Rip Howard Pardue

[BluBear]

Just read that he's been killed in a takeoff accident in a Bearcat.

http://www.kwes.com/story/17335559/west-texas-pilot-killed-shortly-after-takeoff

If you don't know his name, those of us that have attended warbird airshows over the years both sides of the pond, would probably have seen this guy fly.

He would almost always be over to pilot for Flying Legends like many other US warbird pilots drawn to Duxford in July.

He'd usually be found flying one of the 'cats, and is probably best associated with the Wildcat.

Sad times.

[Jabo]

Indeed, a fantastic pilot, sadly missed.

[BadAim]

It's wonderful to see these planes fly, but it's so dangerous. Rip to one of the few.

[Jabo]

I dunno Chet, I think the type of flying is the dangerous thing, not the type of aircraft. The advantage is you've a nice yellow and black handle in a modern aircraft to pull when it all goes pear-shaped. Accidents involving modern aircraft tend to be much worse for the unfortunates in the way on the ground. Warbirds tend to be flown far more conservatively than say an F-22 with the emphasis on not breakiing the aeroplane - and generally that's been pretty successful. There's always room for something to go wrong though - that's true too.

Jabo