To be honest I agree the modifications done on beautifull pieces of heritage is saccrilige (I believe the money could build bespoke machines for the job).

but it's their business, let them get on with it, the crowds 'want' to go see....let them, move the crowd line back.....fair enough, but all this crap talk of age limits is just disgusting.

I 100% agree with you.

Air racing is incredibly dangerous. If men with more money than brains want to race we should just toss them off tall buildings and let them race to the ground. At least those races won't destroy any historic aircraft, or kill bystanders who have no idea what sort of danger they are in.

Hopefully the people who run the Reno race will finally come to their senses and end the carnage.

Engineering question I've wondered about since the crash for any Mustang experten that may be about.

The NX-71 prototype flew in 1941, if I remember right. NAA engineers were designing an airplane that could do about 350 mph max. So they designed two elevator trim tabs each with three hinges, the center hinge taking the actuating rod, figuring how light they could make the parts and still handle the max load, the way engineers do.

And if I remember right, early B and C models had some problems with the tail section coming off at the attach point under the vertical fin leading edge, so NAA beefed up the aft section. Given the increased speed of the Merlin models, did they beef up the trim tabs and their hardware while they were at it?

And considering hot-rodded Unlimited versions of the Mustang can go 450 and more, is it common practice for builders of these racing planes to beef up the trim hardware even more to compensate?

Or was #177 flying with 1941-vintage elevator tab hardware?

Not trying to speculate too much, but the departed tab made me wonder.

Jungmann

It's part of something that many of you seem to be lacking, freedom of CHOICE. It's their money, aircraft and their lives and that includes the people who love to watch from the ground. Nobody wanted to die that day but I'm sure they knew the risks. Those of you that have little freedoms do not know what you are lacking because you have never had it. Give up your freedoms for a little security and you shall have neither. I'm sure someone really important said that. So take your Government supplied opinions and take that same leap off that tall building you want to throw others from.

Freedom of choice is not absolute. And most of the people who watch air racing have no idea what the actual risk is, or they're in complete denial about it.

By the way, I'm 100% in favor of them racing in Cessna 172s. They can strap jets on them for all I care. I'm just sick of them destroying beautiful warbirds.

Men will always do dangerous things, thats why they are men. We would never have gotten where we are today without men doing dangerous things but maybe you prefer living in a cave with your mama.

Flying WW2 aircraft really fast in 2011 isn't doing very much to advance civilization.

People have been killed and in this case i really don't care about an airplane.
I am sure the organizers will learn from this horrible accident and find a way to continue this kind of Air races with more safety for the people which come to such events.

What was the reason for the accident is right now mere speculation, i'm sure there will be an proper investigation and until the results are officially published, we should think about those who had been killed and their beloved ones who right now are mourning about the death of an Husband, Girlfriend, Son or Daughter.