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[[File:Jim LeRoy Bulldog.jpg|thumb|Jim LeRoy in "Bulldog"]]
'''Jim LeRoy''' (April 5, 1961 – July 28, 2007) was an American [[aerobatics]] pilot. He died upon impact in a crash at the [[CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show|Dayton Air Show]] in [[Ohio]].

==Background==
A former [[US Marine Corps]] [[Reconnaissance|Scout]]/[[Sniper]], Jim LeRoy held a [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] degree in [[Aeronautical]]/[[Aerospace]] engineering as well as an [[Aircraft Maintenance Technician|Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license]].

==Stunt flying==
Initially flying solo performances, he gained a reputation with his highly energetic aerobatic displays. In 2003, LeRoy joined a daring and successful [[airshow]] troupe, the X-team, who referred to themselves as the [[Masters of Disaster]]. Their performance generally consisted of three pilots flying a simultaneous, chaotic, interweaving aerobatic display through clouds of smoke generated by circling jet-powered trucks below. After two seasons of successful airshows, an accident occurred on July 10, 2005, during a routine performance when [[Jimmy Franklin]] and Bobby Younkin collided in mid-air. Jim LeRoy was not involved in the collision and landed safely.

LeRoy was one of only eleven pilots ever to be awarded both the ''[[Art Scholl]] Showmanship Award'' (2002) and the ''[[Bill Barber (pilot)|Bill Barber]] Award for Showmanship'' (2003). He was also one of only a handful of full-time [[air show]] pilots in the world who actually made his living by performing for air show audiences.

LeRoy also held the following pilot ratings: single-engine, multi-engine, airplane instructor, helicopter, helicopter instructor, instrument instructor and aerobatic competency evaluator.

==Death==
{{wikinews|Deadly crash at Dayton, Ohio air show}}

Around 2:15PM [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EST]] at the [[Vectren]] [[Dayton Air Show]] at [[Dayton International Airport]] outside [[Dayton, Ohio]], LeRoy crashed his [[Pitts Special|S2S Bulldog II]], while in performance with the X-Team ''Codename: Mary's Lamb'' aerobatics team.<ref>[http://www.whiotv.com/news/13774845/detail.html Dayton Air Show Crash Kills Pilot – News Story – WHIO Dayton<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201231032/http://www.whiotv.com/news/13774845/detail.html |date=2008-12-01 }}</ref> Initial indications showed that he was performing a [[Aerobatic maneuver|1/2 Cuban 8]] and snap rolls on the 45-degree down line,<ref>[http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/3533213/ Jim LeRoy Dies In Airshow Crash — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> but recovered too low to the ground to pull out. He hit the runway at {{convert|200|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, although his vertical speed was only around {{convert|75|mph|km/h|sigfig=2|abbr=on}}; the plane slid {{convert|300|yards|m}} and burst into flames.<ref name=investigation>[http://www.whiotv.com/news/13780478/detail.html Coroner: Pilot Died Instantly - News Story - WHIO Dayton<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222180158/http://www.whiotv.com/news/13780478/detail.html |date=2008-02-22 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.planecrashinfo.com/famous2000s.htm planecrashinfo.com Famous People Who Died in Aviation Accidents: 2000s]</ref>  LeRoy was pronounced dead in a military [[MEDEVAC]] helicopter while in transit to [[Miami Valley Hospital]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]]. The [[Forensic pathology|coroner]]'s report states that LeRoy died on impact due to a [[fracture]] of his neck, but that he also was badly burned.<ref name=investigation/>

{{Portal|Biography}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.bulldogairshows.com/ Official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061205204224/http://www.xteamairshows.com/ X-team Airshows]
{{Aerobatics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leroy, Jim}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Ohio]]
[[Category:Aerobatic pilots]]
[[Category:Air shows]]
[[Category:American aviators]]
[[Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2007]]
[[Category:American military snipers]]