@@bargla YES! Thousands of dollars damage. Which is why I don't think this was a really great belly landing. The motor now has to have an R&R...probably crankshaft replaced and who knows what else. Not a good job imo.
That was a graceful belly landing. He even saved the prop for the most part. Pretty slick if you ask me. Pilot saved the aircraft... Well Done. Even with no legs and on her belly, Big Beautiful Doll is still Beautiful. Live to fly another day. Cheers.
Sadly, even minor prop strikes can result in broken gear reduction units, prop pitch control mechanism, a busted crankshaft, and irreparable prop damage. Likely all of the above occurred here. Very unforgiving machines.
I work for Sikorsky Aircraft, Jeff was at one time, President of Sikorsky Aircraft, he was to this day our most charismatic and passionate CEO, everyone loved our annual “All Hands Meeting” to go over the previous year’s accomplishments. Sadly, Jeff lost his life in a P51 Mustang accident some years after his retirement from Sikorsky. R.I.P. Jeff.
Don't know about the pilot, but my eyes were watery. I've wrenched on warbirds as an A&P. Not only the sheet metal, but that's a complete engine inspection/overhaul and new prop. The bill alone brings tears to the eyes.
@@robertmiller6444 Yep, same here. Even though the prop would've still been toast, had he shut it down, most likely only the gear reduction drive would've needed the inspection since the bending forces would've been restricted to that drive. The engine would most likely been fine. My guess was he kept it going JIC he would've had to make a last second "go around and set up for a 2nd approach. Better to have been able to walk away from a bent bird than be pulled out of one.
Our helicopter gyro stabilized camera system. Mounted on the nose of our R44. If you notice the left gear was lower than the right as he took off. Urschel said the strut gear failed
That is by far the prettiest belly landing I have ever seen! Almost saved the prop completely. And those who don't know a P51 is notoriously difficult to belly land.
Every show ... never disappoints!!! Awesome. Makes me smile everytime I hear your theme song. It was one of the highlights of my musical career to sing that. 👊🙂 Keep up the good work Bruce. Legend!!!!
That's one expensive belly landing. Shame to see such an old plane damaged. Glad the pilot got out all OK and hope she can be repaired back to airworthiness.
Mr. Haffner, Used to watch a lot of you stellar work in PHX when I was a kid, grew up with you in the sky. Been along time since those days and I hope you stay well sir.
My heart crunched with the metal there but what a perfectly executed gear up... as bad as it is for BBD it could have been far worse, that's the right stuff right there!
Man, that is the best belly landing I have ever seen! This guy set this thing down perfectly and got the engine stopped so there wasn't a prop strike! That saved a complete teardown and overhaul of the engine! I had to belly land a Cessna 310 back in 1983. The left gear was stuck halfway down and wouldn't move and the right gear was all the way down and locked. I was lucky that the 310 had two-bladed props because I was able to shut the engines down before I hit the ground. Didn't damage the props or engines at all and there was only minor damage to the underside of the plane. The real lucky part was both engines stopped with the props at an angle that kept the props from hitting the ground.
I'm not a pilot but I have always thought that if I was to become a pilot the Mustang is the one plane I would absolutely love to have the chance to fly. It's just a beautiful plane and from what I have heard Mustang pilots say it's supposed to be amazing to fly.
Awesome that you were able to assist the pilot with communications to the tower while he was *very* busy setting up that landing. Kudos to you. And an amazing job by the pilot keeping the nose up till the last moment, protecting the engine from seizing.
He not only did that, but he killed the engine at precisely the right time, even though it was still a prop strike requiring a complete tear down, damage was probably mitigated.
That Magnificent Mustang getting scraped up on landing broke my heart ... but knowing that much planning goes into ... 'And the Home of the Brave' ... lightened My mood! Thanks Chopper Guy. Peace
Hurts to see that crash landing. At the end of the day, the pilot made it out safely that day. Unfortunately, Mr. Pino died in 2016 on the same P-51. Two years later after this beautiful crash landing.
@@Hbomb-nm2fv no, it wasn't. I believe he died while doing a loop. The p51 never recovered. I believe Mr. Pino misjudged the p51 handbook indications and this was the result.
Back in 1988-89 I noticed a P51 orbiting the Anoka Co airport. My son was with me, so we rode to the old gate to watch and listen. After several passes he came in for a landing. Just after touchdown the landing gear collapsed. The prop went a hundred yards in the air 4 seconds later we heard the strike. Another red-letter day in my life. I can only imagine that poor guy's heartbreak.
The Brits think the Spitfire was the greatest. But it had no range to make it to Germany. The P51 was able to escort the B-17 bombers all the way to Berlin and then the Mustangs went hunting for targets of opportunity like airfields, trains, or factories. When Field Marshal Goering saw the 51s over Berlin, he said "The game is up" this was the beginning of the end !!
