Re: Therapy? Where were you, what did you feel
We had so many calls and emails starting 20 minutes after crash. That continue on still. I wrote a letter for all our friends. Most have no sport avation desire or understanding. Yet they all know we do! Sorry I'm always long winded, more so when upset!
Just to cover events completely for everyone, once and for all. Yes we were there. Yes it was bad, very bad. But it could have been so much worse! In our view whether the grace of God, Leeward’s last efforts, or just the shift of a wing. We live to see another day.
Leeward’s modified Mustang had structural failure - we saw photos on net first night from professional photographers we knew were out in the field. This of course yet to be proven or stated by the NTSB
He lost controllability on pylon 9 and it bucked rolled and spin it’s way straight at us in the reserve seats - yes we looked death in the face, in a very sudden up close and personal way - there was no time to react - no time or place to run - I just thought ‘oh well this is it’ - then at the last 100th of a second it rolls and dives back at the field. 100 yards in front of us she came straight in. She didn’t make it clear of the VIP Box seats. For the first time since they built the new stands I’m sorry to have the perfect view we have in section E! The unbelievable shock of the plane dissapearing into the ground, the debris flying as if a bomb had gone off.
After the impact / blast, our group in stands, in shock did head count, hugged and then quickly started thinking about everyone else we personally needed to account for.
In the mean time the announcers preformed as the professionals that they were. Asking the unhurt to clear the field then asking first for all with professional medic ability to come onto the field immediately! Next for everyone else to please leave their seats in calm orderly manner.
So many people rushed straight to the site, ripping clothing from their bodies to prepare tunicates’ and field bandages for those who survived. Disregarding the smell of 130 octane fuel and the possibility that there could still be fire! EMT’s and those always in state preparedness from start of every race - Civilians there for a day at the races - Military there to support and perform. Immediate use of Vietnam ere Huey there on static display. (www.25thhuey.com) In the air in only moments to carry 6 or 8 at a time on it’s veteran stretchers to the hospital with all haste. This backed up 2 person limited medic choppers.
In mean time we realize we have friends in box seats just feet from the box that was hit point blank, Calling frantically on phone I cannot reach him / them. Then in panic hunting the carnage with binoculars saying he cannot be in that! He will be ok. Our friend finally answers . . .they’re ok They all have only minor injuries but ok, Tell him to meet us at gate with those who wish and we will fit them and get them back to town! (They arrived by bus, but we have immediate front gate parking)
There was no panic - no running - the screaming is now over, nearly everyone was in abject shock and horror of it all, everyone remained quite calm. There were people everywhere stopping to ask anyone appearing lost or in shock “can I help, do you need anything?”. As I’m briskly walking up to find our dear friend sitting on the curb - a woman asking him ‘do you need anything, can I help you?’ - He said ‘No my friend told me to wait here, I must wait right here.’
Our Reno Air Race crowd is made up of a special breed of folks! The best of the best, Most everyone's whole concern was to make sure all around them were ok, able and moving.
John and I have could never have imagined how many people would call / email “We know you attend call us / text us / anything to let us know you are ok.
Thank you everyone for your concern!!! It was horrific, it was traumatic and it is over. We have the best support system anyone can have in all our friends!!
And I want to still empathize - though our hearts still grieve for those lost. For 28 years with each ticket we bought - we knew the risks and the possibilities. If anyone looks very carefully at the Air Races 48 year record with up to 6 races per day, 5 days in a week. Though we have never lost spectators before this day, we have lost pilots, they have always known the risks.
I am terrified every time we get on the highway at rush hour, all the people, fools, that might end our lives doing something stupid! And a much higher chance of that happening! You buy your ticket you take your chances.
This time it looked that for us personally it was not meant to be. And had it been well . . . - such is life I would have no regrets, I knew the risks. And maybe this is easier to say being an un-injured survivor, but still after staring death in the face, if they will sell us our reserve seat tickets next year - we will be there.
There is no other sport like it in the whole world - these men and women are the best of the best - test pilots / stunt pilots / astronauts / airline pilots / veterans of the skies! We so hope the media will back off let it rest! Quit the sensationalizing! Maybe say this was horrific but look how many years the races have run, look at the hours of time they have in total! Look at the quality of those racing!
I’m sure some are saying already: ‘The sport is too dangerous, it must be ended’ In reply I would say: Maybe we should disallow all boating, driving, flying in general, river rafting, bicycling, mountain climbing - because there could be risk. How many have died because another boat hit them? How many have died because a car hit a bicycle, a pedestrian, another car? - Rafting tour and it tips? Climb Mt Everest, yes was your choice but maybe the guide should not be allowed to take you anymore because of the risk. Some of these do not happen often, but they have happened! If you choose to walk that sidewalk, ride that bike, you know no matter what, there is a risk no matter how small. We personally will continue to honor the brave and adventurous among us by embracing their forums such as they are willing to share with us!
Thank you again everyone for all your outpouring of love and support!
Sincerely
Linda & John
We had so many calls and emails starting 20 minutes after crash. That continue on still. I wrote a letter for all our friends. Most have no sport avation desire or understanding. Yet they all know we do! Sorry I'm always long winded, more so when upset!
