A famous aerobatics pilot for Red Bull has died in a plane crash at a southern California desert airport on Sunday.
Mike Mangold, aged 60, has been identified as the pilot of the small jet that crashed after takeoff at the Apple Valley Airport in San Bernardino County.
Fire Marshal Jason Nailon said a witness reported seeing flames out of the engine as the jet, identified as an L-39, was taxiing down the runway.
The L-39 is a two-seat, high-performance jet trainer aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia.
Mangold, a former Boeing 757 and 767 commercial pilot for American Airlines, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and is the oldest of three children.
The former air race pilot had a passion for skydiving and started flying in 1977 before graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1978, according to racingjets.com.
Mangold, who has reportedly flown every model of the F-4, was awarded in 1983 with the title as the Outstanding Graduate of the Air Force’s ‘Top Gun’ fighter Weapons School.
From 2000-2004, the five-time California Unlimited Aerobatic Champion was a member of the US Unlimited Aerobatic Team.
Mangold leaves behind his wife Julie and two children Nick and Melissa.