@@butchyshoe The P51 was created in response to a British requirement for an aircraft to do long range escort and take on the FW190. The Spitfire was a late 1930's design for defensive duties so long range was not the prime function.
These events are not as uncommon as most may think. I've been the Ops manager at our local airport (KTCL) for 32 years. We average one gear up landing every two to three years. At least a dozen in my 32 years here. Every aircraft was repairable and everyone walked away unscathed. A testament to cool heads and professional pilots. I'm always the one who gets tasked with removing them from the runway. One of the coolest jobs around, albeit under unfortunate circumstances for the Crew and passengers.
@@davidgeorge4113 most do have what's called an emergency gear extension. Unfortunately they also fail occasionally or the pilot is not familiar with its operation in an aircraft he doesn't typically fly.
My favorite thing when I worked at Sky Harbor was when the Marine F-18s would show off. Full afterburner on takeoff, then straight vertical at the end of the runway.
That's just a difficult thing to watch. Jeff did a fantastic job of bringing her down, but the damage is tragic. I guess when you are driving a 75 year old aircraft, you have to have a certain expectation of things that could and eventually will happen.
Ive recently gained a tremendous respect for air traffic control. They make critical decisions and stay cool under incredible pressure, im just a drone pilot so i wont be working with them, but its still really cool.
That landing of the P-51 D Mustang was skillful but sad. Every time I see one I think of the hero's who flew them. US, Canadian and British. Thank God Britain placed the order and US industry responded. Thank him again that it was Packard Merlin powered. Truly the American Spitfire.
I cried when Big Beautiful Doll bellied in, that it's the most gorgeous P-51D around in my opinion and to have that happen, does make grown men cry. Well at least she can be restored unlike some that crash and make a big boom, flash, and fire. I feel sorry for the owners pocket book and bank account!
If you own a P51 you don't have to feel sorry about his pocket book. I'm sure he had it well insured. The sad part is that there is one less on this planet. The 51 did EXCEPTIONAL things during WW2 !! After the war u could buy a 51 PLUS a spare brand new engine for $8,000 . Today, you would have to pay $200,000 to rebuild one of those engines !!
@@butchyshoe As an Airframe & Power Plant Mechanic, I've help restore old war birds and they cost about twice as much as owning a Corporate Jet, reason being is that most of the parts to restore them are getting far and few in between to locate them, one time it took over a year and a half just to get a simple part for a Douglas A-26, when we could of hand fabricated it from scratch, but the owner wanted original parts for his plane, then came unglued when they found out how much it costed him compaired to us fabricating it. Just like those folks whom own an all original 1963 Chevy Corvette with a split window, it's got to have all original GM/Delco parts, because it'll loose points at the next car show! But then again to loose such a valuable treasure to something so simple like a few hundred dollar gear actuator because it failed during a photo op flight can and does make grown men cry.
Sadly BBD is no longer. She flew into the ground in 2016 killing the owner and a passenger..... apparently they were doing aerobatic maneuvers at a low level and lost control of the plane too close to the ground to recover.
@@ianchandley There was another BBD in Europe that had an incident with an AD-6 and crashed but the pilot got out. So there are more than 1 BBD's out there, maybe this on can stay in the air longer than the others!
What an amazing channel. Subscribed. I can’t believe he had to land gear up. I don’t think the damage could have been minimized any more. That landing would have made COL Landers proud.
Good morning Chopperguy, It's fun for sure! Yes you can jump from the ramp on 130s we mostly jumped from the rear side doors usually with all your heart, ruck, weapon, equipment, everything to you need in the field for like three week. Try a tandum jump with a instructor, it's more of a free fall ... You feel like you're flying after about 3 seconds.... When you jump static line you feel like you're falling for like 4 seconds until the main chute opens!! It's a blast!! We used too call it putting your knees in the breeze!!! Keep it in the green Brother!!
It about made me cry when I saw that pilot belly land the P-51 like he did but to his credit he saved his plane. That was a phenomenal crash landing! He avoided injury and kept his plane intact so it will fly again after the repairs. Well done sir! Well done indeed!
+ Brian Falls This plane was destroyed in Feb. 2016 with the loss of pilot Jeff and a passenger while performing aerobatics. The wreck is with a new owner in CA for rebuild.
Bloody great, Bruce. A wicked shame for the Mustang pilot but a textbook landing. I am reminded of a cabrio Porsche (?) following a landing gear-problemed small aircraft, only for the passenger to jump up and yank on the effected landing gear, which dropped out as designed, allowing a perfect landing.
I am german and more a 109 fan but I have some love for P51's to. Great landing and the P51 came out very good with not that much damage. Also, those anthem fly overs are hiting my heart every time! So much patriotism! Try this here in germany and you would be roasted as nazi, worse than Hitler himself!
