Over the airwaves (650CKOM) just now – two planes have collided and burst into flame during a performance of the “Masters of Disaster”, at the Moose Jaw Air Show.
(Their website.)
A commentor has provided this one as well.
6:35 pm local time – it’s just been reported that both pilots have died. Sadly, it’s reported that the son of one of the pilots was in the announcer’s booth when the mid-air collision occured.
The performances on the weekend were dedicated to Capt. Miles Selby, the Snowbird pilot who died during a mid-air collision during practice near the base, on Dec.10 of last year.
(Later: With the news conference playing in the background – can anyone explain to my satisfaction why one of the authorities answering questions – in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, with a room full of local reporters – feels compelled to answer in French???)
An unfortunate tragedy. The pilots were brave souls indeed, for I’m sure they knew the risks of air-show acrobatics.
One of my brothers used to be stationed at CFB Moose Jaw, btw. I myself remember the transportation museum and animal farm from my childhood days. This brings back the fond memories. Hope I someday have an opportunity to move back west. The east coast can drive one nuts every now and then! 🙂
Kate, The MOD site is actually at http://www.xteamairshows.com
Links for the individual aerobats can be found at the Moose Jaw airshow site under ‘performers’.
My heart goes out to the families of these men. Watching the promo video of their performance combined with initial eye-witness reports indicating an explosive collision doesn’t give one much hope of either pilot surviving.
As much as I respect the pilots (they were no doubt brave and highly trained), and the fan value of an event such as the MJ air show (not to mention the right of organizers to put one on), the following question is begged.
Why do pilots risk their lives in such a manner?
One death like this is too many, and in Canada, we have had several over the last few years.
Anyways, with the show almost going under in the past from high insurance costs, this is almost a moot point now, as insurance will doubtlessly rise higher.
Please! A few details. I’ve hit all the TV channels and MSM websites but there’s not a word regarding the accident at MJ. Oh! Right! I forgot they don’t give a shit about our military – if they were military aircraft.
Finally.
3 hours after I first heard of the accident via Rawlco radio, i now see the ticker on Newsnet telling of the accident.
“2 U.S. military pilots dead after crash at Moose Jaw air show.
Shameful reporting.
The Newsnet headline is contrary to radio reports so far. The deceased are not military pilots, but civilian barnstormers flying a Waco UPF-7 and a Pitts modified.
Geoffrey H – sorry but I must respectfully disagree with you. It’s a skill and an art, like anything else, and has a comparable risk level to any sport. With any sport, accidents happen, and because it’s an airplane it gets more attention. Every precaution is taken to make it as safe as possible, and there will be accidents. The same arguments are made on all kinds of other sports, so we should ban them. That’s not the answer. It’s been tried with skydiving, drag racing, skiing, you name it. Accidents happen and people die, it’s unfortunate, but that’s the risk that’s been chosen.
I’m, quite frankly, tired of everybody banning everything, when the risk level of walking downtown at night is far greater then what these pilots, and most other sports in general face.
These people were proud of there accomplishment, and should be honored as such. If it was deemed to be an extremely dangerous maneuver, it will be taken care of, if it was an accident, it’s an accident.
US Military pilots?
In fixed wing biplanes???
Good grief.
Though very unfortunate and my prayers go out to thier families, these guys died doing what they love. I have been to quite a few airshows and every year the list of performers changes due to crashes and accidents. Every airshow performer knows there are risks and they have lost friends but they keep doing it.
I find airshows fun and very enjoyable to watch and to ban them would be like banning the pleasure use of the family car. Which has killed far more people than all the airshow accidents times atleast a thousand.
Kate – LOL… A few more gov. cuts and we may be there.
I think I can answer your question regarding the response to questions from local reporters being answered in French, Kate. Doubtlessly, the guy answering the questions was a Captain or Major who, respectively, wants to be a Major or Lieutenant Colonel. In other words ….. he wants a promotion and I will bet my last dollar that the Commander of CFB Moose Jaw (who writes his annual evaluations) is a francophone.
My husband and I were at the last show of the great Aerobatic stuntman,Art Scholls, in Reno Nevada in 1985. He was truly a man of great courage and delighted his audiences from all over the world.I remember laughing so hard at his comic stunt of the drunk stealing an airplane that I thought I would never laugh that much again.He flew off into the sunset with a standing ovation. The next day we heard via radio on our way home to Alberta that he had died doing a stunt for the movie “Topgun”.I truly believe that he died in way he that he would have wanted. What a great showman and a role model for all great showmen in the aeronautics business. May those brave men rest in peace.
