Smoke Began Entering The Cockpit During The Landing Flare, And Then The Pilot Noticed Flames...

Analysis: The pilot reported that about 30 minutes into the local flight, he heard some crackling in the radio reception and then the cockpit flight displays went blank. The engine stumbled and lost power completely. The pilot was operating the airplane in the airport traffic pattern at that time and decided to secure the engine to set up for a forced landing to the runway. Smoke began entering the cockpit during the landing flare, and then the pilot noticed flames on the right side of the airplane.

From 2010 (YouTube Edition): The Red Tail Project Continues Effort Towards ‘Rise Above Program’

The Red Tail Project is a true example of this unbreakable spirit. In 2004, the project experienced a tragic setback when leader Don Hinz lost his life after the organizations P-51C Mustang suffered a catastrophic engine failure. The Red Tail Project quickly set forth an ambitious mission to restore the airplane and continue Don Hinz’s remarkable vision, to inspire youth and tell the story of the Tuskegee Airmen across the country. The Red Tails, nicknamed for the red-painted tails that Tuskegee Airmen used to identify themselves, deployed to Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. Forced to operate as segregated units, the 992 pilots were neither allowed to train, nor fight beside their white counterparts.

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Aero Linx: Vintage Sailplane Association The purpose of the Vintage Sailplane Association (VSA) is to promote the acquisition, restoration and flying of vintage sailplanes by its members, and to assist the National Soaring Museum in the preservation of soaring history and the promotion of vintage sailplane activity. A Vintage Sailplane is any glider of a type first flown prior to 1958, or a more recently built glider with appearance, performance and construction characteristics similar to gliders built before 1958. 

Takeoff Hold Lights (THL)  The THL system is composed of in-pavement lighting in a double, longitudinal row of lights aligned either side of the runway centerline. The lights are focused toward the arrival end of the runway at the “line up and wait” point, and they extend for 1,500 feet in front of the holding aircraft. Illuminated red lights indicate to an aircraft in position for takeoff or rolling that it is unsafe to takeoff because the runway is occupied or about to be occupied by an aircraft or vehicle.

“Based on unique team requirements to fill the role of Thunderbird 1, the Commander/Leader of the Thunderbirds, ACC leadership made a personnel change. The team remains postured for a safe and effective 2026 show season.”

Source: The very basic, not-so-detailed explanation provided by the Thunderbirds as they announced a last-second change to their 2026-2027 Commander and Thunderbird 1 pilot. As expected, no drama was acknowledged…just “unique team requirements” that led them to reverse the earlier selection and install Lt. Col. Alexander “Knight” Prevendar as the next Commander/Leader.