Disaster at SNF

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:33 am

Sure hope anyone that went to SNF are Ok with no damage!!!

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:09 pm

Amen! I just got an update from AVWeb that said there were no serious injuries but there could still be a lot of damage.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:19 pm

Absolutely awful...info and some pics on VAF here-

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/s ... hp?t=70385

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:46 pm

Terrible, terrible. I see Tony's RV-3 on top of an RV-6, then another Rv upside down behind it. I also visit the RansClan website, Rans didn't get there yet, but 2 customers newly completed S-7's were parked at the Rans booth were totaled.

Our daughter and grandkids are down there visiting in the Ft Myers area, but were heading to Disney today or tomorrow....can't get a hold of her.

If my 40hrs were off I was thinking of going to S&F since it's also Kris springbreak... whew for once being slow, worked out.

painless · Post by **painless** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:49 pm

But by the grace of God goes Oshkosh. This type of event is always my worst nightmare regarding flying 782P into Aiventure.

Condolences to all those affected at SnF.

BSwayze · Post by **BSwayze** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:09 am

If there's any good news to be had, I read that the lousy weather in the SE kept a lot of people who wanted to go to Sun-N-Fun away. I have one good friend who flew down from Seattle, but they were basking in the sun in KY instead because they couldn't go down there.

I heard that attendance was sparse compared to the past. One can only imagine how much worse this could have been if lots more planes were able to make it there.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:04 am

painless wrote:But by the grace of God goes Oshkosh. This type of event is always my worst nightmare regarding flying 782P into Aiventure.

Condolences to all those affected at SnF.

That's the main reason I've always had reservations about flying 5CB up there...this SNF event doesn't help matters.

Post by **Spike** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:13 am

The thing that really blew me away was seeing the pictures of a Grand Caravan on its back. And, if you look closely, it doesnt like either wingtip or spinner were used in the process.

Spike

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:02 pm

Please please please make sure you have full coverage including hull before you fly anywhere cross country. The two Rans planes had just ordered it prior to the show and they are glad they did.

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:26 pm

Hey folks, just got back from SNF. We watched the WX and decided to postpone flying down Thursday and waited till Friday. The facts are now clear....
1. There was a small tornado embedded in a severe thunderstorm.

2. More damage occurred from other aircraft and debris slamming into one another. The displays are packed tightly and when the wind hit, everything that wasn't secure was moved. We saw two pine power poles sheared off at their bases...

3. Several of the damaged aircraft (about 70%) were secured with the corkscrew dog stakes. They are useless.

4. The remaining 30% of the damaged aircraft were secured with "the CLAW" brand systems. Many of these failures were due to the center "eye-bolt" shearing. The CLAW reps told me their system was designed to withstand an upward force, not a side pull which caused the bolt to shear.

5. I saw a new Aviat Husky amphib which was secured with the CLAW system that was still secured and the outboard sections of the wings were folded down, clearly due to a spar failure...

6. The NWS ussued a severe wx alert less than 60 seconds before the winds and rain hit. No one was prepared. Those there said the day went from gray skies to totally black in about a 5-minute time frame.

7. There was an amazing response from over 500 A&P mechanics, homebuilders and FAA officials onsite. SNF has a repair facility onsite with tools and equipment and they used the workshop areas to actually do repair seminars using "real" aircraft. Many of the damaged aircraft were already repaired by Friday evening and the FAA was issuing approvals and ferry permits so folks could get home.

I was enlightened by the response. A bad situation was made better by the overwhelming response of hundreds of volunteers. Many suppliers (vendors) donated tools and hardware but I cannot say who they were for sure.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:03 pm

Thanks for the report Bret...