Originally Posted by
ShyGuy
Why is an Airbus pilot for a major airline flying an fighter jet for an airshow and doing loops/maneuvers that are not practiced in his normal day job? What's his recent experience doing this kind of maneuvering in a fighter jet? Being ex-military is fine and all, but in this kind of show/display you have to be on top of your game. It is risky.
Sounds like he does this kind of thing a lot, in a variety of aircraft. In the US the active duty fighter pilots were routinely smoked like cheap cigars by airline pilots flying aggressors on weekends. Experience can trump youth.
Probably best to wait for some of official word before blaming the pilot's competency.
All that said, I think airshow performance boxes should be setup so somebody coming out of a loop doesn't have spectators under him or close downrange of his vector, much less people who aren't even attending the show.