Military AircrewA forum for the professionals who fly the non-civilian hardware, and the backroom boys and girls without whom nothing would leave the ground. Army, Navy and Airforces of the World, all equally welcome here.
A truly awful incident..... Thoughts obviously with the family at such a tragic loss. My thoughts are also with the front seater... a horrendous situation to find himself in... a very traumatising event.
Terrible, terrible news. Thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
I hope there's a place, way up in the sky Where pilots can go when they have to die. A place where a guy could buy a cold beer For a friend and a comrade whose memory is dear. A place where no doctor or lawyer could tread, Nor a management-type would e'ler be caught dead! Just a quaint little place, kind of dark, full of smoke, Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke. The kind of a place that a lady could go And feel safe and secure by the men she would know.
There must be a place where old pilots go, When their wings become heavy, when their airspeed gets low, Where the whiskey is old, and the women are young, And songs about flying and dying are sung. Where you'd see all the fellows who'd 'flown west' before, And they'd call out your name, as you came through the door, Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad, And relate to the others, "He was quite a good lad!" And there, through the mist, you'd spot an old guy You had not seen in years, though he'd taught you to fly. He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear And say, "Welcome, my Son, I'm proud that you're here!
For this is the place where true flyers come When the battles are over, and the wars have been won. They've come here at last, to be safe and alone, From the government clerk, and the management clone; Politicians and lawyers, the Feds, and the noise, Where all hours are happy, and these good ol' boys Can relax with a cool one, and a well deserved rest! This is Heaven, my Son. You've passed your last test!"
So sad, and it seems to have happened so close to where we lost the pilot of a Tornado in what was it, 1983? In the late 1990s I saw a magnificent memorial and young oak tree growing on the Sandringham Estate in memory of that individual, victim of what I think was our first in-service Tornado loss.
Statement at 16:30hrs15 Nov 2007 |
Ref. Statement as at 16:30hrs
BAE Systems can today, 15 November 2007, confirm the identity of the navigator, Mike Harland, who died in an incident during a test flight of a Tornado aircraft from RAF Marham yesterday.
Confirming that the next of kin have been informed, Nigel Whitehead, Group Managing Director for the Military Air Solutions business within BAE Systems said: “It is with great regret and sadness that I can confirm that Mike died in an incident during a test flight of a Tornado aircraft from RAF Marham yesterday.
“Mike worked for BAE Systems for 4 years and was a well-known and much respected member of the team. He will be deeply missed by all of his colleagues and our thoughts are with his family and friends.
“It would be wrong to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident at this time and it would be inappropriate of us to do so at present as there will be a MoD Board of Inquiry. We will give our full support to this Inquiry and we will do everything we can to support Mike’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.”
I hope Mike's family, friends and colleagues won't mind a techy posting about him.
I worked as one of Mike's groundcrew on his last squadron before he left the RAF. I found him to be a genuine, approachable and good-natured guy who was always a pleasure to see off and see in. He always had a word for the young lineys and old sweats alike, and was much liked and highly repected. I bumped into him a while back and he actually remembered me, which meant a good deal, although it would be more to do with his memory than my achievements! A tragic loss for all who knew him.
Per Ardua Ad Astra Wolfie. I'll always remember that trail, Sep 2002.
