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[omega2018]

have a look at this video which is of a hunter test pilot having some similar trouble - "seconds later i found the ground was abnormally close and I was pointing vertically at it..".  its also the two seater version, similar but earlier than the shoreham one. 

http://youtu.be/weV-9Sj8F5Y?t=19m16s

I must say the jet looks pretty powerful and manoeuvrable there. 

[aaronjb]

Ah he's so very British.

[jimbo125]

Proper jet fighter and good weapons platform

[aaronjb]

I see reports are now that the pilot has been discharged from hospital and has returned home..

..comments on those news reports are now baying for blood, of course. Humans are a wonderful sort.

[tigers_gonads]

As a bloke who proud to say he spent 7 years working front line on fast jets and working / playing hard with the aircrew, this is MY take on it .......................

Pilot has only 40 ish hours on type in 4 years.
Aircraft fuelled to 75% plus including fuel in the under wing tanks during the display.
Hot day (23+ degrees) so engine performance would be down.
23deg flap (which is permitted for manoeuvring under 0.9 mach) used. With the aircraft inverted and during the trip down, imo, these would increase drag and provide little or no lift benefit so increasing the time / distance travelled before airspeed was high enough to give the aircraft controllable lift from the aerofoil 
Lack of energy as he pulled over the top due to various reasons 

The bang seat fitted iirc is the Martin Baker mk4 seat (as fitted to the EE Lightning) and is rated at 90 knots airspeed / Zero feet in level flight.
It should be noted that the pilot endeavoured to avoid more heavily populated areas to the point that he stayed with the aircraft when he could have very easily ejected much earlier 

Hard bit to say this BUT imho, it looks like pilot error plain and simple 

Thoughts with ALL the families of the victims of this terrible ACCIDENT 

[Rods2]

I see reports are now that the pilot has been discharged from hospital and has returned home..

..comments on those news reports are now baying for blood, of course. Humans are a wonderful sort.

We all make mistakes and when we do, we have to live with the consequences. For the majority of people, the majority of the time it fortunately does not result in somebody's injury or death. In cases where any unreasonable negligence is clearly established it is then best to let the law take its course. Of course this does not maximise daily rag sales, compared to trial by tabloid!

[Kevin Wood]

Well, the report is out:

https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aircraft-accident-report-aar-1-2017-g-bxfi-22-august-2015

Bottom line: Pilot entered the manoeuvre below his target height and airspeed, engine wasn't providing maximum thrust on the way up, but not able to determine if that was due to pilot input or a failure. Aircraft was below gate height at the apex and it wouldn't have been possible to pull through the loop from there. Pilot could have executed an escape manoeuvre at that point but didn't, and hadn't even trained to do so, with tragic consequences.

But: A whole host of other findings concerned with the regulation and organisation of the display and operation and maintenance of the aircraft, display approval of the pilot, etc.

I doubt there's anyone in the whole chain who won't have a sleepless night tonight.

Looks like a bit of a shambles, IMHO.

[henryd]

Well, the report is out:

https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aircraft-accident-report-aar-1-2017-g-bxfi-22-august-2015

Bottom line: Pilot entered the manoeuvre below his target height and airspeed, engine wasn't providing maximum thrust on the way up, but not able to determine if that was due to pilot input or a failure. Aircraft was below gate height at the apex and it wouldn't have been possible to pull through the loop from there. Pilot could have executed an escape manoeuvre at that point but didn't, and hadn't even trained to do so, with tragic consequences.

But: A whole host of other findings concerned with the regulation and organisation of the display and operation and maintenance of the aircraft, display approval of the pilot, etc.

I doubt there's anyone in the whole chain who won't have a sleepless night tonight.

Looks like a bit of a shambles, IMHO.

Was reading that earlier,proper catalogue of errors,fair play to the pilot though as he didn't bang out untill impact when the plane ejected him

[2boxerdogs]

A shambles , probably maintenance not up to scratch can't imagine what it must cost to look after a plane like that properly. Just tragic for everyone involved.
.

[2boxerdogs]

Just been watching the news , all pretty damning stuff coming to light about the pilot, but conveniently he can't remember anything according to his solicitor.

[Lazydocker]

Just been watching the news , all pretty damning stuff coming to light about the pilot, but conveniently he can't remember anything according to his solicitor.

Unfortunately he will be the scapegoat, despite errors from many people along the way

As for memory, I doubt it is a convenience... I highly doubt anyone would put their body through the trauma he did and remember things clearly.

He has made a mistake that will haunt him forever. But the catalogue of errors leading up to it, including approval for a manoeuvre he was inadequately trained for, can't all be laid at his feet.

Once again, my sympathies go out to the families who have had their worlds torn apart in this terrible tragedy as well as all who responded.

[Kevin Wood]

Yep, he was, of course, in a medically induced coma for some time after the incident and before that he saw the trees hit his canopy at 300 kts. Now the world expects him to have perfect recall. I have a lot of sympathy for him, to be honest.

As said, he made a mistake. Other factors mentioned in the report may or may not have been at play, but when you make mistakes in an aircraft with that much energy, they can have tragic consequences. As a former RAF fast jet instructor and commercial airline pilot, he will have understood that, and I can't believe he wouldn't have taken what he was doing very seriously.

I wouldn't want to be in his shoes, but, then, if people weren't prepared to take that risk and display aircraft, we wouldn't have air shows to go to, and I for one would be very sad not to see old aircraft like the Hunter flying, because I find seeing them static in museums pretty depressing.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Looks like pilot error.

If so he must feel beyond bad.

[tigers_gonads]

Tilbo its plain to me that from those your last 2 posts on this subject, you know sweet f**k all about mentality of aircrew, or anything about the maintenance of aircraft 

[tigers_gonads]

Looks like pilot error.

If so he must feel beyond bad.

Simply put .................. Yes