crash at duxford today [2011]

[Al Schlageter]

Originally Posted by kristorf

Found this picture
A mate who restores warbirds thinks the control cables were severed

Have your mate look up where the control cables run on the P-51D. He might change his mind.

[bongodriver]

Originally Posted by Al Schlageter

Have your mate look up where the control cables run on the P-51D. He might change his mind.

I doubt he would, that spot just behind the radiator outlet is where the cables run, and from the pictures you can see thats where it took the damage.

[Al Schlageter]

Originally Posted by bongodriver

I doubt he would, that spot just behind the radiator outlet is where the cables run, and from the pictures you can see thats where it took the damage.

You had better take a better look. The elevator cables run just above the longeron that runs the length of the fuselage and angle up from just behind the canopy towards the top of the fuselage just in front of the tail wheel. The rudder cables run just above the longeron and angle up slightly further aft and go to a mid point on the aft bulkhead.

[bongodriver]

Originally Posted by Al Schlageter

You had better take a better look. The elevator cables run just above the longeron that runs the length of the fuselage and angle up from just behind the canopy towards the top of the fuselage just in front of the tail wheel. The rudder cables run just above the longeron and angle up slightly further aft and go to a mid point on the aft bulkhead.

and you need to wake up and smell the coffe, the impact was serious enough to rip a wing off a skyraider....do you really believe the damage was light?, it doesn't matter if the cables run higher in the fuselage, the internal structures like bulkheads would likely crumple and cables often run through bulkheads this would at least bind the cables, if the bulkhead shears that could easily cut the cables.

[Trumper]

Originally Posted by Al Schlageter

You had better take a better look. The elevator cables run just above the longeron that runs the length of the fuselage and angle up from just behind the canopy towards the top of the fuselage just in front of the tail wheel. The rudder cables run just above the longeron and angle up slightly further aft and go to a mid point on the aft bulkhead.

The truth will out in the future BUT i guess the P51 pilot would have more idea than any of us looking at a photo.
Even if a cable hadn't snapped it may be crushed out of shape or caught up on a damaged bit of internal metalwork,not only that the integrity of the structure maybe compromised and threatening to disintegrate.
I know something,he did the right thing,he is sleeping at home and not 6 feet under.

[HurricaneDriver]

I'm so glad the pilot got clear, but as a Brit ex-pat who loves warbirds I've been wanting to see the Big Beautiful Doll-schemed Mustang for years. It's the prettiest paint scheme of the era, and I liked this a/c especially as I'm in Melbourne Australia, and that particular ship was built in 1950 at Fishermans Bend, as a very limited run of the only P51s built outside of the US.

I'm sure they'll be another BBD paint schemed Mustang, but I especially loved the Melbourne element. I was in the UK last August, and missed seeing BBD flying due to family commitments, but I hoped to see her fly next year.

It's such a shame....

[ElAurens]

There is at least one BBD operating in the US.