The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Moving forward after the crash at Bradley
Last week’s B17 historic bomber crash in Windsor Locks is an event I will never forget. I lost friends in the accident and saw the destruction of a revered aircraft. My deepest sympathies extend to the family members of the victims.
No one, with the potential exclusion of National Transportation Safety Board investigators, knows what happened to cause the crash. Clearly something went wrong and that knowledge, when it is understood, must be applied to make aviation safer.
In the meantime, I think it is important to help people understand the broader context behind the B17’s flight. It comes down to two simple aims: honoring veterans and educating the public.
Those who took to the skies in World War II did so at tremendous personal risk. More young airmen died in the 8th Air Force — the main heavy bombing unit flying out of England during the war — than the entire Marine Corps. They knew the odds, but they persevered. This bravery warrants recognition.
For the past three decades, the Collings Foundation, the owner of the B17 in question, has operated this aircraft and others in its collection as part of a national tour. They visit over 100 locations around the country each year. In the past, World War II veterans came to ponder past missions, remember friends lost and find closure. They also brought their families to share deeply personal experiences that may have laid dormant for decades. Now, with the World War II generation nearly gone, the sons, daughters, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren continue these pilgrimages. To them, the aircraft are memorials to their forebears’ sacrifice.
These historic aircraft also serve as powerful educational tools. They reach people who are unable to visit places like the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. There is also something fundamentally unique in seeing and hearing a vintage aircraft take to the sky, which is wholly different than modern air travel. That is why the B17 was taking passengers for a flight last week. Reading a book or watching a documentary on the subject simply does not come close to helping people understand what these young airmen experienced.
Regarding safety, the present state of the investigation precludes an informed discussion. However, it is important to recognize that these aircraft fly safely on a routine basis. Incidents are exceedingly rare.
Safety fundamentally depends on whether an aircraft is airworthy from a mechanical and crew competence vantage. Historic aircraft are subject to rigorous FAA oversight. This covers restoration, maintenance, operations and crew training. Those carrying passengers are subject to enhanced regulations. They do not fly in a “wild west” environment. Accident numbers cited by the NTSB regarding this class of aircraft extend decades back to when these airplanes were used as aerial fire fighters. Today’s practices are far different and safer. Those who now own these aircraft have made a huge investment to keep these aircraft in the sky and share them with the public. Safety is paramount in their minds. This is a mission of service, not opportunism.
Some have questioned why these aircraft were not equipped with modern technologies, like black boxes. The reality is that there are certain systems that cannot be retrofitted into the older designs. It would be like asking antique car owners to install antilock brakes, airbags and crumple zones. Nor does that mean these older machines are unsafe. Passengers are briefed on these factors prior to flight and they still choose to fly. Nothing in life is fully without risk. People die in car crashes every day, but we still drive.
I have known the Collings Foundation for years — the leaders of the organization, staff and their crews. I believe in their mission, as does the public. I have confidence in their operational practices, and I plan to continue my engagement — including flying in their vintage aircraft.
I too grieve for those we lost. It is critical to let the investigation run its course so that the lessons learned can be applied. Safety is always a paramount objective for any flight operation. The fact that these aircraft have been flying on their mission of recognition and education for so many decades is undeniable proof regarding what they mean to people. They fly because people love them and what they represent.
In an era where we need to invest in what brings us together and strengths us as Americans, these aircraft are more important than ever.