For those of us with both feet firmly planted on the ground, it is difficult to understand what inspires these men to perform this type of unimaginably dangerous exhibition. To suggest aerobatics be banned is indicative of our own human frailty and fears. May I suggest (re)reading High Flight by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. who himself died in a mid-air collision in Dec ’41. From his words I personally find solace that today these two brave men died doing what they felt they were born to do.
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, � and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of � wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew �
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
—
The airshow crash isn’t worthy news … that Toronto isn’t going to have a garbage strike sure is though.
(Isn’t it odd how something NOT happening in Toronto can still be news?)
Many of the pilots and employees at 15 wing are francophone. So I am guessing that is why they chose to give a statement in French.
I don’t see anything wrong with it.
re: French – Martin did that in High River, which pissed me off until I realized he was responding to a question put by a reporter from, I think, Radio One (CBC).
It’s a shame, but as mentioned above, they knew the risks but loved what they were doing. Beats the hell out of wasting away from cancer.
I guess some of my comments did not come across as intended.
I do not feel that airshows should be banned, but that if insurance rates were to go up due to this accident, and gov’t funding were not there, that the Moose Jaw Air show will cease to exist, regardless of a ban.
Re: French at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Exactly, What was the point or his motive for doing so.
How many people in Saskatchewan dont understand English?
Everyone in Saskatchewan understands english perfectly (french included).
How many people in Saskatchewan were able to understand his discourse in french, (a handful).
Exactly, so what was this guys point speaking in french to english listeners who couldnt understand him.
O.K. Readers, enlighten me, I can hardly wait for your responses.
Im hoping it doesnt have anything to do with my Tax Dollars and official bilingulism in the Armed Forces
Right on Doug. This is another blatant example of bilingualism going too far. If someone asked the question in French give him the answer in French. This trying to create an artificial demand for french language services is only something federal government would promote with Canadian tax dollars while people line up for medical treatment.
All we need in this country is to hear press conferences and questions given and answered in two languages as well as political speeches-God forbid. Haven’t we got better things to do with our time.
Can you imagine going to a political speech and hearing the speech for 40 minutes in English then the whole thing repeated for 40 minutes in french- everyone will want equal time.
http://www.darwinawards.com/
A while back we saw a Darwin entry for an insurgent bomber who plastered his house/munitions depot with anti American slogans.
I guess we have an entry of our own now.
I’m not sure if these guys praciticed too much or not enough.
Just read the results of the CTV poll…
Do you think air shows are worth the risk to the pilots?
39% Yes.
61% No.
I want to kick everyone of the No-voters. Of course it’s worth the risk! These pilots would rather die than be denied the chance to take to the air. You’d have to duck tape them to the tarmac for pete’s sake! It would be disrespectful of their training and ability and love of flying to let this impact airshows.
It’s worth the risk for the practice and skill that has been honed in the training. It’s worth the risk for the people who watch and are awestruck by the grace and ability. It’s worth the risk for the generations of Canadians that have been inspired by what our military guys can do (if given the right equipment by idiot governments). It’s worth the risk for the flood of gratitude inspired for our guys who risk their lives to defend my/our freedom. That’s the reason I go to airshows. That’s the reason I’ll continue to go to airshow.
Last year I met some of the most patient, sweetest, and gentlest guys I’ve ever met at the airshow in Saskatoon. They were Canadian military guys who sat and answered 9 million questions of children of all ages as they climbed all over their personnel carrier thingy (the name of which escapes me at the moment). I was truly impressed. I don’t think I could have sat there and had such patience.
I’m sorry for the rant, but people who disrespect these guys really tick me off!
My hats off to all pilots out there. And my deepest sympathies to the family who’ve lived through their worst nightmare. May they not rest in peace, but fly truly free.
“I will bet my last dollar that the Commander of CFB Moose Jaw (who writes his annual evaluations) is a francophone.”
Yup. He was on the radio this morning. Very heavy accent. Even my wife, a francophone Quebecker, could barely understand him.
