Low and slow? yeah. Engine failure, yeah. I was glad
that I wasn't in the aircraft of one that I saw...
Years ago I was a crew member on a fireworks show at
a county fair and, yes, we had all the paperwork i's dotted
and all the t's crossed. This fair has been an annual for
over 50 years.
Across the street from the fairgrounds was a community
airport (Brackett Field, for those that know the area).
I'm not a pilot so I don't know the proper terminology, but
the tower was a part-time operation, and was closed at
night. We made sure that every year during the fair the
ATIS announcement had something at the end like "Notice
to Airmen: there will be a 12 minute fireworks show
launched from the fairgrounds horse race track infield at
or just after 9pm every night from (date) to (date). Shells
will burst at from 200 to 700 feet altitude. Landing during
the show is NOT recommended."
Halfway through the show one night about 5-8 years ago
our observer pointed out this single engine Cessna orbiting
the area at about 2,000' obviously waiting for the show to
end. All of a sudden his engine quits. He does a military-
style wingover and dives for the runway. We stopped the
show and watched him land then continued shooting....
I could just see a 5" or 6" shell going past his leading edge
if we hadn't stopped.....
I'll let the reader imagine the pucker factor of deadsticking
through a fireworks show.
Mike WA6ILQ
At 05:28 PM 9/28/04, you wrote:
>mch wrote:
>
> >If you're low and slow below 200', you had better be near an airport or
> >heliport or you're most likely in violation of FAA rules anyway. ;->
>
>Heh heh. Very true, very true... 1000' AGL above populated areas.
>
>But... as the joke goes...
>
>There are those who've had engine failures, and those who will.
>And of course, *no* pilot has ever gotten lost! (Gasp!)
>
>Sorry, getting OT for this group. ;-)
>
>Just makin' sure all us radio-heads realize there's a good solid
>safety-related reason for all these "silly" tower lighting/painting
>rules! Thanks for listening.
>
>Nate WY0X
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