As many of you know, the National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport (Nevada) were canceled this year on Friday, 16 September, due to the 4:30 PM local time (2330 GMT/UTC) violent crash of vintage P-51 "Galloping Ghost" piloted by veteran stunt pilot and racer Jimmy Leeward. Though Jimmy and eight others were killed, and about 56 admitted to the hospital, Team Radial Velocity (which was fourth in the trial heats) are all fine and were packing up to go home. Some believe Jimmy's final actions prevented the aircraft from crashing directly into the main grandstands.
The crash is under investigation; some photos
seem to show physical loss of an elevator trim tab prior to what some witnesses say was the aircraft's sudden lurch to starboard, half barrel roll and pitch change to near vertical ascending, followed by an abrupt descent at high speed into the tarmac directly in the front of a VIP grandstand.
Link to BBC online report, and
link to CBS news report, and
link to CBS' report of the NTSB beginnings of the investigation.
The Captain Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund will undoubtedly do what is expected with the funds so generously donated by FlyerTalkers, and help fund the aspiring careers of young people involved in the very costly, arduous studies and preparations of pilot training. Our best wishes and prayers to members of Team Radial Velocity and to all who were affected by this tragedy.