Oregon Airshow
date: 16 July 2006 -- updated: 16 Nov 2006
We live near the Hillsboro Airport and, though not in the direct flight path of departing or arriving flights, we see a fair amount of air traffic overhead. Every summer the Oregon Airshow fills the skies with everything from bi-planes to modern jet fighters. Needless to say, during that weekend the skies over our house become rather noisy. Having always loved airplanes, I find it exciting and interesting, but Sally hates it. She doesn't like the noise and she worries constantly about the danger. I just grab my camera and try to get some shots as they pass overhead. This year I spent some time near the end of the runway and got quite a few fantastic shots. The only ones I'll show here though, concern the tragedy that ended the show. A vintage British figher jet took off, and was planning to make a pass over the airfield and then head home to southern California. Halfway through its loop the pilot lost control and the jet plunged into a residential neighborhood. Fortunately no one on the ground was killed or even injured, though tragically the pilot died.
I took a couple of shots as the plane taxied for takeoff, and then took another as it headed down the runway. Partway through its roll as the engine was winding up there came a tremendous 'Foom!' and then it became very quiet. The plane continued down the runway, but it appeared to struggle to get into the sky, from my perspective (directly behind it) apparently barely clearing the trees a kilometer or so beyond the end of the runway.
The pilot seemed able to stabilize and to climb normally at that point, so I thought little more of it, though I continued to track his progress as he began his wide loop around. The jet appeared to be a couple of thousand feet in the air as it turned over Highway 26 and came back over Ronler Acres. I looked away for a few seconds, and when I looked back it seemed much lower in the sky. Still not realizing anything was wrong, I looked away again, and looked back a few seconds later. This time the plane was barely over the trees. Instinctively I began to raise my camera. As I did so, the nose of the jet pitched up, and then it turned over so the top of the plane faced me directly. Then it fell straight down. I squeezed off a few frames as the fireball rose into the sky.
After a few seconds, coincidentally, my phone began to ring. It was Lara asking me when I'd be home, and I asked her to put mommy on. I told Sally to look out the kitchen window. She could already see the smoke. Later, as I thought it over, it became clear to me that had the pilot stayed in the air another ten to fifteen seconds, he'd have gone right into my neighborhood, placing my own family in danger. I suppose I think differently about the airshow now. I heard recently that it had been approved for next summer, which means we'll be out of town. Hopefully we don't return to a smoking ruin...