Made me chuckle.

andrew wrote:The plane is being flown by Kyle Franklin. Kyle and his wife, Amanda Younkin, were owners of Franklin's Flying Circus, a professional airshow act. Both Kyle and Amanda were raised on the airshow circuit and their fathers had been lifelong friends and performers. Jimmy Franklin and Bobby Younkin were killed in a midair during one of their airshows in 2005.

Kyle and Amanda had a wingwalking show call Pirated Skies where she performed while he flew. In early March of this year, at the first show of the season, they had an engine failure at low altitude while Amanda was still on the wing. Although Kyle put the plane down, Amanda was trapped and severly burned in the ensuing fire. She passed away from her injuries near the end of May, 2011. She was 25.

I've seen them perform several times -- he was an excellent pilot, but a heavy Waco flying low and slow without power is just not very controllable.

http://www.franklinairshow.com/

That is sad.

andrew

nitroairplane wrote:

andrew wrote:The plane is being flown by Kyle Franklin. Kyle and his wife, Amanda Younkin, were owners of Franklin's Flying Circus, a professional airshow act. Both Kyle and Amanda were raised on the airshow circuit and their fathers had been lifelong friends and performers. Jimmy Franklin and Bobby Younkin were killed in a midair during one of their airshows in 2005.

Kyle and Amanda had a wingwalking show call Pirated Skies where she performed while he flew. In early March of this year, at the first show of the season, they had an engine failure at low altitude while Amanda was still on the wing. Although Kyle put the plane down, Amanda was trapped and severly burned in the ensuing fire. She passed away from her injuries near the end of May, 2011. She was 25.

I've seen them perform several times -- he was an excellent pilot, but a heavy Waco flying low and slow without power is just not very controllable.

http://www.franklinairshow.com/

That is sad.

andrew

Kim wrote:

nitroairplane wrote:

andrew wrote:The plane is being flown by Kyle Franklin. Kyle and his wife, Amanda Younkin, were owners of Franklin's Flying Circus, a professional airshow act. Both Kyle and Amanda were raised on the airshow circuit and their fathers had been lifelong friends and performers. Jimmy Franklin and Bobby Younkin were killed in a midair during one of their airshows in 2005.

Kyle and Amanda had a wingwalking show call Pirated Skies where she performed while he flew. In early March of this year, at the first show of the season, they had an engine failure at low altitude while Amanda was still on the wing. Although Kyle put the plane down, Amanda was trapped and severly burned in the ensuing fire. She passed away from her injuries near the end of May, 2011. She was 25.

I've seen them perform several times -- he was an excellent pilot, but a heavy Waco flying low and slow without power is just not very controllable.

http://www.franklinairshow.com/

That is sad.

that is a nice picture there you must have that on a wall.
andrew

It was a tragic, heart-breaking accident. They were here for our airshow last year...two of the classiest people you could ever hope to meet.

Kim wrote:"Out of Control" Champs, Cubs, and T-Crafts have been entertaining folks for decades!

One year, we had an act at Cape that involved a fellow flying a "Radio-Controlled" Taylorcraft. The "Pilot" walked out to the full-sized plane carrying his "transmitter", a giant box, supported by straps around his shoulders, sporting various knobs, lights, and antennas. He was stopped by the airshow announcer, who challenged the safety of his big model airplane. Outraged at the "insult" to his model plane, he pulled a "volunteer" from the crowd to ride as a passenger in his model...to prove his confidence in his creation.

The hesitant passenger was loaded into the plane with complicated instructions of what NOT to touch (the airshow announcer was there with his microphone to allow everyone to hear). Of course, everything goes just fine...the T-Craft taxies out to the runway, and turns into the wind with the pilot standing in front of the crowd, giving "commands" with his large, light-blinking "transmitter".

Suddenly, a great puff of smoke shoots from the transmitter, the T-Craft goes to full power, and the wild flying routine begins! Eventually "regaining control", the T-Craft is returned to the ramp, where upon the "passenger" bails from the still-rolling plane and sets about assaulting the "Pilot". Great, clean fun !

Stanley Seggala, performed a similar, long-standing show at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome...the theme being an innocent farmer who finds himself alone at the controls of an "Out-Of-Control" Cub.

ALL of these demonstrations showcase the good nature of the planes, and the true stick-and-rudder skills of their pilots.

GermanBeez wrote:holy cow that was awesome! they staged it really well, i had no idea if that really was just a drunk idiot in a super cub or a professional stunt pilot...but these poor wing tips...my oh my...

tubebass wrote:

GermanBeez wrote:holy cow that was awesome! they staged it really well, i had no idea if that really was just a drunk idiot in a super cub or a professional stunt pilot...but these poor wing tips...my oh my...

Saw an interview with Kyle where he said the wingtip bows were not strengthened, he just had to be very careful when dragging a wing.