WA: Red Bull Air Race plane crashes into river during training=2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2010
WA: Red Bull Air Race plane crashes into river during training=2

It was the first crash in the Red Bull Air Race's seven-year history.

A local aerobatic pilot who witnessed the crash, but did not want to be named, said
it appeared Kindlemann's port wing stalled as he rounded the last chicane on the course
and was hit by a gust of wind.

The stall caused the wing to drop and clip the water, with the plane then cartwheeling
and tumbling into the river, the pilot said.

He said squally conditions most likely contributed to the crash.

"There were 20 knot (37km/h) gusts out there when he was practicing, and all it takes
is one of those gusts to change the relative airflow and the wing would have stalled,"

he said.

"He must have hit pretty hard, because it made an almighty bang as it hit the water.

"There was a lot of damage to the plane."

Kindlemann's MXS-R race plane was later towed to the South Perth foreshore, where a
crane was used to salvage it.

AAP csb/jm

KEYWORD: REDBULL WRAP 2 PERTH (REOPENS)

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