Originally Posted by
DaveReidUK
I don't attach any significance to those texts. Sala probably had no idea what sort of aircraft he would be flying on, so asking about bringing luggage would be a reasonable question.
Given that the Malibu accommodates six, including the pilot, I'd be surprised if a 300 nm trip would have limited it to 2 up plus bag(s).
Re the "3 attempts to take off" (reportedly a comment in a message from Sala), it has been suggested in these pages that he may have meant 3 attempts required to start the engine, which sounds more likely.
Edit: Beaten to it by the two previous posts !
Dave, the query about the luggage was sent on Sunday 20th by which time Sala had already flown to Nantes in the same aeroplane the day before. Maybe he had no way of contacting DI directly, but he knew the size of the Malibu by then. So someone who is not the pilot nor knows anything about weight and balance has unwittingly increased the pressure on DI. Maybe of no consequence but..... The plot thickens.
DH could shed a lot of light.............