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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2007 22:25:49 GMT 12
I have just been reading a report in NZ Wings for March 1981 about the previous month's Air Force Day 1981 at Ohakea.
That was the debut of the first ever RNZAF Skyhawk display team. The report enthuses that as a finale the five aircraft did the spectacular roll under break manouvre, one that stunned the crowd and was apparently banned in the USA and Canada as both countries had lost aircraft in accidents doing the manouvre.
Graham Carter was killed in 1989 practicing the roll under break with Kiwi Red.
Was any consideration given to dropping it from the routine at any stage? Was the roll under break dropped after Carter was killed?
Does anyone know how many overseas teams suffered losses due to the roll under break?
I'm just curious, not trying to point the finger at the excellent display team or anything. They must have known the risks.
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Post by FlyNavy on Jan 9, 2007 0:17:15 GMT 12
Dave,
As far as I know from c. 1968-9 till at least the mid 1970s and perhaps beyond (after my time) the ‘roll under break’ was banned in the RAN FAA for reasons you have outlined. It was banned not only in the circuit - it was banned in any practice, at any altitude. Banned I say. :-)
The USN “Blue Angels” in their Skyhawks look to be doing ‘roll under’ tricks but from the only video clip of them I have seen (Van Halens “Dreams” music video clip) it is difficult to see the circumstances relative to the ground/horizon; but they are doing their display nevertheless.
Phil.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jan 9, 2007 9:29:18 GMT 12
The Roll Under Break was performed by all the RNZAF Skyhawk formation aerobatic teams up until the 1989 accident. After that it was banned. When done correctly it was a very spectacular finale to the show.
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Post by corsair67 on Jan 9, 2007 10:14:12 GMT 12
I have a feeling that the Blue Angels may have had a non-fatal 'incident' with the Roll Under Break during the 1970s, but I'm not 100% sure.
It certainly did look pretty spectacular, but in the end I don't think it's worth the risk.
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Post by mumbles on Jan 10, 2007 0:39:04 GMT 12
Given what happened in 1989, the 1981 coverage of the roll-under break is spooky. From the March 1981 Wings: "The roll-under break, impressive as it is, was removed from display sequences world wide after both Canadian [Snowbirds  ] and US teams lost aircraft. A rather awestruck USAF pilot was heard to observe "we haven't done that break for years and years!" " |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 10, 2007 1:15:27 GMT 12
Indeed Sam. It was that statement that made me quetion the manouvre here. It's sad to find out the manouvre had such a bad reputation, almost as it an inevitability about it.
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Post by mumbles on Jan 10, 2007 1:34:48 GMT 12
'Inevitability' certainly seems the right word...
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on Jan 12, 2007 23:30:57 GMT 12
I've got a photo of the break in action, and some photos of the a/c in the hangar that Bruce Keightley landed showing all the damage. Anyone interested?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 12, 2007 23:41:36 GMT 12
Yes please.
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Post by redkiwi on Jan 13, 2007 8:55:15 GMT 12
Sure Glenn I'm keen to see the photographs.
TV 3 used a clip of one of the RNZAF Skyhawk Teams performing this manouvre as part of it's self promo back when that channel was starting up. Unfortunatley I think my copy of it suffered poor TV reception and is on a long gone Beta tape.
First time I saw the break performed was in 1987 at the Christchurch Airshow, Frank Sharp brought the team back from a practise, approaching from a South Westerly direction. Performed at low level and close to being directly above the crowd it was stunning.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2007 11:41:54 GMT 12
The NZ Wings report of that first public performance of the Skyhawk team in 1981 says it too was just in front of the crowd, and the writer reckoned they started at 500 ft before the break and came out of it at 200 ft. Not much margin for error.
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on Jan 13, 2007 23:12:05 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2007 23:39:07 GMT 12
That's an excellent photo Glen. Thanks for showing it.
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Post by redkiwi on Jan 14, 2007 12:31:31 GMT 12
Great pic, captures the manoeuvre nicely.
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Post by FlyNavy on Jan 14, 2007 13:40:09 GMT 12
Glen, Thanks for that historic photo. Would Don Simms have a copy of that for his book?
Phil.
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on Jan 14, 2007 14:12:48 GMT 12
Well Don borrowed most of my albums a few months ago to scan before moving to ChCh, so he was able to pick and choose what pics he wanted. If Don thought it was good enough, he'll have it! I'll post some more on the crash as soon as I scan them.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jan 15, 2007 6:52:49 GMT 12
Yep I've got that one and many more Kiwi Red related photos from Glen's excellent collection. It is all still in storage at the moment while we look for a house in Chch, so I can't post any photos at the moment sorry.
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] and US teams lost aircraft. A rather awestruck USAF pilot was heard to observe "we haven't done that break for years and years!" "
