P-51 Miss Velma emergency landing @ Legends 2017 - In cockpit footage and analysis

[BluBear]

Full inflight video and discussion of the incident from Miss Velma's emergency landing last year.

A great insight into the decisions and problems with a misfiring engine. Great airmanship.

Originally posted on the Key forums.

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/...irport-landing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBpq...ature=youtu.be

Quote

Levy bellied the stricken airplane into a farm field, and it slid to an abrupt stop in about 100 yards. The impact was so forceful that the canopy slammed forward, hitting the back of his head as the plexiglass was thrown clear of the airplane. Levy wasn’t seriously injured, and he made a radio call saying that he was OK before he shut down the electrical power and stepped out of the damaged aircraft.

And there's me thinking he pulled the pin at the time!

[DD_Fenrir]

Thanks for this Chris. Well found.

My heart was in my mouth watching his approach, even knowing the outcome.

[BluBear]

Just watched the entire half hour, well worth it.

However, for the short of time, here's the summary video:

 

[wingflyr]

Thanks for sharing BB,

Unfortunate for Miss Velma, but she will be mended and saved.

Fortunate Pilot and nobody got hurt or killed, this do to skilled Pilot.

Even thou gear was up, goes to show even highly skilled pilots can be forgetful in extreme situations, but then instantly correct for safest result. 

[FoolTrottel]

So little time between him turning away from the approach to the airfield, to touchdown in that field!

Maybe the video's wide angle did it, but to me it looked like he was much higher there ... To decide to do that at that moment, and keep the aircraft flying as he said... amazing. 

[Sweper]

How on earth did he manage to get the gear up before belly landing?

[FoolTrottel]

33 minutes ago, Sweper said:

How on earth did he manage to get the gear up before belly landing?

Just in time... 

[BluBear]

6 hours ago, Sweper said:

How on earth did he manage to get the gear up before belly landing?

One would imagine it wasn't fully up at point of impact, but said impact planted the undercarriage into its wells!

[Jabo]

And lucky there was a set of wings nearly complete in the States which they could use.