@@CHOPPERGUYHD once upon a time, the biggest part of people in America where germans. If I recall it correctly it was over 50%. So many americans have german roots without knowing it. Your ex POTUS also has german roots (not far away of my village). Oh and the United States couldn't go to the moon, without the germans, they hired in 1945 😉😅
That sound of crunching metal hurt my soul.... but respect and admiration for the exceptional pilot. That was probably the best outcome under the circumstances.
Where you at in The Netherlands? I did the 100 mile Nijmegen March in 1984, Friday night after the last day of the march the city was insane with people filling the streets, there's no way anyone could have driven a motor vehicle through the city on that night, and me and my buddy got to see Golden Earring that night when they put on a free show in the square in the middle of town, I'm still hung over from that night, it was epic.
@@dukecraig2402 I'm located in Groningen, another capital city in the netherlands ! Also been to a Golden earring concert once.. that was good fun :D Glad you like your stay here, we dutch can sure party !
@@VoidSector Oh yea you can party, when we stumbled across that concert it was just before it started and hung out under a big tree waiting for it to start, we didn't even know about it, it was just one of those happy accidents coming across it, when we were waiting for it to start we were talking to some of the locals and wound up hanging out with them all night drinking and smoking, what a great time it was. I consider my time in Europe in the service and especially doing that march in Nijmegen as the high water mark in my life, it all seems like it was a million years ago now but I'll never forget that night, and the march itself, little kids running up and wanting my autograph, women giving us bouquets of flowers, man that was wild. My best to you and everyone else in The Netherlands 🇳🇱🇺🇲🇳🇱🇺🇲🇳🇱🇺🇲👍👍👍
You do less damage by sliding along the hard runway as the rate of absorption of the energy is less - if you land on grass it comes to a stop very quickly and so causes more damage. The only downside to the runway is the increased possibility of fire, according to aircraft type.
@@possel4747 yep avoid grass because the chance of flipping over is a very realistic scenario 🥶 and Bruce, please do not wear those baseball caps in a cockpit 🙄 it becomes a lookout limiting device
Bob Hoover had the same. Had them foam one side of the runway, put the down main in the grass, gear up side on slick foam. Prop stooped before impact...Little damage.
Great video. I especially liked the segment about the P-51, excellent aircraft!! The only thing that I was not comfortable with was the wording under the main photo on the list in youtube. In the video you had it correct indicating a "belly landing or a gear up landing" but the words you used "crash landing" which I thought was the wrong verbiage to use as the P-51 actually did not crash but did what you reported. Most non-aviation people think a crash is lots of bent up, mangled and destroyed metal, not the case here. The pilot did a fantastic job and looks like minimal repair work needed to return the aircraft to service. Me, ATP, CFIIM, A&P mechanic 13,000 plus hours of flight time J-3 Cub to DC-6 and most of everything in between. Keep up the good work as the aviation industry needs reporters that know what they are talking about, like you ! ! ! ! !
It makes you want to cry when you see one of these rare aircraft suffer mishaps. It looks like it suffered minimal damage considering what could have been.
For those who want to fly a beautiful plane like this P-51D,and don't have a computer,i recomend plaiyng Gunship Sequel WW2,it's a really good game of WW2 Air and ground combats.
OUCH!!! I am a wannabe pilot, and I *love* the P-51!!! Such a classic bird... a true beauty... a work of art! It really pained me to see it have to belly-land like that! I do hope the damage was not so extensive that this gorgeous, classic WW-II fighter could not be restored back to it's original pristine state!!!😪
@@CHOPPERGUYHD Hi Chopper Guy! I was in the 2/504th Airborne Infantry Regiment..... Like a long time ago lol!! Any way mostly C-130s C-141s and Huey's. ... Fell in love with helicopters and was a crew chief and finally a warrant officer.... After I retired...I flew EMS for 10 years..... been a hell of a life!! So grateful too still be alive!!
@@mr.morgan5643 Have not jumped...yet ...and learned civilian at Quantum Helicopters in Chandler Az. I have great video air-to-air of Navy guys jumping out the rear of a C130? Would that be right? Over a stadium into a game. Smoke on their shoe, looks cool. I'll be using it in a show.
Next time, maybe put some sacrificial aluminum rails on the bottom - spring loaded, to soften the blow. Better still, rails that hide away and then drop. Follow the military model; spend as much as possible. That was really cool how the prop stayed up for so long. Nice landing. Not many people get to skid a P51 like that.
Thought I would see the prop stop spinning a few seconds sooner than it did. Prop strike probably added $25K+ to the repair cost. Nice and smooth though...
What a great video! Sadly, a few years, ago, Big Beautiful Doll was destroyed in a fatal crash, and few years before we lost her, her european circuit counterpart was also destroyed in an accedent, but in that case, the pilot got out.
Yes, Jeff was a friend and sadly we lost him. I had this video for years and wanted to honor him and his skill in landing Big Beautiful Doll so expertly.
