Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

[AAFO_WSagar]

Just got a call from a friend at Lakeland and researched to confirm....

Someone anonymously also posted a message....

Apparantly, Sean Tucker has had to shed the Oracle biplane....

LINK TO STORY HERE

More information when available... Good to hear Sean's OK!!!!!!!!!!

[Victor Archer]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

Wow! Glad to here he is OK!

I just took this on Saturday!

http://www.pbase.com/marauder61/riverside_air_show_2006

[speeddemon]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

Sigh....now THAT is the kind of 'accident' I'd rather see more of. Not that I like seeing it go down, but more that it didn't break up in mid-air, or hit the ground during a routine, or something.

What a great airplane, and what a great pilot. Still one of the few aerobatic routines I'll stop what I'm doing (no matter what I'm doing) and watch.

I'd like to see Sean take a hand at flying an Unlimited one of these days.

[Eric]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

I'd like to see Sean take a hand at flying an Unlimited one of these days.

Maybe he should talk to Tom Cruise!

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

Amen that Speed! I just "talked with someone who talked with someone" close to Sean... from what I understand, as of a few minutes ago, he was up in a "backup" airplane checking things out...

I'm extrapolating from "Sean's flying" with the above but the bottom line is, Victor has one of the last really good photos of the airplane, the airplane is no more and one of the best pilots ever is OK!

Can't ask for much more!

Wayne

[Peashooter]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

Hmmm, good idea -- Larry Ellison, Oracle, Sean Tucker, lots of bucks -- how fast do YOU want to go today?

[Nick]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

hmm...Dago is already the big red machine, just remove the kelp, err flames, and slap an ORACLE sticker on the side, and ya got lightning in a bottle!!

In all seriousness, I am glad to hear Sean is okay. I too really enjoyed his act, and watched with amazment everytime. Sad to lose the plane, but at least in this accident the most important part made it out okay....the pilot!

[laminar]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

Broke the stick... now thats working in the cockpit!!

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

ANOTHER LINK with video of the remains.... not much!

[Red]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

Back up controls? I'd like to hear a little more about that one. Was it a dual control Pitts?

Red

[Aeronut7]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

Back up controls? I'd like to hear a little more about that one. Was it a dual control Pitts?

Red

Hmm, that IS interesting . . . the Oracle Challenger is a custom-built airplane though, and single seat at that. I know there are some interesting stats out there somewhere . . .

The Team Oracle website (www.teamoracle.com) has some interesting info. If you have high-speed internet, click on the "Team Oracle Extreme" box. It will open in a new window. The "Machine" section has an animated model of the airplane with special components listed. If you click on the name of the component, it starts a short video about that aspect of the aircraft with commentary by Sean and his crew.

(yes, I've spent far too much time exploring that site )

[King]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

Yeah, the "back-up system" had me perplexed also.

All I can think of is a strategically placed piece of broom handle in the cockpit or just his finger in the broken off remains of the control stick.

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

Yeah, the "back-up system" had me perplexed also.

All I can think of is a strategically placed piece of broom handle in the cockpit or just his finger in the broken off remains of the control stick.

Or the "poster Sharpie". More like yanking on cables hoping not to see god next.

[King]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

I took that to mean Rudder and Trim. But - just guessing.

I would hate to have just rudder and throttle "shortly after takeoff" available to me.

I don't think the "Oracle Challenger" had much in the way of dynamic (i.e. in flight adjustable) trim tabs on it.

[Victor Archer]

Re: Tucker Bails - Plane Gone, Sean OK

Here's one more from the weekend

http://www.pbase.com/marauder61/riverside_air_show_2006