Spectators Rescue Airshow Pilot (Corrected)

Airshow spectators in southern England likely saved the life of a performer whose open-cockpit aircraft crashed into the ocean at the Herne Bay Air Show Sunday.

Airshow spectators in southern England likely saved the life of a performer whose open-cockpit aircraft crashed into the ocean at the Herne Bay Air Show Sunday. According to the Telegraph, the Turbulent D31, a tiny single-seat homebuilt, may have had mechanical issues before the unidentified pilot may have ditched it in shallow water of the beach that was the venue for the show. The fixed-gear airplane flipped on impact and the pilot was trapped submerged in the cockpit. Spectators sprang to action and righted the aircraft, which weighs only about 350 pounds, and pulled the pilot out. He was assessed by paramedics on the scene and his condition wasn't immediately released.

The aircraft was one of five members of Team Turbulent, a group of British pilots who fly formation and light aerobatics routines in the tiny craft, which were designed in the 1950s. The airplanes sport a 1600-cc engine that gives it a fairly generous power-to-weight ratio and makes it nimble and responsive. The team boasts that its show takes place entirely in front of the audience and the maximum altitude of their maneuvers is 700 feet. Below is video of the ditching. It's poor quality but shows the ditching and rescue. There's a better one here but we don't have direct access to it.

Our initial story said the crash occurred adjacent to an airfield. In fact, it was staged over water at a popular beach and aircraft staged out of an airfield two miles from the seashore. We apologize for the error.