Wow- all this talk about speaking French in Sask. When I lived there in the seventies, never once did I encounter anyone speaking French, or even talking about it!
Then I moved to NB in ’78 and it was French this, French that! Canada’s a funny country sometimes! 🙂
15 Wing is no longer a Canadian Armed Forces military air base and is no longer C.F.B. Moose Jaw; it is owned now by Bombardier, and is a training base for military pilots from many countries. This was not a military air show, funded by the government; it is run by private enterprise and has subsequently shrunk to a mere shell of it’s former grandiose when it WAS a military air show. How do I know? I live in Moose Jaw and grew up as a “base brat”……..
Jimmy and Bobby were both friends of mine. They knew what they were doing and they knew the risks. They would be the first to tell you to keep flying and doing airshows. More people died taking a shower this week than all airshow accidents combined. I was an airshow performer for 16 years and it was the happiest time of my life. Kepp airshows alive!
How much did bombardier pay for it, maybe they got it for free.
I assume everyone from the base moved to cold lake alberta.
What about the housing at CFB, is it being rented out?
Jimmy Franklin, Bobby Younkin and Jim Leroy (Bulldog – who landed safely) are three of the most respected pilots in the airshow business. They have brought their craft and positive attitudes and abilties to the forefront and entertained thousands this season alone. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know them personally have suffered a great lose. They were pilots, fathers, and friends to say the least. They followed their dreams and shared what they loved to do – fly and performance as professionals. Now they look down on us, as they did so many times before from their wings of flight.
I have known Jimmy Franklin for about twenty five years. He was a wonderful and friendly person who was extremely well qualified to perform at airshows. I first knew his son Kyle, who was announcing at Moose Jaw, when he was under ten years old. My brother Ken did quite a bit of work for Jim’s Waco’s when he was alive. The four wings of Jim’s Jet Waco that crashed Sunday were constructed by my brother. Sure these airshow performers know the huge risks each time they fly, but that is in the same spirit as those who race in cars, or boats, or anything. Respect them for what they do, and appreciate it.
I am speaking here as an American. My Grandfather moved his family to where he established the town of Herbert, Sask, not far from Sundays Moose Jaw crash. So, I come from a mix of Mother born and raised in Canada, Father born and raised in Kansas (like me), and I imported my wife from British Columbia. We will soon celebrate our 53rd wedding anniversary. We eloped to Reno to get married. What a bargain I got for nine dollars total…
I have loved airplanes since five or so. I have been flying myself since early 1945. Some day I will complete a book I started about all of the dumb things that I have done in airplanes. My book title will be Luck and Timing. That is what really controls everything we all do in life…it just depends on our Luck and our Timing.
Please respect the airshow performers. They really risk their lives to entertain the public. The pay that they receive in no way is enough for what they do.
Glenn Klein
Lake Forest, CA USA (and damn proud of it).
When I heard the news of the crash, I was stunned… and perhaps still am. Bobby Younkin was from Springdale, AR, about 10 miles from where I live. His passing has sent a shockwave through our community. I was at an airshow in Fayetteville, Ar this past Father’s day with my children in which they performed and cannot bring myself to tell them what happened. This was an annual event that myself and my children looked forward to each year. The specific “Masters of Disaster” performance was by far the most amazing act I have ever seen at an airshow. Sadly, this particular airshow will probably not continue due to the fact that Bobby and Jimmy Frankin (who also had business ties to northwest Arkansas) represented over half of the shows content. Bobby owned several planes, including a multipassenger leerjet, all of which he piloted with expert precision.
My heart goes out to the family of Bobby and Jimmy, especially Jimmy’s son Kyle who performed with his father as a wingwalker on the actual biplane that crashed. These men will be dearly missed. I would like to thank them for the millions upon millions of smiles they caused in this dreary world, and more specifically the three they caused in Fayetteville on Father’s Day of this year on the face of myself and my two children.
1ST off I would like to send my condolences to both families, I can not imasgine the heartbreak they are going through now
@nd of all when its a tragedy such as this WHY does it matter where these people are from, the Regina news reports EVERY broadcast “the American” pilots in the crash at 15 wing……. we are all human… why do we have to attach the fact that someone died doing what they loved and the country they are from ???I say big deal
I am an airshow performer based in Chandler, Arizona (US). This accident is tragic because we lost 2 of the top airshow pilots in North America. They were 30 year veterans in an industry that is very unique difficult to become a 30 year veteran in.