Just curious why he didn't try and smack the tire on the ground to see if the other one drops? Or is pulling 7g's like they said more than enough to know bumping the ground with the left gear won't help?
We had a very similar incident with ex RAAF P51 VH-BOB in 2008. Don’t believe they tried the bounce as well. Strangely, our plane landed on the grass rather than the runway. Came down more or less the same. Sadly it still hasn’t flown since undergoing a full restoration.
The pilot isn't the only one crying. I hate seeing a beautiful plane like the P-51 suffer this kind of "crash." It breaks my old heart!
Is wallet must also be crying i would believe
@@dsclavon Jeff Pino had the $$ to spend. He was the highest paid CEO in the US when he was running Sikorsky. Helluva nice guy too.
What wood happen if he had landed in the water????
Fortunately, the P-51 is a solid plane and the damage here doesn't seem to be catastrophic. Might even be just sheet metal.
@@chuckschillingvideos ...and probably a new prop and repaired landing gear and gear doors, of course!
That pilot did an amazing job! He saved himself, the plane and possibly a lot of extra damage...
This seems to be an old video from 2014. Jeff Pino died in a crash flying Big Beautiful Doll in 2016.
The Pilot managed to feather and stop the propellor before ground "shock" damage to the engine which would have cost an extra $500,000.
I belive one can see one arm of the prop hit the tarmac what stopped the main shaft revolution. Wondering if with any engine damage due to this.
@@bargla YES! Thousands of dollars damage. Which is why I don't think this was a really great belly landing. The motor now has to have an R&R...probably crankshaft replaced and who knows what else. Not a good job imo.
@@Biggles2498 No, he didn't. He should have, but he didn't.
for having to set that down without gear he did a damn good job of making sure that airframe would see another flight, amazing piloting
That was a graceful belly landing. He even saved the prop for the most part. Pretty slick if you ask me.
Pilot saved the aircraft... Well Done. Even with no legs and on her belly, Big Beautiful Doll is still Beautiful.
Live to fly another day. Cheers.
Sadly, even minor prop strikes can result in broken gear reduction units, prop pitch control mechanism, a busted crankshaft, and irreparable prop damage. Likely all of the above occurred here. Very unforgiving machines.
@@falconeaterf15 I agree. At least the aircraft didn't flip nose over onto its back.
"Don't worry, my old man is a television repairman, he's got an awesome set of tools, I can fix it"
Jeff Spicoli, 1982.
😄
Jeff was a one of a kind individual. A rock star for sure! He lost his life flying in a p-51 and I sorely miss this rarest of individuals!
I work for Sikorsky Aircraft, Jeff was at one time, President of Sikorsky Aircraft, he was to this day our most charismatic and passionate CEO, everyone loved our annual “All Hands Meeting” to go over the previous year’s accomplishments. Sadly, Jeff lost his life in a P51 Mustang accident some years after his retirement from Sikorsky. R.I.P. Jeff.
Regardless of this landing, I am so glad these people keep these warbirds in the air.
I get goosebumps everytime I see them in the flying.
Don't know about the pilot, but my eyes were watery. I've wrenched on warbirds as an A&P. Not only the sheet metal, but that's a complete engine inspection/overhaul and new prop. The bill alone brings tears to the eyes.
Yeah, I noticed that too. I was thinking the whole time he was on final..shut it down...shut it down...ooff.
@@robertmiller6444 Yep, same here. Even though the prop would've still been toast, had he shut it down, most likely only the gear reduction drive would've needed the inspection since the bending forces would've been restricted to that drive. The engine would most likely been fine. My guess was he kept it going JIC he would've had to make a last second "go around and set up for a 2nd approach. Better to have been able to walk away from a bent bird than be pulled out of one.
“Tower, my guess is this will be a full stop landing” LMAO
"Have you ever seen a grown man cry?" YES!!! I'm doing it right now!!!!
Good thing you were there to troubleshoot with a great camera!
We’re you using your HD camera to help troubleshoot? Or just eyeballs?
Our helicopter gyro stabilized camera system. Mounted on the nose of our R44. If you notice the left gear was lower than the right as he took off. Urschel said the strut gear failed
That is by far the prettiest belly landing I have ever seen! Almost saved the prop completely. And those who don't know a P51 is notoriously difficult to belly land.
@@CHOPPERGUYHD Yeah, you see it wobble at 1:58 as it is raised.
I know I sure wanted to cry when I saw that P-51 belly land but great job in minimizing the damage to the greatest fighter of WWII!
The plane is on the ground and the pilots alive, successful landing!
Nice
Every show ... never disappoints!!! Awesome. Makes me smile everytime I hear your theme song. It was one of the highlights of my musical career to sing that. 👊🙂
Keep up the good work Bruce. Legend!!!!
It still has a great energy!
