Reno Air Races 2011

Yes, it was likely coolant and if it was fuel (which there should have been a little bit of), then it would have been diluted by the coolant. Also, aluminum doesn't like to spark much when it hits things and the engine, the only major source of heat very quickly departed the area. Had there been 250 gallons of fuel on board, a fire would have been more likely.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13116590
So far, according to social media chatter, everyone there to shoot appears to be safe and ok.

A good portion of us were out at Pylon 2 at the time of the accident.

Nmcgrew wrote in post #13118339
Jimmy was 74 and medically certified and highly capable of flying in the race. His age had nothing to do with this.

sigma pi wrote in post #13118556
They say that him blacking out maybe a possibility.

Anyone, regardless of age would have blacked out in that situation.

Nmcgrew wrote in post #13128760
Yes, it was likely coolant and if it was fuel (which there should have been a little bit of), then it would have been diluted by the coolant. Also, aluminum doesn't like to spark much when it hits things and the engine, the only major source of heat very quickly departed the area. Had there been 250 gallons of fuel on board, a fire would have been more likely.

Any Nitro or Alcohol blended into the fuel? May not have even been able to see the flames...

spectre wrote in post #13128793
A good portion of us were out at Pylon 2 at the time of the accident.

Truly one of the great ironies in all of this. People who signed their lives away out on the course, under the pylons come away (physically) un-scathed. Definitely not the way most would expect it to go.

spectre wrote in post #13128809
Anyone, regardless of age would have blacked out in that situation.

I did not say he was old, that's why he blacked out, neither did the other person.

sigma pi wrote in post #13128867
I did not say he was old, that's why he blacked out, neither did the other person.

I apologize, I thought you were aiming that Jimmy blacking out might have been the cause and not a result of the catastrophic failure of the trim tab.

I have not had much sleep in the past few days.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13128327
They carry just enough fuel to run the race and perhaps maybe a half gallon more due to weight.

I should have thought of this before, but do you know if they use the original tanks, or maybe a smaller fuel cell?

I don't know Frank.

Fuel is usually a weight and balance concern which impacts performance so I don't know how they "weight jack" race planes.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13128327
They carry just enough fuel to run the race and perhaps maybe a half gallon more due to weight.

Galloping Ghost had a very unique cooling system. You'll notice that it did not have the usual scoop below the cockpit like stock Mustangs have. It had a "boil off" system whereby the engine was cooled by dousing it with coolant and letting it blow off overboard. More than likely that's what people are calling "smoke" seen in one or two of the images floating around the web. Picture the "pop off valve" on a NASCAR cup car when they get hot and vent steam right near the right pillar of the windshield.

More than likely, people were splashed by hot coolant and not fuel.

Actually the oil cooler sits in a tub of ADI/water mix. Usually 50/50 split. As the ADI/water heats up it boils, hence the two steam ports on the side of the plane. As the ADI/water starts to boil more is needed, so it is pumped in from the wing tank.

There were four planes using boil off systems this year. The Ghost, Rare Bear, Furias, and September Fury. September Fury I was told has a DC-7 oil cooler beneath the cockpit. Don't know if that is true or not. Much of this stuff is kept very secret.

Normal super Mustangs like Strega have a split radiator. Approximately one half pumped for coolant, and one half pumped for oil. To keep it cool, spray bar systems are used to pour gallons of water over the radiator. This is why Strega looks like it has a fire hose pouring out the back at high power settings.

Thanks for the added tech info Tim.

Hope you're doing ok...

First off, my prayers and condolences go out to everyone involved with this incident. There are countless people missing families and friends now and that is truly tragic. I feel very fortunate to have been far enough away to be safe and to be able to choose to look away and insulate myself somewhat from the horrors of the event. We all know that this is the last thing Jimmy would have wanted and that he would have done anything in his power to prevent it, but once the failure began he was just a passenger with nothing he could do. Right now, his family and friends need prayers more than ever, along with the families and friends of those lost and injured on the ground.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #13128299
I wonder why it did not blow up on impact. Some people had aviation fuel all over them. The speculation is that the force of the impact blew outwards and it extinguished any sparks that would ignite the fuel. Lucky people!

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13128327
More than likely, people were splashed by hot coolant and not fuel.

I was upwind of it by a few hundred feet but I had 10 or so very close and very aviation knowledgeable friends a few hundred feet downwind who were misted with fuel. The smell is very distinct.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13128327
They carry just enough fuel to run the race and perhaps maybe a half gallon more due to weight.

Weight is a factor, but they are still required to carry the minimum 30 minutes reserve stipulated in the FAR's. However, that is 30 minutes at cruise power, not race power. Still though, that is normally 20-50 gallons extra, not .5 gallons.

spectre wrote in post #13129010
I apologize, I thought you were aiming that Jimmy blacking out might have been the cause and not a result of the catastrophic failure of the trim tab.

I have not had much sleep in the past few days.

No big deal just wanted to clear that up I did quote the other person to show I was talking about the pilot, kind of a weird quote.

I know how those days are

has anyone seen the pics that look as though the pilot is no longer visible in the cockpit?

leading to speculation that the pilots seat mounts broke and the seat moved the pilot out of reach of the controls?

Conventional wisdom among regular attendees and even some participants in a group over on Facebook seems to discount the seat theory.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13142079
Conventional wisdom among regular attendees and even some participants in a group over on Facebook seems to discount the seat theory.

just curious, thanks