After a long and valiant fight for her life young Amanda Franklin has flown west.

She was involved in an accident on May 12th while wing walking with her husband Kyle Franklin at the controls when the aircraft suffered an engine failure and subsequent fire.

She was badly burned after being trapped in the aircraft while it burned. Kyle also received burns while attempting to pull her from the wreckage. Amanda passed away on may 28th.

For any of you guys who are familiar with the Franklin family they are to be considered the Royal family of Airshow talent IMHO.

They have been in the business continuously since the 1950's. Zip Franklin used to perform at rodeos all over the west in a clipped wing super cub. His son Jimmy was a world renowned airshow pilot and his grandson is Kyle.

Zip was killed in the crash of a Aerostar on thew way to the Reno Airshow back in the early 90's. Jimmy was killed during a midair collision with Bobby Younkin in Canada.

Amanda was Bobby's daughter who married Kyle shortly after the death of their fathers.

There has been no single family that I am aware of that has been in business longer or sacrificed as much as these people have. In any case this has been an incredible tragedy.

I was friends with Jimmy and Zip these guys were first rate people and it breaks my heart to see what this family is having to endure once again.

May she rest in peace.
Is this part and parcel of the same group that has a 'drunk' run out of the crowd, 'steal' an airplane and do some amazing flying with it - looks like the same paint job on the plane? I can't recall the young guys name but he can forevermore stay with the stick when it comes to making the A/C fly!
This is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVvgAcYmzM8

That is a real shame. Such a beautifull girl too.

Yep that's Kyle.

RIP young lady. May it be CAVU wherever you fly.

Jas

Godspeed, Brave lady of flight.

That's heartbreaking. May her last flight West be filled with sunbursts, rainbows and puffy cumulus...

I saw her perform with the family a couple of years ago. Outstanding performance. Truly a great loss.

So sorry to hear that.

I guess that answers my question.

Just a small correction, the accident happened on March 12. Just pointing that out as a testament to how long she held on.

I saw them perform at Oshkosh last year and am glad to say I got to see them do what they loved at least once.

My deepest sympathies to Kyle. I can't imagine what he's gone through the last couple months not to mention what happened in 2005.