to hear "Rock You Like a Hurricane" at an unbearable volume.

Is it just me, or is it a bad year for air shows? Haven't there been, like, four fatalities in just the past few months?

\Really asking, haven't got the info at hand.

blatz514: I guess he won't be making EAA in 4 weeks.


You must live in Wisconsin.

BronyMedic: marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

I go to Airshows because I enjoy walking through history. I've been able to see the cockpit of a B-17, the machine-gun positions, set in a ball turret. I've been able to set in the cockpit of a P-51D Mustang, and imagine what it would be like to have been in one of the greatest fighters of World War II. I've gotten to fly in an AT-6 Texan, and see the massive engines of a Vought F4-U Corsair.

These were the machines which helped fight against some of the most evil people history has ever known. Their stories are larger than life, and to just watch them dance in the skies once more is a beautiful thing. They represent the sacrifices of so many men and women who's stories will never, ever be told because they lie in the ground of France or under the Pacific.

THIS.
The article stated how rare it was when built, however nothing on how many are still existance. This plane could've been the last, subby.

Lived a good life and died a good death. Do not feel sad for this man.

marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

Marius2 at football game: "Gee, I hope nobody gets tackled!"

marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

I go to 2 nascar races a year and while the crashes are kinda exciting they a rarely fatal, so getting a little adrenalie rush whenever a car crashes in front of you isnt a bad thing really. Why did you pick NASCAR specifically? Couldn't same be applied to any other type of auto racing?

I also go to airshows and I can assure you that I never want to see something bad happen involving a plane. Chances are the pilot won't be walking away from that.

Would not go to a bullfight. Not really interested in animal bloodsports.

I said, hop in.

BronyMedic: marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

I go to Airshows because I enjoy walking through history. I've been able to see the cockpit of a B-17, the machine-gun positions, set in a ball turret. I've been able to set in the cockpit of a P-51D Mustang, and imagine what it would be like to have been in one of the greatest fighters of World War II. I've gotten to fly in an AT-6 Texan, and see the massive engines of a Vought F4-U Corsair.

These were the machines which helped fight against some of the most evil people history has ever known. Their stories are larger than life, and to just watch them dance in the skies once more is a beautiful thing. They represent the sacrifices of so many men and women who's stories will never, ever be told because they lie in the ground of France or under the Pacific.

I see you have this covered, carry on!
/got to see a Corsair do a "strafing run" last year
//holy crap

GoBadgers: Poor blighter pranged his kite.
RIP

Photos of the aircraft post-crash show it's really not banged up that bad, but the pilot essentially sits with the engine in his lap; I'm guessing the force of the impact may have broken his neck.

RIP to a fine pilot.

The de Havilland Humming Bird, powered by a motorcycle engine, was built in the early 1920s

his wife and kids rushed to his side driving antique airplane engine powered motorcycles sobbing and asking what went wrong.

I though the article might have been about this "wooden wonder" from the same manufacturer...

Go to the article, click on the other article about Spain winning and the Italians crying.

Then scroll down for the topless Spanish supporter. NSFW, most likely. But worth it.

ronaprhys: Go to the article, click on the other article about Spain winning and the Italians crying.

Then scroll down for the topless Spanish supporter. NSFW, most likely. But worth it.

I thank you for your diligent and thorough research.

topcon: I always had a thing for the Vampire.

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You know what other vampire flew a twin boom plane?

Slaves2Darkness: marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

You don't go to air shows to see something bad, you go to air shows to see something really cool. Like a jet demonstrating vector thrust or the Blue Angels performing acrobatics aerobatics.

Not sure why anybody would got to Nascar though.

FTFM. Otherwise, agree 100%.

I go to the airshows because the AWACS my dad flew in Nam is one of the 3 still flying Connys on earth. And she's a mother farker to watch start up. Just don't stand behind her.

Igor Jakovsky: Why did you pick NASCAR specifically? Couldn't same be applied to any other type of auto racing?

Many other types of auto racing involve varied track routes, sometimes improvised from existing streets (such as the Long Beach Grand Prix.) and involving both left and right curves. NASCAR has the most boring track layout imaginable (simple oval, always run in the same direction). Even many slot car layouts are marginally more interesting than a NASCAR track.

I haven't attended a NASCAR race, and imagine it could be interesting with the crowd, loud noises, etc. but a race on TV never commands my attention for more than about 5 minutes.

marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

I was at the Reno air races last year. I definitely did not go to see something bad happen. And as we know, what has been seen, etc. etc.

kradio: marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

I was at the Reno air races last year. I definitely did not go to see something bad happen. And as we know, what has been seen, etc. etc.

Did they ever figure out what happened? I recall seeing that on the news but never any resolution.

marius2: Air shows, Nascar, and bull-fighting. Three "activities" that I'll never understand. People only go/watch to see something bad happen.

First, you say you don't understand, then you explain the appeal of 2/3 of the activities you mentioned. You clearly have some sort of understanding when it comes to Nascar and bull fighting.

destrip: Igor Jakovsky: Why did you pick NASCAR specifically? Couldn't same be applied to any other type of auto racing?

Many other types of auto racing involve varied track routes, sometimes improvised from existing streets (such as the Long Beach Grand Prix.) and involving both left and right curves. NASCAR has the most boring track layout imaginable (simple oval, always run in the same direction). Even many slot car layouts are marginally more interesting than a NASCAR track.

I haven't attended a NASCAR race, and imagine it could be interesting with the crowd, loud noises, etc. but a race on TV never commands my attention for more than about 5 minutes.

NASCAR has road courses too, but yeah most most of them are just ovals.