Mustang accident

Originally Posted by winny

If I went to Reno the odds of me dying there are less than they are for me dying in the same year from a car crash, statistically, as a spectator.

200,000 people attended reno over the week, 11 died.

That's 11 out of 200,000 or 1 death for every 18,200 people there, roughly. The fatalities for road accidents in the USA for 2009 was 11 for every 100,000 people in the population or 1 death for every 9,100 people. Nearly twice the odds.

That's how I calculated. You have to be at Reno to die at Reno, 199,989 people who were there didn't die there this year. You can't ignore them.

There certainly weren't 200,000 people there on the day of the accident. How can you tell that 200,000 attended? All I see is a memorial page when I go to the Reno air race website.

I'd like to see the attendance numbers at Reno when there is no air show. How many people actually show up just for air racing?

Originally Posted by cheesehawk

Umm, 0. People don't show up at airports in America to view passenger planes taking off.

Actually, yes they do. They're called "spotters". I don't see the attraction, but they definitely exist.

[Crumpp]

why should races be closed to public?

The races started out as private events. Private individuals own those aircraft and race them as a very costly and expensive hobby. Nobody makes money at the races and allowing spectators is catering to the publics own personal enjoyment. The proceeds from the ticket sales offsets the expense of handling parking, a place for them sit, and the higher insurance rates the airport has to pay for having spectators.

Why should they be closed to the public? Life entails risk....

If an owner puts the fruits of labor at risk by sharing the a joy of aviation and passion for flight with the public, he runs the risk of somebody who climbs on the wing to look in the cockpit, slipping, falling, and suing him.

Now he isn't passing on anything, even for himself. He is paying lawyers and spending time in court.

No thanks....

[winny]

Originally Posted by IamNotDavid

There certainly weren't 200,000 people there on the day of the accident. How can you tell that 200,000 attended? All I see is a memorial page when I go to the Reno air race website.

Attendance for Reno over the week is around 200,000.. (Google reno air race attendance figures). I did the week figures because I couldn't get a daily figure and also because you were using the 'per-event' numbers. If you do it by day.

If you do it by day then obviously you'll get a different number.

[Crumpp]

there is way too much money in the sport between NASCAR, FIA, WRC just to name a few. Anything with that much money involved (and prestige for the manufacturers) is simply not going to let the deaths of a few (relatively speaking, from the point of view of politicians and billionaires) people interfere with their money.

I agree. That is the difference. There is no money to be made in air racing. Otherwise, it would be as big as other more lucrative "professional" sports.

Air racing is a great way to turn millions into thousands very quickly.

The only thing air racing does is spark peoples interest in aviation. Opening the races to the public allowed them to experience the power and speed of the pinnacle of WWII era piston engine aircraft development. It is a way to share a passion.

It will will just go back to being a private event without public access.

Originally Posted by winny

Attendance for Reno over the week is around 200,000.. (Google reno air race attendance figures). I did the week figures because I couldn't get a daily figure and also because you were using the 'per-event' numbers. If you do it by day.

If you do it by day then obviously you'll get a different number.

That includes the air show, which distorts the numbers.

[Crumpp]

200,000 x $10 General Admission = 2,000,000 USD

That is nothing when compared to the expenses of a single unlimited class racer.

Originally Posted by Crumpp

The only thing air racing does is spark peoples interest in aviation.

Right up until the inevitable crash and cloud of black smoke. Then it does the opposite.

[Jabo2009]

Originally Posted by Crumpp

Now he isn't passing on anything, even for himself. He is paying lawyers and spending time in court.

whats wrong with that? Honestly, I dont get your message.

What world are you living in? car races and airshows should become strictly private again? organised only as VIP club events and the public has to stay on the other side of the fence and watch from 1km distance?

come on...you must be joking