Colin McRae RIP

[Cooperinliverp00l]

RIP Colin....watched him in many rally's and he was awsome. Big shock to me

[VectraMan]

Bloody hell, they're dropping like flies (the helicopters that is):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6997784.stm

[scooterscot]

It's to be expected, the poor don't fly and the gap to between rich and poor has grown:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6997145.stm

Nu Labour are to blame...

[KathyWoolfe]

Jesus,

why do all these rich people have crashes in helicopters ?

Lesson for us all, if we ever become rich don't get delusions of having a helicopter and becoming a pilot, every year we hear of rich people crashing their helicopters.

Maybe there should be stricter driving tests for helicopter pilots and more regular flying hours to keep the skills up ?

Milan.

Yet Noel Edmonds has been piloting his own helicopter for years!

[daviejones]

Shame, he was a nice guy and to think his son perished also is extremely sorry news!!!

[Churchill]

Jesus,

why do all these rich people have crashes in helicopters ?

Lesson for us all, if we ever become rich don't get delusions of having a helicopter and becoming a pilot, every year we hear of rich people crashing their helicopters.

Maybe there should be stricter driving tests for helicopter pilots and more regular flying hours to keep the skills up ?

Milan.

MB, personally, I don't think this one was "Pilot Error".

Churchill - In "RIP" mode.

[gingerjedi]

I was having similar thoughts, the stats of rich folks crashing in these machines must be pretty high against professional piliots -

People in the flying community said he was a good a pilot as he was a rally driver, I would imagine if you have a good aptitude for driving this would be true.

Far more likely a mechanical fault from the relatively cheap chopper (only 500k), pro's tend to fly more expensive and sturdier kit.

[Troll]

People in the flying community said he was a good a pilot as he was a rally driver, I would imagine if you have a good aptitude for driving this would be true.

Far more likely a mechanical fault from the relatively cheap chopper (only 500k), pro's tend to fly more expensive and sturdier kit.

But don't choppers auto gyrate safely to the ground in the event of mechanical problems?

[Churchill]

People in the flying community said he was a good a pilot as he was a rally driver, I would imagine if you have a good aptitude for driving this would be true.

Far more likely a mechanical fault from the relatively cheap chopper (only 500k), pro's tend to fly more expensive and sturdier kit.

When did you get your PPL(H)?

[Churchill]

But don't choppers auto gyrate safely to the ground in the event of mechanical problems?

Nope, the pilot "safely performs" an "auto-rotation"...

Given sufficient height and momentum in the main rotor...

However, if there is a catastrophic seizure on the wrong side of the sprag-clutch, you're bolloxed.

Anyway, let's wait for the official report.