What we saw
Sunday 18 September 2011
You don’t know how much it meant to hear from you. We appreciate it so much. I was amazed to find out how many people really cared! (though we already knew that about some of you!) Once we gathered up some of our dear friends on Friday and were headed back into town, I started down my cell list in calling as many of those I could - knowing, they knew we would be at the Air Races. Although still shaking we did not want anyone out there to worry and we knew this was going to hit the news media big time. If I forgot you, please know it was not on purpose! We’re on the road south today - the plan to camp out in the quiet. This day we should be in the stands at Reno anticipating the next great race. We hurt inside - hallow aching pit - last 2 nights reliving in 3D what I wish to never have seen. John says instead of constantly repeating myself write it all out.Just to cover events completely for everyone, once and for all. Yes we were there. Yes it was bad, very bad. But it could have been so much worse! In our view whether the grace of God, Leeward’s last efforts, or just the shift of a wing. We live to see another day.
Leeward’s modified Mustang had structural failure - we saw photos on net first night from professional photographers we knew were out in the field. This of course yet to be proven or stated by the NTSB
He lost controllability on pylon 9 and it bucked rolled and spin it’s way straight at us in the reserve seats - yes we looked death in the face, in a very sudden up close and personal way - there was no time to react - no time or place to run - I just thought ‘oh well this is it’ - then at the last 100th of a second it rolls and dives back at the field. 100 yards in front of us she came straight in. She didn’t make it clear of the VIP Box seats. For the first time since they built the new stands I’m sorry to have the perfect view we have in section E! The unbelievable shock of the plane dissapearing into the ground, the debris flying as if a bomb had gone off.
After the impact / blast, our group in stands, in shock did head count, hugged and then quickly started thinking about everyone else we personally needed to account for.
In the mean time the announcers preformed as the professionals that they were. Asking the unhurt to clear the field then asking first for all with professional medic ability to come onto the field immediately! Next for everyone else to please leave their seats in calm orderly manner.
So many people rushed straight to the site, ripping clothing from their bodies to prepare tunicates’ and field bandages for those who survived. Disregarding the smell of 130 octane fuel and the possibility that there could still be fire! EMT’s and those always in state preparedness from start of every race - Civilians there for a day at the races - Military there to support and perform. Immediate use of Vietnam ere Huey there on static display. (www.25thhuey.com) In the air in only moments to carry 6 or 8 at a time on it’s veteran stretchers to the hospital with all haste. This backed up 2 person limited medic choppers.
In mean time we realize we have friends in box seats just feet from the box that was hit point blank, Calling frantically on phone I cannot reach him / them. Then in panic hunting the carnage with binoculars saying he cannot be in that! He will be ok. Our friend finally answers . . .they’re ok They all have only minor injuries but ok, Tell him to meet us at gate with those who wish and we will fit them and get them back to town! (They arrived by bus, but we have immediate front gate parking)
There was no panic - no running - the screaming is now over, nearly everyone was in abject shock and horror of it all, everyone remained quite calm. There were people everywhere stopping to ask anyone appearing lost or in shock “can I help, do you need anything?”. As I’m briskly walking up to find our dear friend sitting on the curb - a woman asking him ‘do you need anything, can I help you?’ - He said ‘No my friend told me to wait here, I must wait right here.’
Our Reno Air Race crowd is made up of a special breed of folks! The best of the best, Most everyone's whole concern was to make sure all around them were ok, able and moving.
John and I have could never have imagined how many people would call / email “We know you attend call us / text us / anything to let us know you are ok.
Thank you everyone for your concern!!! It was horrific, it was traumatic and it is over. We have the best support system anyone can have in all our friends!!
And I want to still empathize - though our hearts still grieve for those lost. For 28 years with each ticket we bought - we knew the risks and the possibilities. If anyone looks very carefully at the Air Races 48 year record with up to 6 races per day, 5 days in a week. Though we have never lost spectators before this day, we have lost pilots, they have always known the risks.
I am terrified every time we get on the highway at rush hour, all the people, fools, that might end our lives doing something stupid! And a much higher chance of that happening! You buy your ticket you take your chances.
This time it looked that for us personally it was not meant to be. And had it been well . . . - such is life I would have no regrets, I knew the risks. And maybe this is easier to say being an un-injured survivor, but still after staring death in the face, if they will sell us our reserve seat tickets next year - we will be there.
There is no other sport like it in the whole world - these men and women are the best of the best - test pilots / stunt pilots / astronauts / airline pilots / veterans of the skies! We so hope the media will back off let it rest! Quit the sensationalizing! Maybe say this was horrific but look how many years the races have run, look at the hours of time they have in total! Look at the quality of those racing!
I’m sure some are saying already: ‘The sport is too dangerous, it must be ended’ In reply I would say: Maybe we should disallow all boating, driving, flying in general, river rafting, bicycling, mountain climbing - because there could be risk. How many have died because another boat hit them? How many have died because a car hit a bicycle, a pedestrian, another car? - Rafting tour and it tips? Climb Mt Everest, yes was your choice but maybe the guide should not be allowed to take you anymore because of the risk. Some of these do not happen often, but they have happened! If you choose to walk that sidewalk, ride that bike, you know no matter what, there is a risk no matter how small. We personally will continue to honor the brave and adventurous among us by embracing their forums such as they are willing to share with us!
Thank you again everyone for all your outpouring of love and support!
Sincerely
Linda & John
How anyone can understand my brain would be completely beyond my understanding.. I'll work it out, in time..
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