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WWII era Avenger has to ditch in the ocean during air show


Gil Bang

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COCOA BEACH, Fla. —

A plane landed in the ocean Saturday along Cocoa Beach during Cocoa Beach Air Show.

Video of the water landing was shared with WESH 2 News by Brett Nyquist. You can watch it in the video player above.

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Authorities have not released info about the water landing, which happened in front of a large crowd of beachgoers.

A post on the Cocoa Beach Air Show Facebook page said the plane was performing in the air show when a mechanical issue forced the water landing. The post also said the pilot is OK.

"The TBM Avenger performing in the warbird parade had a mechanical issue and the pilot was able to bring the plane down close to the shore. Rescue personnel were immediately on scene and the pilot is okay," the Facebook post said.

Further details were not immediately available.

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He thought it through pretty well. Shallow water landing will have a lot less damage than skidding it in on the ground. Salvage cost will be minimal. A good flush, rebuilt engine, new prop, and minor repairs, it will be ready to fly again in six months to a year.

CHIEF

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On 4/18/2021 at 10:12 AM, CHIEF said:

He thought it through pretty well. Shallow water landing will have a lot less damage than skidding it in on the ground. Salvage cost will be minimal. A good flush, rebuilt engine, new prop, and minor repairs, it will be ready to fly again in six months to a year.

CHIEF

I hope you’re right. I’m afraid that all of that saltwater is going to turn that Avenger into a static display. 

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I was an aircraft mechanic for about 7 years, during college, the aluminum is anodized. For what that plane is worth, it was out of the water in probably 48 hours. They will hit it with a hot water pressure spray that will get all of the salt off. The P&W Wasp will be rinsed and be sent back to P&W and replaced with a fresh rebuild.

The engines are still available and rebuildable, they all date from WWII. Agcats still use the P&W O-650.

CHIEF

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