That's one expensive belly landing. Shame to see such an old plane damaged. Glad the pilot got out all OK and hope she can be repaired back to airworthiness.
Mr. Haffner,
Used to watch a lot of you stellar work in PHX when I was a kid, grew up with you in the sky. Been along time since those days and I hope you stay well sir.
My heart crunched with the metal there but what a perfectly executed gear up... as bad as it is for BBD it could have been far worse, that's the right stuff right there!
Unfortunately Jeff suffered a fatal crash in BBD just a couple years after this video. They are both gone
Man, that is the best belly landing I have ever seen! This guy set this thing down perfectly and got the engine stopped so there wasn't a prop strike! That saved a complete teardown and overhaul of the engine! I had to belly land a Cessna 310 back in 1983. The left gear was stuck halfway down and wouldn't move and the right gear was all the way down and locked. I was lucky that the 310 had two-bladed props because I was able to shut the engines down before I hit the ground. Didn't damage the props or engines at all and there was only minor damage to the underside of the plane. The real lucky part was both engines stopped with the props at an angle that kept the props from hitting the ground.
Good job! Both you and the P-51
I'm not a pilot but I have always thought that if I was to become a pilot the Mustang is the one plane I would absolutely love to have the chance to fly. It's just a beautiful plane and from what I have heard Mustang pilots say it's supposed to be amazing to fly.
Awesome that you were able to assist the pilot with communications to the tower while he was *very* busy setting up that landing. Kudos to you.
And an amazing job by the pilot keeping the nose up till the last moment, protecting the engine from seizing.
He not only did that, but he killed the engine at precisely the right time, even though it was still a prop strike requiring a complete tear down, damage was probably mitigated.
That Magnificent Mustang getting scraped up on landing broke my heart ... but knowing that much planning goes into ... 'And the Home of the Brave' ... lightened My mood! Thanks Chopper Guy. Peace
Oh I definitely would have cried!! What a beautiful aircraft! I hope he was able to repair it
Another great episode Bruce! Have to admit, that made me want to cry!! lol!
Go ahead, then we can say we saw a grown man cry..lol
Thank You Bruce for another great video
Got a good one coming this week... Sky Crane
Perfectly executed!!! Pilot did fantastic job! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I'm glad the pilot came out ok. He did an amazing job. It just hurts to watch a plane such as the P-51 come in like that though.
Amasing job? BS, BS. No flaps and no engine on is the only way. Unless you panic and forget to do that. Real pilots dont panic and forget.
Hurts to see that crash landing. At the end of the day, the pilot made it out safely that day. Unfortunately, Mr. Pino died in 2016 on the same P-51. Two years later after this beautiful crash landing.
Wow! That "little detail" was left out of this video. Sad indeed.
It actually makes you wonder if this was a precursor to the issue that eventually killed him 2 years later
@@Hbomb-nm2fv no, it wasn't. I believe he died while doing a loop. The p51 never recovered. I believe Mr. Pino misjudged the p51 handbook indications and this was the result.
why didn’t he land on grassy field rather than cement ?
grass landing, and keep the single gear down with left flap up...why didn’t do this ?
The wheels-up landing was immaculate. The pilot's skill was outstanding.
Bullshit. Stupid to use full flaps and bend them. Also the idiot left the engine on to wreck it. Im CFI for decades.. Single and multi.
Uuuggghhhh. I got a knot in my stomach watching sparks fly from that beautiful p51.
Man it gives you chills ... just say'en. Both the Gear UP but mostly the Anthem Pass.
That was incredible work with the landing and getting that engine and prop stopped to keep from having a sudden stop damaging the engine.
Back in 1988-89 I noticed a P51 orbiting the Anoka Co airport.
My son was with me, so we rode to the old gate to watch and listen.
After several passes he came in for a landing.
Just after touchdown the landing gear collapsed.
The prop went a hundred yards in the air 4 seconds later we heard the strike.
Another red-letter day in my life. I can only imagine that poor guy's heartbreak.
One of the most gorgeous aircraft i have ever seen.
The Brits think the Spitfire was the greatest. But it had no range to make it to Germany. The P51 was able to escort the B-17 bombers all the way to Berlin and then the Mustangs went hunting for targets of opportunity like airfields, trains, or factories. When Field Marshal Goering saw the 51s over Berlin, he said "The game is up" this was the beginning of the end !!
correction !! when Goering saw the 51s over Berlin he said " The JIG is Up" For u younger folks that means were F#*ked "
@@butchyshoe The P51 was created in response to a British requirement for an aircraft to do long range escort and take on the FW190. The Spitfire was a late 1930's design for defensive duties so long range was not the prime function.
Fantastic job Sir ,very professional !
