Another sad day

[TOT]

Missing pilot update: body found (http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/gloucestershireheadlines/Fears-missing-Gloucestershire-pilot/article-1727071-detail/article.html)


Again Martin was also a heli pilot, just like the TCorr thread, both guys trained

at Gloucester in recent few years on Hughes 300s.

Martin once owned and trained on Hughes 300 G BOXT

RIP to both of you

[MightyGem]

Very sad. More so, given the purpose of the flight. RIP.

[General Mutley]

Terrible news. Thoughts go out to all the friends and family. RIP

[JTobias]

All

Absolute sh**e news. The charitable nature of his flight adds more to this incident. Best wishes and thoughts to his family, friends and colleagues.

Joel

[ab33t]

Sad to hear, thoughts go out to family and friends

[JTobias]

All

I have just made a donation on Just Giving.com to the charity that this flight was in aid of. I hope it's not inappropriate to suggest that others do so if they are able to. The link is here (http://www.justgiving.com/flytoaus).

I do not know Martin or have any association with him but he's a fellow aviator and i feel strongly about his efforts and the charity.

Joel

[FLY 7]

That's a nice gesture.

It would be fitting if the target of £150,000 in aid of the very worthwhile 'Help for Heroes' could still be achieved, ensuring that this objective, at least, is a success.

[JTobias]

C'mon people

I know I'm tempting a political debate here but there have been 1795 views of this post as at today (20th Jan) but I can't see a representative increase in the number of donations.

I know money is tight, some readers are more fortunate than others, there are thousands of good causes I know, I know, I know, but if you can let's show that we can rally round. Let's mention Rotorheads in any message and just get some cash flowing in.

Just do what you can.

Joel:ok:

[TOT]

c'mon people

Martin was a great, great guy,pal and aviator

he was doing this for a really good cause

I have just donated, please try to make one

don't let this tragic accident be in vain

best regards

[heliski22]

Likewise - it would be the right thing to do, I reckon! Don't be shy JT, keep banging the drum!!

22

[biggles99]

This accident has really got to me. A terrible tradegy.

I didn't know Martin personally, but I too am an ex-microlighter, and I flew a R44 to Australia 10 years ago. I'm also exactly the same age as him and share the same name.

On the day of the accident I was flying the exact route he was (as far as Italy and then onto Morroco), starting from Blackpool. We passed Staverton around 14:30.

We had intened to fly straight to Lydd, but we re-fuelled at Blackbush, since we had to divert around some crap weather near Benson. This meant that we didn't have enough fuel to get to Lydd, hence the Blackbushe refuel. We filed for Le Touquet there.

From Gatwick onwards the weather was challenging (to put it mildly), but about 10 mile before Lydd there was a nice bit, so we climbed to 2,000 ft where I contacted Le Touquet and got a weather report. This was about 16:00 ish. Having listened to the man in the tower, I decided enough was enough and we diverted to Lydd where we stayed the night.

We awoke to the news of Martin's terrible accident, which did nothing for our confidence, and waited for the weather to improve. By about 12:00 it had improved sufficiently for us to go, and we headed out across the channel, ending up at Blois, (near Tours), which was our intended destination. Again, the flying conditions were very, very challenging.

Today, I write to you from near Grenoble, by the Alps in France. I waited until 14:00 to take off, even though it was CAVOK by about 12:00. I cannot tell you how difficult it can be to remain calm and patient when you can see the weather is CAVOK at point of departure. Experience has taught me that this patience is one of the best qualities of anyone who is PIC. I am now 2 days behind my intended schedule, and I have had to re-arrange my whole week.

When I landed near Grenoble - and I had to divert yet again - I was flying in drizzle, between layers of scattered cloud and rapidly deteriating VMC. Not dangerous, nor illegal, but most definitely very unpleasant.

It's likely that the pressure of the publicity, the fantastic mission which Martin was undertaking, and the anxiety of missing crossing clearances in weeks to come (you usually only get a 24 hour entry clearance into countries such as Burma and you have to apply weeks in advance) will have influenced the "go/no go" decision he made.

TOT mentions that we should not let this accident be in vain. I agree. So fly with care, with confidence, and make sure you can land when you need to.

With deep respect and sadness,

Big Ls

[JTobias]

And keep the donations going by donating here (http://www.justgiving.com/flytoaus)

Joel:ok: