2011 Wheels and Wings Airshow - Missing Man Formation in Memory of Amanda Franklin

Tribute to Amanda Franklin - See Description Below

2011 Wheels and Wings Airshow
Millville Municipal Airport
Millville, New Jersey
Saturday May 28, 2011

I hope you don't mind me sharing something with you all. On March 12, 2011, Amanda Franklin was performing the Pirated Skies wingwalking act with her husband Kyle when they had an engine failure. Amanda got back into the airplane in just enough time while Kyle looked for a place to land the Waco biplane. As a result, Kyle successfully crash-landed the Waco, but both he and Amanda received burns on their bodies - Amanda's burns being third degree burns that covered the majority of her body. She went through over two months of surgeries to graft skin from unburnt areas on her body, to grow new skin cells that could be grafted to other parts of her body. Sadly, on May 27, 2011, Amanda succumbed to her injuries and now is an Angel among the heavens.

On Saturday May 28, 2011, while at the 2011 Wheels and Wings Airshow, a decision was made by Dan McClung and Billy Werth of the Red Eagles, Matt Chapman, and Tim Weber to fly a missing man formation in memory of Amanda. The missing man was flown following the Red Eagles' performance, and in this video, Larry Rutt took time to describe Amanda's story as well as give a little background on the formation being flown by the pilots. Pulling away from the formation was Matt Chapman, flying his Embry Riddle CAP580. I will admit to having shed a few tears during this flypast.

I apologize for the black or white blips in the video, as I have yet to figure out what causes it.

Please take the time to check out Steve's Airshow World at http://www.stevesairshow.com .

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Amanda
• Younkin
• Franklin
• Kyle
• Matt
• Bobby
• Jimmy
• Waco
• Mystery
• Ship
• Pirated
• Skies
• Tribute
• Missing
• Man
• Formation
• Flight
• Chapman
• Tim
• Weber
• Red
• Eagles
• Dan
• McClung
• Billy
• Werth
• Millville
• Airshow
• Air
• Show
• Wheels
• Wings
• 2011

[MrFADavis]

RIP Amanda, soar with the Angels.

[Hollygirlwwe]

She was a great performer and a great person. So sad. RIP Amanda.

[195511SM]

I never saw Amanda perform, but something seemed VERY familiar to me as I watched tonite's 20/20. The Franklin name.....I've certainly seen Kyle & Jim Franklin at countless airshows over many years. I didn't know that Jim & Bobby Younkin had also passed. It's been a few years since I've been to a show, and so I'm getting my Wacos & Stearmans confused as well. Blue & silver...Silver & black? And now this just happened so recently. Heartfelt condolances to Kyle & extended Family. RIP Amanda.

[nitro8997]

Saw them in Cleveland in 2009, have some great pictures of Amanda on top of the wings. I can't believe she's gone.

RIP :(

[ajvpb1]

Thats them.



[JBtheProducer]

i hope to see some sort of tribute to her at Airventure this summer. never got to see her perform but heard her there last year.

[NEAirMuseums]

I was in the parking lot tailgating after the show when the missing man formation came directly overhead and matt chapman pulled up, I found it extremely moving RIP

[7GolfAlpha]

RIP Amanda Franklin.

[Maynardtkrebs]

Nice tribute to a nice young woman who will be missed by many, and mostly by her husband, Kyle, who lost the love of his life. Yes, the pirate act was theirs, Franklin's Flying Circus. I'm sure that he feels like he has walked the plank and been drowned in grief. Let's hope he recovers and goes on to be a tribute to her love and memory while he finds his way. 

[fightingfalconfan]

@DuffusAndDuffy aw man; that really tanks. i saw both the saturday act and sunday one...she was real brave to do that. May she rest in peace and soar for ever u.u Part of me has died...