Vicki Cruse, neighbor, hangar condominium president
and friend died yesterday.


Paul Lamar

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Vicki Cruse, 40, from Santa Paula, California, was pronounced
dead at the scene, Thames Valley Police said.

Miss Cruse, president of the International Aerobatic Club,
had been due to compete in the World Aerobatic Championships
being staged at the home of British motor racing.

A police spokeswoman said: "Police were notified at 12.12pm that a single
aircraft
taking part in an acrobatic show at Silverstone had come down on the
circuit.


"Investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority are on their way to the
scene to begin their investigation."

Miss Cruse, 40, died instantly after her single-seat Zivko Edge 540
nosedived
into the ground as motoring enthusiasts gathered for an event being staged
by the 750 Motor Club.

A source at the Wisconsin-based International Aerobatic Club confirmed they
were compiling a tribute to Miss Cruse.

She was one of the few women qualified to race at the famous Reno Air Races.

The World Aerobatic Championships, being staged over 13 days, is
Silverstone's
first-ever air show.

Scheduled to run from August 17 to August 29, it has attracted around 60
pilots
from 19 countries, all competing for the title of world champion. The
championships have been staged every two years since their inception in
1960.

Saturday was designated as a training day and there were no spectators
at the air show, although eyewitnesses who were attending driving
experienced delays.

One eyewitness said: "She flew straight up in the air and then straight
back down again. But she dropped straight into the ground.

"There was no fire and no smoke, just a terrible wreckage. An ambulance
arrived very quickly but nobody took the pilot away.

"There was no way anyone was getting out of the wreckage."



Paul, Sorry to hear about your friend.
Ernesto