These events are not as uncommon as most may think. I've been the Ops manager at our local airport (KTCL) for 32 years. We average one gear up landing every two to three years. At least a dozen in my 32 years here. Every aircraft was repairable and everyone walked away unscathed. A testament to cool heads and professional pilots. I'm always the one who gets tasked with removing them from the runway. One of the coolest jobs around, albeit under unfortunate circumstances for the Crew and passengers.
How about that Russian pilot who landed gear up on takeoff? hahaha!
It would appear that the landing gear could use a manual ops. Would that be possible?
@@davidgeorge4113 most do have what's called an emergency gear extension. Unfortunately they also fail occasionally or the pilot is not familiar with its operation in an aircraft he doesn't typically fly.
Another excellent episode Bruce!!!
Thanks John, we will keep them coming!
Great. The coordination for the overpass over the stadium was something I used to wonder of so it was great to see it in action.
Yeah it was cool to learn about it when I shot it. It was cool walking the catwalks over the stadium too.
@@CHOPPERGUYHD AVIONES DE
HERRÁN
Nice work Jeff! Perfect, text book, engine shut down and prop stopped before contact!
Get that Cadillac of the sky back in the air!
My favorite thing when I worked at Sky Harbor was when the Marine F-18s would show off. Full afterburner on takeoff, then straight vertical at the end of the runway.
Always a joy to hear and see all that power and speed and talent.
The pilot of Big Beautiful Doll, Jeff Pino, was our old boss at Sikorsky. Nice guy. He died in the crash of BBD in 2016.
That landing was a thing of beauty! If he has the parts he will have it perfectly repaired within a few days!
That's just a difficult thing to watch. Jeff did a fantastic job of bringing her down, but the damage is tragic.
I guess when you are driving a 75 year old aircraft, you have to have a certain expectation of things that could and eventually will happen.
Awesome documentary sir(s)!
“Tower, my guess is this will be a full stop”...now that’s a cool stick 👍🏻
Classic radio transmission!!
He did a fantastic job putting it down
Looking at this video again, and I have to say the camera work is just amazing.
Ive recently gained a tremendous respect for air traffic control. They make critical decisions and stay cool under incredible pressure, im just a drone pilot so i wont be working with them, but its still really cool.
Love how he even still states he is doing a full stop landing
Excellent film footage and sound. Great commentary and radio chatter.
Belly landings don't get any better than that.
I always get chills watching the fly overs. USA Baby....
That landing of the P-51 D Mustang was skillful but sad. Every time I see one I think of the hero's who flew them. US, Canadian and British. Thank God Britain placed the order and US industry responded. Thank him again that it was Packard Merlin powered. Truly the American Spitfire.
I cried when Big Beautiful Doll bellied in, that it's the most gorgeous P-51D around in my opinion and to have that happen, does make grown men cry. Well at least she can be restored unlike some that crash and make a big boom, flash, and fire. I feel sorry for the owners pocket book and bank account!
If you own a P51 you don't have to feel sorry about his pocket book. I'm sure he had it well insured. The sad part is that there is one less on this planet. The 51 did EXCEPTIONAL things during WW2 !! After the war u could buy a 51 PLUS a spare brand new engine for $8,000 . Today, you would have to pay $200,000 to rebuild one of those engines !!
@@butchyshoe As an Airframe & Power Plant Mechanic, I've help restore old war birds and they cost about twice as much as owning a Corporate Jet, reason being is that most of the parts to restore them are getting far and few in between to locate them, one time it took over a year and a half just to get a simple part for a Douglas A-26, when we could of hand fabricated it from scratch, but the owner wanted original parts for his plane, then came unglued when they found out how much it costed him compaired to us fabricating it.
Just like those folks whom own an all original 1963 Chevy Corvette with a split window, it's got to have all original GM/Delco parts, because it'll loose points at the next car show!
But then again to loose such a valuable treasure to something so simple like a few hundred dollar gear actuator because it failed during a photo op flight can and does make grown men cry.
Sadly BBD is no longer. She flew into the ground in 2016 killing the owner and a passenger..... apparently they were doing aerobatic maneuvers at a low level and lost control of the plane too close to the ground to recover.
@@ianchandley There was another BBD in Europe that had an incident with an AD-6 and crashed but the pilot got out. So there are more than 1 BBD's out there, maybe this on can stay in the air longer than the others!
That was a damned fine landing. That is a really difficult plane to land WITH landing gear.
You can say that again!
yeah respect,,,,
At least it fared better than the P51 with the same name at Duxford a few years back.
What an amazing channel. Subscribed. I can’t believe he had to land gear up. I don’t think the damage could have been minimized any more. That landing would have made COL Landers proud.
Thanks for subscribing... more to come. A Super Guppy is next up
🥺 I'm glad the pilot was able to land without injury. It sure is tough seeing an old warbird get damaged.
