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RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/28/2007 9:37:22 PM   
gboulton



Posts: 1862
Joined: 5/28/2005
From: La Vergne, TN, USA
Status: offline

Just received some terrible news. Details are still very sketchy, and I haven't found definitive confirmation online as yet, but it would appear that we've lost Jim. There are currently a few 30-45 minute old AP report on the web, but they only mention "a stunt plane".

Only information I can find thus far is, apparently, Jim was at the bottom of a loop at the Dayton airshow, and hit the ground. There's some indication he might have been doing some snaps, and caught the gear, but nothing certain as yet.

I'm holding on to the faintest of hopes that this is some terrible misunderstanding...but, as I say, it's a faint hope at best. My 'source' for this information is, sadly in this case, quite reliable.

=======================

I really don't know how I feel right now. I know, for a fact, that were Jim to be here, he'd say "don't be silly. Finish it, and fly it like your stole it. If it goes in, raise a toast to me over the bonfire". But man...the idea of this thing EVER going in...the idea of risking it...just got a whole lot tougher for me. Of course, on the flip side, I can't imagine NOT finishing this thing...I can't think of a better way to honor the man.

I don't know how many of you "knew" Jim, either personally, or through e-mails, or whatever. I was lucky enough to make his acquaintance last year, and I've learned through ongoing communication with hm what a fantastic person he really was. He would, I'm sure, tell us not to be sad...he did what he loved, and went on HIS terms....the rest of us should be so lucky.

But man...I'm going to miss him. I was all set to head up to St Louis in September to see him, and had hoped I'd have the Bulldog done in time to let him see it. He was such a humble man, I know he would have been touched that anyone would put so much time and effort into "him". He was just that kind of guy...one of the most amazing people I've ever met, but so down to earth...

I'm rambling...I hope you guys will forgive me.

*sigh*

_____________________________

The free man will ask neither what his country can do for him nor what he can do for his country. - Milton Friedman

(in reply to gboulton)
       Post #: 226

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/28/2007 9:44:50 PM   
gboulton



Posts: 1862
Joined: 5/28/2005
From: La Vergne, TN, USA
Status: offline 		Update :

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/e/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/07/28/ddn072807crashweb.html

That article confirms the accident, and that it was Jim.

One of the comments claims that the Blackhawk helicopter that transported Jim to Miami Valley hospital radioed TOD as 1505 to the hospital.

_____________________________

The free man will ask neither what his country can do for him nor what he can do for his country. - Milton Friedman

(in reply to gboulton)
       Post #: 227

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/28/2007 9:49:15 PM   
Bipe Flyer



Posts: 4982
Joined: 11/6/2002
From: Mission, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Joe just called me and told me the news. Very sad...

_____________________________

1/2A all the way!
Club Saito #151

(in reply to gboulton)
       Post #: 228

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/28/2007 10:20:58 PM   
shelz65


 

Posts: 1
Joined: 7/28/2007
From: , OH, ALBANIA
Status: offline 		go to www.daytondailynews.com; they have pictures and information on the crash. I have seen the actual footage over and over and it's just very sad, I really did not expect the crash that I saw to result in a fatality. The local newscasters reported that after the crash happened and it started to "set in" they saw people go to their knees and start praying for Jim. I am sorry those prayers were not answered for you and Jim's family and the extended "flying" family. The Thunderbirds declined to perform out of respect for the loss of someone in that flying family and the rest of the show has been cancelled for today.

Jim - you earned your permanant wings today buddy. Fly High and Fly Proud.

(in reply to gboulton)
       Post #: 229

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/28/2007 11:32:04 PM   
gboulton



Posts: 1862
Joined: 5/28/2005
From: La Vergne, TN, USA
Status: offline 		I'm going to ask a favor of everyone here....forgive me if this sounds snarky or whatever...I don't mean it to, truly I don't.

A couple of other forums I frequent also have threads about this incident, and several posters have posted images of the crash. I'd like to ask, politely, that nobody do that in this thread.

Obviously, I'm not a moderator or anything...I'm just asking for a favor.

I've thus far managed to avoid any images or video of the incident and, frankly, would like to continue doing so. I know, eventually, I'll run across some....but I'm being childish and trying to bury my head in the sand right now.

Hope y'all understand.

_____________________________

The free man will ask neither what his country can do for him nor what he can do for his country. - Milton Friedman

(in reply to shelz65)
       Post #: 230

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/29/2007 1:30:03 AM   
Bipe Flyer



Posts: 4982
Joined: 11/6/2002
From: Mission, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Well put, Gordon.

_____________________________

1/2A all the way!
Club Saito #151

(in reply to gboulton)
       Post #: 231

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/29/2007 5:41:14 AM   
gjmjoe017



Posts: 418
Joined: 11/13/2002
From: Chesterfield, MO, USA
Status: offline 		It's a sad,sad day.I can't go to sleep.I know Jim would want us to finish our Bulldog projects Gordon,I know I am.I hope we can all get together and get some shots and fly them together as a tribute.
Joe

(in reply to Bipe Flyer)
       Post #: 232

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/29/2007 2:06:19 PM   
gboulton



Posts: 1862
Joined: 5/28/2005
From: La Vergne, TN, USA
Status: offline 		I don't know if I slept at all last night. I'd been watching a movie, hoping to veg out a little bit. Just as it ended, I flipped the system from DVD to TV, and at that very instant here's smarmy CNN guy "Now we have EXCLUSIVE brand new video from the airshow crash in Dayton, OH today! We got this less than 30 minutes ago!!". I had, until then, managed to avoid it all day...I guess the limit on my ostrich time was 8 hours.

