Morbid blog
I’ve read the last several issues of World Airshow News. It’s quite a good magazine, but as I’ve read I keep finding out about my heros dying. A few months ago I found out Bobby Younkin and Jimmy Franklin had died in a midair collision. Having seen both of them perform many many times (I have some photos of them doing performances in my photogallery), it was something of a shock. Then I noticed that one of the rotating top pictures I did for this blog was Jimmy Franklin’s black and silver Waco. Well, “it happens” I tell myself. It’s not like I don’t know death. At least they died doing what they love.
Reading more issues of World Airshow News I discover a lot of famous airshow pilots are no longer living (and they didn’t exactly die in their sleep). Sort of scary considering these are the best pilots in the world at what they do. Well, today I’m reading the latest issue and find out that Eric Beard died in January. I’ve seen his Russian Thunder routine several times. He was a top notch flyer and I’ve always noted how difficult many of his routines were. It’s quite sad.
Well, I started thinking about it and it turns out that another picture I use in my rotating top pictures is of him. I’m 98% sure it’s him. I haven’t seen any Sukhoi’s or Yak’s done up like his, so I’m fairly sure it’s him. Maybe I’m bad luckfor these guys.
Here’s some more info for those intersted:
Jimmy Franklin’s Wikipedia entry
Jimmy Franklin Memorial page
News article on Jimmy and Bobby’s midair
Eric Beard’s site