On Monday, I took a day away from my normal routine to mourn my friends and to remember why we do what we do.
None of us really want to die doing what we do, in fact, the very last thing we want to do is die in an airshow. We fly as performers and professionals demonstrating the awesomeness of flight. Each of us are advocates of aviation and absolutely love to watch people dream about flight.
Yes, there are great risks in doing what we do. After losing many friends in aerobatic related accidents, I too have to ask the question is it worth it. But the thrill of making the aircraft do what it does, with a hint of danger, and knowing that we can inspire makes it all worth it.
There are less than 300 certified airshow pilots in North America out of 750,000+ rated pilots. So we are a unique to say the least.
Airshows will continue as there have been tragic crashes in the past. But please keep in mind, we have procedures in place to ensure that the crowd is not endangered at any time. In fact, no spectator at an airshow has been killed in over 50 years in North America (ICAS quote).
Please continue to support airshows and the performers that fly in them. Visit http://www.airshows.org to learn more about other airshows and performers in North America.
Tailwinds always!
Jon Melby
I was lucky to see the air show in Janesville, WI only a month ago and watched these three guys do their “masters of disaster” show along with the jet truck driving around shooting flames while they flew. I was amazed how close they came to each other over and over again and to the truck as they buzzed it several times. I am still in shock that two experienced air show performers that I saw only a few weeks ago are now dead. Very sad news. I feel terrible for the family and pray they find a way to get through this tragedy.
I really appreciate all the wonderful comments of these folks on here and would just mention how wonderful these pilots were and to remember them in this way.
I was at the airshow on sunday with my fiancee and we both really enjoyed the show that they all put on .
We waited patiently for all three planes to be flying at once as this is the part of the show i had come to see and after kyle did the wonderful act with his father and shook hands on the way by as the crowds waved i knew these guys are really the best and we were so lucky to have them here in Saskatchewan.
when the planes all went up and started doing loops i could not believe the precision flying of these guys as it looked like they were very close to each other each time they passed and then as jimmy was going straight up with his jet engined biplane bobby came at the same time and it looked like jimmy saw him at the last second and tried to turn but the bottom of his plane with the jet engine slammed into bobbys plane and pieces flew off and they exploded and everyone watched in horror as they went down in a big fireball wondering if what they saw was real and kyle was just announcing before this happened and everything just went silent as i heard a yell from the anouncers booth and the crowd just stood there in silence and no one said a word and the other announcer said just to keep calm as they have a rescue team on its way and also said it would be a good idea for the parents to take their kids to the concession stand and then announced that the airboss has said now that the rest of the show was cancelled and asked us to leave in a orderly fashion and everyone did silently as even when the crash happened there were no screams or anything just silence as everyone knew there was no hope for either to be alive.
Let me tell you it will be very difficult for either of us to ever go to another airshow as i will never get that explosion and the hundreds of falling pieces coming down out of my head as i still have trouble sleeping as it still keeps running through my head.
One day we will be back at the show as we love the shows and i do hope jimmys son will continue as he is the most talented wingwalker i have ever seen.
The show must continue as jimmy and bobby would have also wanted it to.
Heres to the best show pilots there ever was.
I have followed the exceptional artistry of Bobby Younkin and Jimmy Franklin for several years. They, along with Kyle Franklin and Jim LeRoy (Bulldog) are by far my most favorite pilots of all time. I was absolutely shocked and devastated to learn of this crash. Seeing Bobby and Jimmy perform many times, I know that they were the absolute best stunt pilots in the business, and would have traded their own life to save the other. The MOD show is no doubt very dangerous since it is unscripted, and it pains me to think that just one miscalculation took away the lives of these heros. Everyone has their justified opinions on risks vs. rewards of airshow pilots… I know that they do what they love and consider themselves fortunate to follow their dreams and make people happy. I pray for strength for Jim LeRoy (who has many more airshows scheduled this year) and Kyle (a fantastic pilot in his own right) to continue doing what they love and to stay safe. I cannot imagine their grief and uncertainty of their future. God speed to Jimmy and Bobby, and courage be with Jim LeRoy and Kyle Frankin as they hopefully continue their careers.