Good morning Chopperguy,
It's fun for sure! Yes you can jump from the ramp on 130s we mostly jumped from the rear side doors usually with all your heart, ruck, weapon, equipment, everything to you need in the field for like three week. Try a tandum jump with a instructor, it's more of a free fall ... You feel like you're flying after about 3 seconds.... When you jump static line you feel like you're falling for like 4 seconds until the main chute opens!! It's a blast!! We used too call it putting your knees in the breeze!!!
Keep it in the green Brother!!
Cool stuff! Thanks for serving my friend and standing up for our country.
Great pilot, smooth landing with with out tires, fantastic
It about made me cry when I saw that pilot belly land the P-51 like he did but to his credit he saved his plane. That was a phenomenal crash landing! He avoided injury and kept his plane intact so it will fly again after the repairs. Well done sir! Well done indeed!
+ Brian Falls This plane was destroyed in Feb. 2016 with the loss of pilot Jeff and a passenger while performing aerobatics. The wreck is with a new owner in CA for rebuild.
@@FiveCentsPlease Wow. Sorry to hear that. Appreciate the info. My condolences to the family of the pilot and the passenger.
Beautiful P-51 Mustang and that is one Hell of a Pilot Belly landing It without landing gear.
Bloody great, Bruce. A wicked shame for the Mustang pilot but a textbook landing.
I am reminded of a cabrio Porsche (?) following a landing gear-problemed small aircraft, only for the passenger to jump up and yank on the effected landing gear, which dropped out as designed, allowing a perfect landing.
That’s quite a story!
RIP to Geoff, he was a great guy met him a few times.
Thanks, Jeff was a friend and he also had a very cool Bell 47 helicopter and after he died I got a flight in it at Oshkosh 2017
I am german and more a 109 fan but I have some love for P51's to. Great landing and the P51 came out very good with not that much damage.
Also, those anthem fly overs are hiting my heart every time! So much patriotism! Try this here in germany and you would be roasted as nazi, worse than Hitler himself!
Hi Marco, my mama was German and my relatives live in Dortmand
The radicals are trying to do the same here in America.
@@CHOPPERGUYHD once upon a time, the biggest part of people in America where germans. If I recall it correctly it was over 50%. So many americans have german roots without knowing it. Your ex POTUS also has german roots (not far away of my village). Oh and the United States couldn't go to the moon, without the germans, they hired in 1945 😉😅
That sound of crunching metal hurt my soul.... but respect and admiration for the exceptional pilot. That was probably the best outcome under the circumstances.
I remember the Big Beautiful Doll doing a airshow here in The Netherlands, what a beautiful doll she was..
Where you at in The Netherlands?
I did the 100 mile Nijmegen March in 1984, Friday night after the last day of the march the city was insane with people filling the streets, there's no way anyone could have driven a motor vehicle through the city on that night, and me and my buddy got to see Golden Earring that night when they put on a free show in the square in the middle of town, I'm still hung over from that night, it was epic.
@@dukecraig2402 I'm located in Groningen, another capital city in the netherlands ! Also been to a Golden earring concert once.. that was good fun :D
Glad you like your stay here, we dutch can sure party !
@@VoidSector
Oh yea you can party, when we stumbled across that concert it was just before it started and hung out under a big tree waiting for it to start, we didn't even know about it, it was just one of those happy accidents coming across it, when we were waiting for it to start we were talking to some of the locals and wound up hanging out with them all night drinking and smoking, what a great time it was.
I consider my time in Europe in the service and especially doing that march in Nijmegen as the high water mark in my life, it all seems like it was a million years ago now but I'll never forget that night, and the march itself, little kids running up and wanting my autograph, women giving us bouquets of flowers, man that was wild.
My best to you and everyone else in The Netherlands 🇳🇱🇺🇲🇳🇱🇺🇲🇳🇱🇺🇲👍👍👍
I really like this channel.
I'm yelling "Grass, GRASS !!"
It would have flipped and cartwheeled
@@CHOPPERGUYHD would, or could? "P-51 Mustang Crash 05/04/08"
You do less damage by sliding along the hard runway as the rate of absorption of the energy is less - if you land on grass it comes to a stop very quickly and so causes more damage. The only downside to the runway is the increased possibility of fire, according to aircraft type.
@@possel4747 yep avoid grass because the chance of flipping over is a very realistic scenario 🥶 and Bruce, please do not wear those baseball caps in a cockpit 🙄 it becomes a lookout limiting device
Bob Hoover had the same. Had them foam one side of the runway, put the down main in the grass, gear up side on slick foam. Prop stooped before impact...Little damage.
Great video. I especially liked the segment about the P-51, excellent aircraft!! The only thing that I was not comfortable with was the wording under the main photo on the list in youtube. In the video you had it correct indicating a "belly landing or a gear up landing" but the words you used "crash landing" which I thought was the wrong verbiage to use as the P-51 actually did not crash but did what you reported. Most non-aviation people think a crash is lots of bent up, mangled and destroyed metal, not the case here. The pilot did a fantastic job and looks like minimal repair work needed to return the aircraft to service. Me, ATP, CFIIM, A&P mechanic 13,000 plus hours of flight time J-3 Cub to DC-6 and most of everything in between. Keep up the good work as the aviation industry needs reporters that know what they are talking about, like you ! ! ! ! !
