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Air Show Risks
Air Show Risks ... The enclosed photograph was taken at the 1919 Oakland Air
Show by Oakland Tribune photographer Bill Crouch. This picture was captioned "a
five-foot near-miss:" and was published in papers all over the country, won a Pulitzer
prize, and because of its caption, caused much unfavorable publicity for air shows.
It is true that depth perception is not easily discernible in a photograph, however,
had these planes been anywhere near each other, the size of the Stearman would have
been approximately the same as the distance between the two engines on one wing
of the B-29. In reality (and I was present at the Oakland Air Show along with many
hundreds who could substantiate this) these planes passed each other with at least
a 500 foot clearance, which, according to C.A.A. regulations, is a legal passing
distance.
The flight of Army B-29's was scheduled to fly over and Chet Derby, the pilot
of the Stearman, was advised of this fact before taking off. The B-29's were in
constant radio contact with the Oakland control tower and were informed of the stunt
plane passing below them. Therefore, although this is an outstanding picture, properly
captioned it would have been of no value from a news standpoint.
As a result of this picture a good many editorials and letters to the editor
published in various aviation magazines have referred to air shows as being haphazard
exhibitions of daredevil tricks which result in causing a great deal of risk both
to the spectators as well as the participants in the show and in addition, are a
detriment to commercial flying.
In analyzing these statements, first consider the reference that such shows are
haphazard and a risk to everyone involved. Air shows are operated under a Waiver
granted by the C.A.A. Application for such a waiver is made at least two weeks prior
to the show and is approved only after officials of this office have studied the
schedule of acts and participants and concluded that the show will be safe for both
the spectators and participants. During the show, a C.A.A. representative is on
hand to see that their regulations and safety measures are strictly observed.
All shows in which I have participated have been insured by Lloyds of London,
a firm dealing strictly with facts. If they anticipated any danger of loss whatsoever
or if from their statistics air shows had proven to have a poor record of risk,
an application for insurance would never be considered.
"A five-foot near-miss"
As for being detrimental to commercial flying, air shows have no connection with
commercial flying. To make such a comparison is as logical as comparing everyday
automobile driving with the Indianapolis Speedway Race or a swimming and diving
meet with ordinary swimming. A spectator does not leave the Speedway determined
never to drive an automobile again because of the dangers he has witnessed, or return
from a swimming meet afraid to go swimming because he has witnessed some hair-raising
stunts off the diving board. The public has common sense enough to realize that
there is no comparison between these exhibitions and the phase applicable to their
everyday routine. So it is with air shows - the participants are men who have spent
many hours of practice to perfect their particular acts. There should be no confusion
in anyone's mind as to the difference between this kind of flying and commercial
aviation.
In the past most of these letters and complaints against air shows have been
written by people who are commonly referred to by the general public as "cranks."
The picture which they have painted of air shows is as distorted and erroneous as
the caption "a five-foot near-miss" on the picture of Chet Derby's stunt plane passing
under the B-29. I believe that it is time the true facts surrounding air shows and
their operation be brought before the public in order to correct a popular misapprehension.
V. J. Dierker, Alameda, Calif.
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