Thankfully, right after that Andrew called, and we were able to talk for a while.

It dawned on me that, despite all the communication on here and via e-mail (or perhaps because of it...who needs phones?) Andrew and I had never spoken. It amazed me, as we carried on our conversation, to hear some of the stories he told about his relationship with Jim. Ok...shouldn't say amazed...since we know what kind of guy Jim was...but perhaps "baffled" me. Again, here's a fellow in Andrew that...like us...is really just a modeler and fan. And yet the stories he told about Jim showed once again that this world class airshow pilot could be such a humble and down to earth "buddy". It just blows my mind. *shrug*

In any event, you are absolutely right, Joe. I know Jim would tell every one of us "Bah...stop your cryin. Finish 'em, and fly 'em like I would have". And I'm pretty sure he'd tell us that if they go in, it better be while we were trying to do something cool.

=========================================================================

So...in that spirit, I'm going to try to begin the day on as bright a note as possible, and pass along a couple of project related notes:

I've got the last of the servos on order....should be here Wednesday Tail feathers are getting HiTec 5645MG's all around, and the ailerons have 645's, 1 in each. So, radio gear is just about sorted out, and about half installed already.

I also found a sheet metal place VERY close by the house, and lo and behold, one of the fellows there is an RC-er! So, Monday I'll be getting the landing gear cut and bent, and hopefully at a pretty reasonable cost. If the guy does good work, i think I'll invite him over to see his work mounted on the Bulldog. *heh*

And finally, I made the decision last night that I will depart from the scale Bulldog markings in one area. I'm sure all of you are familiar with the Bulldog Airshows logo Jim flew on the vertical stab/rudder through the 2006 season. And I'm sure by now most have you have noticed my "modified" version of it in my avatar. I'll be putting that version on the plane, when it comes time to do graphics. Somehow, I think it's worth losing a couple points at a scale contest.

_____________________________

The free man will ask neither what his country can do for him nor what he can do for his country. - Milton Friedman

(in reply to gjmjoe017)
       Post #: 233

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/29/2007 9:20:16 PM   
jaycam


 

Posts: 73
Joined: 11/22/2002
From: Woonsocket, RI, USA
Status: offline 		I'm part of the International Council of Airshows and we put on one of the largest airshows in the country here in RI. Annually, we have our airshow conference in Las Vegas and I got to spend some time with Jim and his wife and child. Fatalities obviously will always be a part of this profession, but when you spend time with the pilots and you meet their families and especially their children, it absolutely tears me up inside after something like this happens knowing who he'll be leaving behind. It's amazing that just barely two years ago, Jim Franklin and Bobby Younkin had a fatal mid air during the X Teams demo, of which Jim Leroy was a part. He will most certainly be missed. I've attached a phot of Jim and I and his Bulldog 2 he was unveiling in Vegas last December.

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


< Message edited by jaycam -- 7/29/2007 9:24:34 PM >

(in reply to gboulton)
       Post #: 234

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/29/2007 9:51:21 PM   
John Hanske



Posts: 56
Joined: 10/5/2002
From: Milford, IN, USA
Status: offline 		I was at Dayton.... Build the plane, fly the plane, and show everyone that the love of flying and the spirit of flight lives on. Our existence as human beings is measured in our passion for what we do and by the thoughts and feelings that we inspire in our fellow men. There is only a difference in the physical body, there is no difference in the spirit of a man who inspired us to do what we love. Godspeed!


_____________________________

John Hanske
President, Nappanee Fly''n Dutchmen

(in reply to jaycam)
       Post #: 235

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/29/2007 9:57:40 PM   
willey



Posts: 377
Joined: 1/22/2003
From: Waterford/Erie, PA, USA
Status: offline 		wow! very well said John!! I like that!!



jaycam, what an honor that must have been!!


willey

< Message edited by willey -- 7/29/2007 10:01:02 PM >

_____________________________

++HUN HUNTER++

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       Post #: 236

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/29/2007 10:56:41 PM   
Richard D Bahmann aka/Wrongway



Posts: 2054
Joined: 1/7/2004
From: Ormond Beach, FL, USA
Status: offline 		My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Jim Leroy.

There have been some nice videos on YouTube of him at various air shows. He was an inspiration to the aerobatic community... I know he got me.

Gordon you gotta get that smoke pump dialed in and then fly it like you stole it as part of your tribute.

Richard

_____________________________

To go where no man has gone before...without government permission. In 1938 Wrong Way Corrigan becomes an American Hero.

(in reply to willey)
       Post #: 237

RE: Jim LeRoy Pitts Bulldog - Scratch Build Thread - 7/30/2007 12:35:39 AM   
rrragmanliam


 

Posts: 1006
Joined: 10/20/2003
From: Arvada, CO, USA
Status: offline 		Sad indeed,

If you ever saw one of Jim's performances you know he was always pushing the envolope, and safety margins, when it came to low altitude manuvers. It looks like he just ran out of room. I had a feeling this would happen some day. Jim will be missed.

Darren
       Post #: 238