Thanks for the advice, you are correct
Cool how he stopped the prop just in time. Awesome piloting there.
Heartbreaking but he walked away, did a fantastic job minimizing the damage. Perfect landing, legless.
Gotta love all those dubbed in crashing sounds. Like watching a bad cartoon.
I almost cried myself. Beautiful plane.
It makes you want to cry when you see one of these rare aircraft suffer mishaps. It looks like it suffered minimal damage considering what could have been.
For those who want to fly a beautiful plane like this P-51D,and don't have a computer,i recomend plaiyng Gunship Sequel WW2,it's a really good game of WW2 Air and ground combats.
OUCH!!! I am a wannabe pilot, and I *love* the P-51!!! Such a classic bird... a true beauty... a work of art! It really pained me to see it have to belly-land like that! I do hope the damage was not so extensive that this gorgeous, classic WW-II fighter could not be restored back to it's original pristine state!!!😪
It was restored, but then 2 years later Jeff took a fatal nose dive into the Arizona desert. They are both gone
@@yamkaw346 how very sad
Good job, no prop strike until after shut down. That may save an Engine Rebuild. And he saved the Wings
Cooler scoop took most of the impact.
That runway view of the takeoff was one of the sexiest shots I’ve ever seen.
Nicely done!
Great video Chopper Guy!!
Outstanding footage and flying!!
Keep it in the green Bro!
Thanks Mr. M. What do you jump from?
@@CHOPPERGUYHD
Hi Chopper Guy!
I was in the 2/504th Airborne Infantry Regiment..... Like a long time ago lol!! Any way mostly C-130s C-141s and Huey's. ... Fell in love with helicopters and was a crew chief and finally a warrant officer.... After I retired...I flew EMS for 10 years..... been a hell of a life!!
So grateful too still be alive!!
How about you? Did you jump? Where did you go to flight school!?
@@mr.morgan5643 Have not jumped...yet ...and learned civilian at Quantum Helicopters in Chandler Az. I have great video air-to-air of Navy guys jumping out the rear of a C130? Would that be right? Over a stadium into a game. Smoke on their shoe, looks cool. I'll be using it in a show.
That is one tough airplane. I believe airplane is repairable.
Great video!
“Tower, this will be a full stop.” That’s funny but also sad.
A nice paint job and she'll be as good as new.
This dude doesn't even need landing gear, what a great job
*Wow I never knew that’s how they do the fly over! I just subbed*
For a crash landing , HE the pilot did a outstanding job , by sustaining minimal damage !!!!
That was quite the beautiful landing considering
Bet you could toast a few bags of marshmallows with that f18 afterburner set! Toasty.👍🤣
Yum! My favorite! Sit at the Chevrons with some on a stick👍😂
Next time, maybe put some sacrificial aluminum rails on the bottom - spring loaded, to soften the blow. Better still, rails that hide away and then drop. Follow the military model; spend as much as possible.
That was really cool how the prop stayed up for so long. Nice landing. Not many people get to skid a P51 like that.
Thought I would see the prop stop spinning a few seconds sooner than it did. Prop strike probably added $25K+ to the repair cost. Nice and smooth though...
Sad sight, beautiful aircraft. Very pleased the pilot was ok, realistically that is the most important thing. Hope she is repairable.
Quick question: Did he try to bump the tarmac with the right wheel down to see if it would unlock the left one?
What a great video! Sadly, a few years, ago, Big Beautiful Doll was destroyed in a fatal crash, and few years before we lost her, her european circuit counterpart was also destroyed in an accedent, but in that case, the pilot got out.
Yes, Jeff was a friend and sadly we lost him. I had this video for years and wanted to honor him and his skill in landing Big Beautiful Doll so expertly.
My neighbor's 3 year old daughter has an afterburner on her tricycle. Kids today have it made compared to my generation.
Send video!
@@CHOPPERGUYHD r/wooosh
What kind of engine....J79 ?
As sad as the damage is, I'm not crying - I'm thrilled the pilot and plane both survived with relatively little damage to the aircraft.
Bruce, good to see you!
That hurt to watch. Good job on his part!
Just curious why he didn't try and smack the tire on the ground to see if the other one drops? Or is pulling 7g's like they said more than enough to know bumping the ground with the left gear won't help?
We had a very similar incident with ex RAAF P51 VH-BOB in 2008. Don’t believe they tried the bounce as well. Strangely, our plane landed on the grass rather than the runway. Came down more or less the same. Sadly it still hasn’t flown since undergoing a full restoration.