Repost of Frank Eldridge actual escape
See Frank Eldridge posts this site. (See friends who have gone on as a starting point)
Frank punched a hole out the baggage area of an inverted 6A lying in water. I was there.
10:53:49 AM PST US
From: "Frank Eldridge" <
[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Safety Concern
--> RV-List message posted by: "Frank Eldridge" <
[email protected]>
January 1, 2003, I had a forced landing in a RV6A. After a ground roll of about
20 feet in a swampy area the plane ended up on its back. I found myself in
the baggage compartment unhurt. I had always thought that I could kick plexiglass
in the canopy out, but I could not. I always carry a pocket knife with a three
inch locking blade and I was able to take that knife and break a hole in
the canopy to get out. The only blood in the airplane was where I cut my hands
on the plexiglass breaking a larger hole in order to extract myself. I strongly
recommend to all my RV friends that they carry a knife like mine in their
pocket because in my case I could not have got to a tool in the cockpit of the
airplane. I have followed RV accidents very closely since mine, and a large
number wind up on their back. So, please get a knife and keep it in your pocket
when flying an RV. There is a story about my accident posted on Doug Reeves
Van's Air Force Web page. Here is the link to m!
y particular article:
http://www.vansairforce.net/articles/FrankEldridge0.pdf
Best of luck,
Frank