You are all wrong about the French comments. He was asked to speak French by a French reporter (CBC Radio). The questions that were asked in French were then repeated in English. I know, I was at the press conference.
My comments and pictures of the events are posted online, http://www.aviation.ca.
the accident simply was a class example of pilot error !
one aircraft blocked the way for the coming up other one that made a steep turn reducing his speed almost to zero.
extra danger was that one aircraft was bi-engined,prop & jet powered !
even if both pilots had had parachutes…these would have burned in seconds.
These pilots are brave, but to put them in the same league as military pilots, who have to fly in the face of missiles, AAA and bad guys who are bent on shooting them down is wrong headed.
Planes don’t kill pilots, pilots kill pilots. If they were in the military, and were flying such a program, they would be grounded, period!
I started flying when I was only 11 years of age in San Jose, CA. I helped my father build two small home-built bi-planes. This family has attended many airshows as well as races and other aviation functions. Spending five years on the airport advisory committee in a small central valley town in California has shown me the ignorance people act on minor things. Canadians are totally offended about some announcer speaking in French when the most important thing about this is two great men, father, and persons in general have been taken from us in their prime. I was fortunate enough to see Mr. Franklin at a number of airshows in California. He was an artist of aviation. It is a sad day but I too beleive that as most of us flying are of the same beleif that this man would have wanted us to continue our shows and let people see that it really is safe. I have raced cars and go-karts and have taken a number of chances myself. Out of everything I have accomplieshed in my life High School Football took away the career I dreamed of. Should we stop high school sports altogether? People want to ban guns when a car does more damage in killing and maiming people. Boats are just as dangerous as flying in the hands of an ignorant drunk. People, see the big picture open your eyes and pass along a positive note to the families and friends of all pilots or for that matter anyone who is taken from us. These people were great and in ways they were heros just passing through our lives. Their names will live forever even though they are not physically with us. God’s speed to all concered.
I started flying when I was only 11 years of age in San Jose, CA. I helped my father build two small home-built bi-planes. This family has attended many airshows as well as races and other aviation functions. Spending five years on the airport advisory committee in a small central valley town in California has shown me the ignorance people act on minor things. Canadians are totally offended about some announcer speaking in French when the most important thing about this is two great men, father, and persons in general have been taken from us in their prime. I was fortunate enough to see Mr. Franklin at a number of airshows in California. He was an artist of aviation. It is a sad day but I too beleive that as most of us flying are of the same beleif that this man would have wanted us to continue our shows and let people see that it really is safe. I have raced cars and go-karts and have taken a number of chances myself. Out of everything I have accomplieshed in my life High School Football took away the career I dreamed of. Should we stop high school sports altogether? People want to ban guns when a car does more damage in killing and maiming people. Boats are just as dangerous as flying in the hands of an ignorant drunk. People, see the big picture open your eyes and pass along a positive note to the families and friends of all pilots or for that matter anyone who is taken from us. These people were great and in ways they were heros just passing through our lives. Their names will live forever even though they are not physically with us. God’s speed to all concered.
Having met Jimmy on several occasions and had the pleasure of seeing both Jimmy and Bobby perform numerous times over the last 10+ years, they would be appalled at the thought of banning any airshows. The only compelling reason to consider banning an airshow (or any spectator sport) is spectator safety. Would Canadians consider banning ice hockey? A young girl died in Columbus, OH after being struck in the face by a puck that went over the glass. Yet, the games go on.
Jimmy and Bobby went out doing something that they loved and loved to share with the public. These men were the best of the best and would be doing what they do regardless of whether it was for the public or just for themselves. Performing at airshows is the essence of life for many aerobatic pilots. It is truly the stuff of which they are made.
As a pilot myself, it is my opinion that the accident occured simply because for a few mere seconds, they lost sight of each other. It didn’t matter what type aircraft they were flying, or even that they were performing an airshow. First and foremost, it is every pilots responsibility to see and avoid other aircraft at all times. It can happen to any of us, whether we are performers or not.
Not a day has gone by since the accident that I haven’t thought of Jimmy and Bobby and their families. My heart goes out to them with deepest sympathy.
I want to thank the friends and fans of these pilots for stopping by with their comments.
Stunt pilots are members of a rare breed, and without their kind – the risk takers – we’d still be living in the stone ages.
We owe them much.