Was Scheduled To Perform In Weekend Show

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 06.16.06 1715 EDT: Juan Jimenez, the director of the BD-5 Network and himself the owner of a BD-5J microjet, issued the following statement late Friday upon hearing the news of the loss of Scott Manning in an accident earlier in the day.

I am greatly saddened at the loss of my good friend and fellow BD-5J Microjet owner, Scott Manning.

Scott was a devoted husband and dedicated law enforcement officer, and was very passionate about his Microjet. He spent many, many years working to achieve his dream, and we helped each other through good times and tough times in our journey to accomplish our goal of completing our aircraft.

On behalf of myself and the entire worldwide community of The BD-5 Network, I wish to express our most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. Everyone who met Scott could not help but be touched by the kindness of his gentle soul and his dedication to everything he set out to accomplish.

He was a good man who will be very sorely missed by a great many people.

(Editor's Note -- Juan also wrote this article about Scott for ANN in December 2004.)

ORIGINAL REPORT

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 06.16.06 1500 EDT: Aero-News has learned that pilot Scott Manning was lost earlier today when his Bede BD-5J microjet went down during a practice flight, in preparation for a scheduled performance at this weekend's Air Show Ottawa.

"He was just doing a sort of pre-air-show display," witness David Morgan-Kirby told CBC. "The engine was still running when he hit the ground, and it ran for another two or three seconds afterwards."

The accident occurred near Carp Airport west of Ottawa.

A onetime football player for the Montreal Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Manning (above) was known as the tallest BD-5 pilot in the world, standing 6' 3" tall.

Going by the callsign "Kato", Manning was the lead pilot for Microjet Canada, and flew the BD-5 jet dubbed "The Stinger" that he built in airshows throughout Canada.

Manning's BD-5J was one of just six BD-5 jets flying in the world.

CBC reports Manning's death was confirmed by an associate at the company that handled public relations for the air show. This weekend's show is still scheduled to go ahead as planned.

It is not yet known what led to the accident.

ANN extends our condolences to Manning's friends and family, and to those throughout the extremely close-knit BD-5 community.

FMI: www.microjetcananda.com