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A sad day for vintage aviation

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  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Jerome, Idaho, U.S.A.
A sad day for vintage aviation
Posted by crackers on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 12:25 AM

On Friday, May 27, 2016, a P47 Thunderbolt crashed into the Hudson River, New York, on a promotional flight for the American Airpower Museum,of Farmingdale, New York. The pilot, William Gordon, 56, flew what he thought was a routine airshow, but the engine started to smoke. Making a U turn over the Hudson River, the plane belly landed onto the water and quickly sank at 7:30 pm. The pilot made a futule attempt to escape, but was pulled down by the sinking aircraft.

It took a rescue party three hours to retrieve the body. The P 47 was hoisted from the river bottom the following day by a salvage ship. Gordon was an experienced pilot with more than 25 years of flight.   Photos by Fox News

Happy modeling     Crackers     Embarrassed

Anthony V. Santos

  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Jay Jay on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 7:11 AM

What a tradjedy. My prayers go out to William Gordon's  loved ones.

Coincidently this is the plane i modeled my P-47 after.

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 7:52 AM

Very sad indeed!The airframe does not look too damaged and I am sure it will fly again.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 8:56 AM

The lack of damage to the airframe means to me that the pilot did an excellent job of ditching. 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Green Bay, WI USA
Posted by echolmberg on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 9:01 AM

Don Stauffer

The lack of damage to the airframe means to me that the pilot did an excellent job of ditching. 

 

No kidding!  The prop doesn't even look bent.  I wonder if the unfortunate pilot was pulled down by the suction created by the sinking plane or if he got entangled in his harness.  Either way, very sad all around.
 
Eric

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Katy, TX
Posted by Aggieman on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 9:12 AM

Only one blade is bent, visible in the first picture. That makes me think he lost power in the engine.

 

T&P for the family of the pilot.

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: Corpus Christi, Tx
Posted by mustang1989 on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 9:26 AM

This is sad. He saved the aircraft but couldn't save himself. Prayers out to his family...

                   

 Forum | Modelers Social Club Forum (proboards.com) 

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 9:31 AM

LOL! This is old news from last week. The pilot managed to belly land it instead of in a dive. The aircraft can be salvaged though.

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 9:34 AM

I'm saddened to see the P-47 wrecked but sadder still to hear that the pilot lost his life.

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 10:04 AM

It sounds like he got his foot tangled in something in the cockpit. Yes, very sad loss.

Airplane is fine, I am sure.

45-90447 P-47D-40-RA built in Evansville Illinois, 1944.

Taken on strength by USAAF 1944.

Yugoslav Air Force 1945-?

Park display derelict in Belgrade, Yugoslavia until 1989 (?) couldn't find any record. Castelnouvo know?

Variuos restorations and museums, first flight in 1993.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 12:11 PM

Ack, my prayers to the family of Mr. Gordon. I guess though as trite and silly as it sounds he did go doing what he loved to do. 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 11:19 PM
My prayers go out to Mr. Gordon's family....

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Washington State
Posted by leemitcheltree on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 11:38 PM

R.I.P., Mr. Gordon.  So sad.......so sad.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee Jr.

Cheers, LeeTree
Remember, Safety Fast!!!

  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Jay Jay on Thursday, June 2, 2016 9:03 AM

A beautifuly touching quote Lee ,and highly appropriate for Mr. Gordon. May he rest in God's peace

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Thursday, June 2, 2016 9:11 AM

Ronald Reagan used this same speech to honor the astronauts when the Space Shuttle exploded.

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Jerome, Idaho, U.S.A.
Posted by crackers on Thursday, June 2, 2016 9:31 AM

At Elmwood Cemetery in Gooding, Idaho, there is a short version of this poem that is inscribed on the headstone of a man who lost his life in an aviation accident.

Happy modeling   Crackers   Embarrassed

Anthony V. Santos

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by PritMar on Thursday, June 2, 2016 10:47 AM

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

LOL! This is old news from last week. The pilot managed to belly land it instead of in a dive. The aircraft can be salvaged though.

 

 

If the pilot was killed, why would you put LOL in your post!

  • Member since
    April 2010
Posted by Theuns on Thursday, June 2, 2016 11:25 AM

By the looks of the one bent back prop it almost seems that the engine was not turning at time of impackt. Hell of a job in saving the plane though. :-(

 

Theuns

  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by RockyD on Friday, June 3, 2016 1:54 AM

PritMar
 
BlackSheepTwoOneFour

LOL! This is old news from last week. The pilot managed to belly land it instead of in a dive. The aircraft can be salvaged though.

 

 

 

 

If the pilot was killed, why would you put LOL in your post!

 

I agree, very poor taste

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Friday, June 3, 2016 5:28 PM

I think Blacksheep's post should be deleted.   Cllearly not in the spirit of this forum.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Friday, June 3, 2016 5:32 PM

RockyD

 

 
PritMar
 
BlackSheepTwoOneFour

LOL! This is old news from last week. The pilot managed to belly land it instead of in a dive. The aircraft can be salvaged though.

 

 

 

 

If the pilot was killed, why would you put LOL in your post!

 

 

 

I agree, very poor taste

 

X3! Sometimes mr. Black sheep should just keep silent.

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Friday, June 3, 2016 6:05 PM

No matter how routine it gets, this week certainly shows that flying high performance aircraft remains a dangerous business.

I last went to Reno in 2010; the next year the Galloping Ghost crashed more or less right where I usually hung out in the pits.

I think it was said above, and correctly, that life is all about doing the things that you love.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • From: Yorkville, IL
Posted by wolfhammer1 on Friday, June 3, 2016 8:29 PM

Guys,  This is a sad event.  Prayers going out for Mr. Gordon and his family.  The fact that the plane is salvagable is good news, but whats even better news is that the pilot prevented any deaths or injuries on the ground.  Crashing in water is harder to survive, as is in evidence, but this way no one on the ground was hurt.  I submit he was a hero to make sure that he was the only one injured.  Same thing with the demonstration team pilots, both of whom put their planes down making sure no one on the ground was hurt.  Unfortunately, the Blue Angel pilot paid the ultimate price for his heroism.  My heart goes out to these brave men and their families.  Clear skies gentlemen, and may the angels come to greet you. 

John

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Friday, June 3, 2016 8:34 PM

I wonder if the pilot fully expected to survive the crash and did not want the plane to be severely damaged.So he carefully ditched in the water but his foot got caught and he drowned.

  • Member since
    March 2013
Posted by patrick206 on Sunday, June 5, 2016 4:13 PM

I'm willing to think Black Sheep didn't intend to be disrespectful or offensive, however a human did lose his life, the LOL came off as inappropriate and not at all amusing or even of interest. Should have re-read and thought, before hitting "reply." Apology would be considerate.

Patrick

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