The Bellevue, Washington, police department recently posted a video on YouTube of a Cirrus SR22 floating down to earth after the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) was deployed on a Cirrus SR22 after the engine failed.
Both people on board walked away from the event uninjured, according to police officials.
Fireman with their boots climbing on wings and sitting on the flaps. Who woulda thought!
What was the gross weight of the plane?
Well, weather was not the problem. Doesn’t appear to be any wind, either. Aren’t there a lot of airfields around Bellevue? It sure looked unstable hanging from the chute, in a nearly nose-down attitude just before impact. If the airframe survived the deployment and impact, the rescue folks climbing over the wing will sure not do it much good. Nevertheless, the folks inside got out unharmed and that is really all that matters.
Bellevue airport closed forty-ish years ago. Issaquah closed just after that. Boeing Field and Renton nearest.
I lived on the road bordering the east side of Bellevue Airfield from 1972 until it closed 1983.
Ironically, it didn’t die from lack of flying activity; Boeing bought it from the City of Bellevue and turned it into an office complex.
I used to fly out of Bellevue when Seattle Flight Service had a fleet of their Pipers up there. It was a fun field to fly out of, as was Issaquah before they were both shut down, as well as being close by and convenient for those of us who lived in Bellevue at the time… and away from hectic Boeing Field and Renton. Too bad Bellevue’s public serpents didn’t see the benefits of General Aviation. How many more GA airports are we going to allow to be shut down?
I absolutely agree with all the above…
I took my first $15 “Intro” ride at the “Piper Flight Center” at Bellevue. Made sense, since I lived @ 30 seconds from there on 161st Ave SE, down the street from Phantom Lake.
But after the CFI pulled out onto the runway just as a landing C-172 was crossing the threshold….I decided to learn to fly at Spurling Aviation on BFI instead.
After college, I towed gliders for Linn Emrich out at Issaquah Skyport.