Airshow pilot reveals spinal damage in aerobatic crash
A champion pilot remains without full feeling in his lower body more than five weeks after crashing in front of tens of thousands of spectators.
Sky Aces pilot Glenn Collins suffered was seriously injured after losing control of his plane and plunging into the ground while attempting an aerobatic manoeuvre at the Avalon Airshow on March 28.
Tens of thousands of horrified spectators watched on as his aircraft dropped and skidded along the ground.
The mangled wreck of the orange Wolf Pitts Pro plane, capable of travelling at a top speed of 414km/h, came to a stop near the tarmac and sparked a small grass fire.
The experienced pilot on Monday provided an update on his condition and detailed the long road to recovery in a message acknowledging the generous donations to a fundraiser in his name.
"Most of my general injuries are healing well, but I do have spinal damage," Mr Collins said in an update on a GoFundMe page.
"While I can move my legs - which I'm incredibly grateful for - I don't yet have full feeling in my legs or waist.
"Ongoing rehabilitation will be key, and I'm giving it my all."
The pilot has been transferred closer to home and family in Sydney after spending five weeks in Melbourne.
He thanked the pyrotechnic team who rushed to his rescue on the day, health professionals for their care and longtime friend Paul Bennet and the airshow team for their support.
"This road I'm on is one many have travelled before - waking up to a new reality after life-changing injuries," he said.
"While my future is still uncertain, I remain hopeful and grounded in gratitude, surrounded by care and love."
Mr Collins is a long-time member of Paul Bennet Airshows' Sky Aces aerobatics team that has performed across the globe.
He has more than 2700 hours of flying experience and is an aerobatics champion.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is leading the investigation and has collected recordings from the aircraft's black box, air traffic control, members of the public and a Garmin device and phone inside the plane.
Its commissioner believes it is the first crash at the Avalon Airshow, which is billed as the biggest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
The GoFundMe has raised more than $67,000 for medical expenses, rehabilitation and support for Mr Collins' loved ones while he recovers.
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