Uwant -
I admire that principle even though I only have one "side"
- I have no reason to direct my shovel in your direction
... and please don't get me wrong - I am all for charitable causes, Like I said in my first post :
Prejudices aside, and assuming this to be a genuine record attempt / charity fundraiser, then good luck to the team
If it turns out that this really is a genuine charity then I will probably make a donation directly to it, but I doubt I would give anything to the World Record Helicopter Team based on the information available at present, which, to sum up is :
1. An attempt to beat a previous record that has already been beaten.
2. Funding for the venture to be provided by "sponsors"
3. An increase of the funding needed already, from the amount reported last year - US $500,000 to US $600,000 ( +20% )
4. An apparantly delayed start from 2005 to August 2006
5. Questionable planning, pilotage and aircraft for the journey
6. Previous "Record breaking" ventures that broke no records :
Mike Pablo, contest and records assistant for the National Aeronautic Association in Alexandria, Va., said "the French Valley Airport duo did not actually break a record for transcontinental flying."
7. A very dubious "Charity" being used in an attempt to entice "sponsorship" with a promise that 70% of all donations will go to the charity.
8. The President of the "charity" is the Chief Pilot of this venture.
9. Other than the "Charity"'s own web site there appears to be no reference or record of it, it's work, or it's achievements anywhere else.
10.
These appear to be most of the facts known ( so far ).
I invite anyone to draw their own conclusions and offer no opinions of my own - yet !
Just waiting for answers now from Mikael and Havoc
Coconutty