RIP, Eddie. We lost an American original today.

[ckissick]

I know there are a lot of avid pilots here. Eddie Andreini was as good as they come. He was also a good friend of mine. The one thing I remember about him right now is that he is only only person I ever met who actually had a literal twinkle in his eye. He went while doing an inverted stunt in a modified 1945 Stearman. At the age of 77. I'll miss Eddie, but I am so proud to able to say he was a friend.

Acrobatic pilot Andreini dies in plane crash at Travis AFB - Half Moon Bay Review : News

[herr_oberst]

That sucks, Charlie.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I'm glad for you that you were able to call a wildcat like Eddie a friend.

RIP.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Sad to hear. At least he got to go doing what he loved. Wonder what happened - sounds like a pretty routine stunt, nothing with high g loads or lots of control inputs... RIP. Thoughts for his family and friends.

[widgeon13]

Sad day for sure.

[Scott Douglas]

Sorry to read this. I just saw a video of the crash on the news this morning.
RIP.
It'll be interesting to hear what they say caused it as the plane looked pretty much intact, just upside down and on fire as if it had landed wrong side up.
Again, sorry for the loss of your friend.

[techweenie]

Wow, it really hurts to lose a pal. My sincere condolences.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Sorry to read this. I just saw a video of the crash on the news this morning.
RIP.
It'll be interesting to hear what they say caused it as the plane looked pretty much intact, just upside down and on fire as if it had landed wrong side up.
Again, sorry for the loss of your friend.

Rumor in town is that he was just fine after basically landing upside down. A plane like that must be outfitted for such an emergency landing. But then he couldn't undo the harness and it took the fire crew too long to get there. They were stationed far away with the crowd between them and the runway area where the plane crashed. Why they weren't at a closer location, I don't know. But this is all rumor so far.

[BE911SC]

I've noticed a similar slow response at the Reno Air Races too. Not to slander the good fire truck guys but sometimes those guys are sitting on top of their trucks with their friends and family up there too and not really ready to respond. Bob Hoover was hollering at them one year at Reno because a Mustang had caught fire (catastrophic engine failure) and landed and no fire trucks responded until someone ran over and told them to. Hoover: "I see all kinds of emergency vehicles but no fire trucks! Get a move on!"

[ErVikingo]

Read the news and thought it was very sad. Now seeing he was a dear friend to a fellow Pelican its even sadder.

God Bless and God Speed.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by ErVikingo

Read the news and thought it was very sad. Now seeing he was a dear friend to a fellow Pelican its even sadder.

God Bless and God Speed.

Thanks. Last week there was a collision between two planes in the Bay Area, killing one pilot. They had just flown from Half Moon Bay and were friends of Eddie's. I mention this because they were both Sacramento PCA members. Planes and P-cars often go together.

[ErVikingo]

Terrible news.