Yes, I flew today and the conditions were very good. Shitty news........
Can I thank all those people who have enquired about my health this afternoon. It's very much appreciated, I'm happy to report I'm safe and well, though I regret that someone else has not been so fortunate.
I flew out of Sutton near Macclesfield over the hills to Chesterfield at 1.30pm the weather was exelent I cann't see that being a factor unless it changed a lot.
A MAN who died when the helicopter he was flying crashed into farmland was named by police.
Businessman Tony Sullivan, 69, from Woodford, near Stockport, Greater Manchester, was known as an experienced engineer and helicopter pilot.
His aircraft crashed into farmland near Adlington, east Cheshire, shortly after 3.30pm yesterday.
An investigation into the cause has been launched by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
Cheshire Police said Mr Sullivan was well-known in local business circles and also as a tireless charity worker.
In addition to being a trustee of Cliff College, an Evangelical Bible college in Derbyshire, he established a men's Christian group, meeting regularly at the Deanwater Hotel in Woodford.
A statement issued by Cheshire Police on behalf of his family, said he leaves behind his "beloved" wife, Gerry, and four children, Paul, Clare, Charlie and Camilla.
I'll be interested to hear what happened; reports are that it was good flying weather, the pilot was experienced and in that photo, the machine appears to be largely intact, indicating a relatively low energy impact
I suppose it's always dangerous (and daft) to speculate on these things before the AAIB has published its findings, but if it was due to natural causes (or indeed a mechanical/carb icing problem) it does look at though it was at least a reasonably controlled initial descent to the ground. If he messed up a forced landing in the last few seconds, that really would be a terrible shame.
Hopefully, the AAIB will find the cause fairly quickly...
I flew with Tony on many occasions in around the 1978 period when he flew fixed wing with North West Flying School at Manchester Ringway,Tony was an above average Pilot who studied diligently, was a pleasure to teach and a perfect gentleman with a infectious sense of humour. My thoughts are with his family and tonight I raise a glass to his memory.
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