[Kharon]

Well!.  In an effort to glean further information on the pilot’s recovery, made a couple of calls, alas, no additional news on that front.  However, one thing led to another and discussion about the paddock and conditions raised some very interesting points.

My speculative notion that this was a ‘simple’ engine out problem – to forced landing on rough ground in tricky wind conditions, a skip and loss of control due wind gust or ground feature is not correct.  We must now wait for the ATSB, seems there’s a little more to follow.

The winds that day were 35 kts with gusts >40 occasionally 50; so the question why was the aircraft even out of the hanger is being asked – from an operational POV.

There are some serious questions being asked about mandated ‘qualification’ and experience on type.

There also appears to be some serious ‘legal’ issues focussing around CASA changes to various ‘controls’ which could – repeat – could be problematic in the ‘category’ and operating regimes of Warbirds (as I understand it).  Too early to tell just yet, but, prima facie at least, seems CASA have a couple of very curly questions to answer on exploited loop holes and grey areas.  MFT is the best I can manage on that topic.  Patience – working on it and it is a can of worms.

The CASA response is going to be interesting, as is the ATSB report.  I was curious as to why UP closed the thread, it was no sillier than the normal, run of the mill stuff; until you back track to the point where the thread was de-railed.  I wondered why then, not any longer… ..

Toot - MTF – toot.