Kent Plane Crash - Aborted Take off
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Portsharbourflyer,
You reminded me of this verse of Khayam. Relevant, I am sure, for all who new Steve.
Lo, some we loved, the lov'liest and the best,
That time and fate of all their vintage press'd,
Have drunk their cup a round or two before,
And one by one crept silently to rest.
You reminded me of this verse of Khayam. Relevant, I am sure, for all who new Steve.
Lo, some we loved, the lov'liest and the best,
That time and fate of all their vintage press'd,
Have drunk their cup a round or two before,
And one by one crept silently to rest.
Join Date: Jan 2005
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And it reminded me of this:
Do not shed a tear for me
For I would not for you
Instead just drink a beer for me
And know well that I knew
Dreams of flight do not come free
There comes attached a price
We do not do it blindly
We know we roll the dice
Before you fly into the sky
A sky slow to forgive
Ask "Am I afraid to die?
Or just afraid to Live?"
So if you try, to reason why
When fate can seem unjust
We take these risks not to escape life
But to stop life escaping us
OC619
Do not shed a tear for me
For I would not for you
Instead just drink a beer for me
And know well that I knew
Dreams of flight do not come free
There comes attached a price
We do not do it blindly
We know we roll the dice
Before you fly into the sky
A sky slow to forgive
Ask "Am I afraid to die?
Or just afraid to Live?"
So if you try, to reason why
When fate can seem unjust
We take these risks not to escape life
But to stop life escaping us
OC619
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What shocking news. I met Steve and knew him briefly while undertaking initial PPL training at Anglo American Aviation in San Diego during the summer of 2001. I remember how much he enjoyed showering the newly-solo'd students with a big garbage can full of water. My deepest sympathy for Steve's family and friends. RIP Steve.
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<edited to keep the peace>
However this bit stays!
One thing I will say. SRG should have more control over such airfields. I've flown from Headcorn from time to time. Baloons going accross the circuit, 3 helecopters going one way, 5 fixed wings going the other, people jumping out of aeroplanes. I've seen a C150 on its take off run with an Extra upside down 50 ft above crossing the runway centreline. Absolute Bedlam.
However this bit stays!
One thing I will say. SRG should have more control over such airfields. I've flown from Headcorn from time to time. Baloons going accross the circuit, 3 helecopters going one way, 5 fixed wings going the other, people jumping out of aeroplanes. I've seen a C150 on its take off run with an Extra upside down 50 ft above crossing the runway centreline. Absolute Bedlam.
Last edited by Kirstey; 15th Mar 2007 at 16:40.
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From Kirstey's comments, I can see how a visitor to Headcorn could be put off from a couple of experiences of my own.
Although the opening comment on the post was unnecessary, given how many people on this thread knew the unfortunate pilot, of which I am not one.
Back in 98, I decided to do a trip up to Norfolk on a nice July day. Got the plane fired up to find this Eastern European moron......so many times World Aero's champ, hogging the a/g freq to instruct an aero's pupil "Keeep puuuuuullllliiiiiiiiiggggggg.........rooooooollllllllll..... "etc......Anyone hoping to get a call in could forget it, I heard one poor guy get berated by control for starting his take-off without calling up (even though I did hear him get a call in)
Eventually I got up and away and when I returned hours later and tuned in.....there he was still hogging the airfield frequency, I mentioned it to a couple of instructors in that careful way you do when you are new to the game, and was assured it wouldnt be happening again, and to my knowledge it hasnt since.
As a newbie at that time, I couldnt believe the same CAA I'd heard about, the same lot who would have you for so much as blowing off on an airfield, could let this happen.
The other incident was the ill judged decision to let a huge flock of microlights fly in one August day from Belgium, again we were stuck on the ground while this motley collection of rag and tube wonders landed (including one which crashed on approach to 11)
Luckily as I returned towards the airfield, the last of them had departed, they can be buggers to spot.
Again, heard that it wouldnt happen on that scale again.
That is 2 experiences out of 10 years which isnt bad.
The majority of the aviators out of Headcorn are a thoroughly professional bunch and there isnt another GA field I'd rather fly from, I bypass Biggin and take an hours drive to go to Headcorn.
The fact that there are so many different activities going on without incident the greater percentage of the time, demonstrates the level of competence.
Although the opening comment on the post was unnecessary, given how many people on this thread knew the unfortunate pilot, of which I am not one.
Back in 98, I decided to do a trip up to Norfolk on a nice July day. Got the plane fired up to find this Eastern European moron......so many times World Aero's champ, hogging the a/g freq to instruct an aero's pupil "Keeep puuuuuullllliiiiiiiiiggggggg.........rooooooollllllllll..... "etc......Anyone hoping to get a call in could forget it, I heard one poor guy get berated by control for starting his take-off without calling up (even though I did hear him get a call in)
Eventually I got up and away and when I returned hours later and tuned in.....there he was still hogging the airfield frequency, I mentioned it to a couple of instructors in that careful way you do when you are new to the game, and was assured it wouldnt be happening again, and to my knowledge it hasnt since.
As a newbie at that time, I couldnt believe the same CAA I'd heard about, the same lot who would have you for so much as blowing off on an airfield, could let this happen.
The other incident was the ill judged decision to let a huge flock of microlights fly in one August day from Belgium, again we were stuck on the ground while this motley collection of rag and tube wonders landed (including one which crashed on approach to 11)
Luckily as I returned towards the airfield, the last of them had departed, they can be buggers to spot.
Again, heard that it wouldnt happen on that scale again.
That is 2 experiences out of 10 years which isnt bad.
The majority of the aviators out of Headcorn are a thoroughly professional bunch and there isnt another GA field I'd rather fly from, I bypass Biggin and take an hours drive to go to Headcorn.
The fact that there are so many different activities going on without incident the greater percentage of the time, demonstrates the level of competence.
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The fact that there are so many different activities going on without incident the greater percentage of the time, demonstrates the level of competence.
Please dont change Headcorn - there are far far to few of these places left.
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Kirstey,
Your comments on this of all threads are most inappropriate and appear totally irrelevant.
If you don't enjoy the freedom I suggest you stick to controlled fields. Headcorn is one of the increasingly rare places where one gets to exercise airmanship most thoroughly. And exercisung our freedom is a major factor in why we fly.
I don't know any other system which can handle the volume (or variety) of traffic.
Fear not, SRG know exactly what goes on at Headcorn in that it fulfills all the requirements placed upon it. I'm sure, being so close to London, that Headcorn receives a nuimber of visits from the CAA every weekend; there are probably a few PPL holders at the ministry.
Your comments on this of all threads are most inappropriate and appear totally irrelevant.
If you don't enjoy the freedom I suggest you stick to controlled fields. Headcorn is one of the increasingly rare places where one gets to exercise airmanship most thoroughly. And exercisung our freedom is a major factor in why we fly.
I don't know any other system which can handle the volume (or variety) of traffic.
Fear not, SRG know exactly what goes on at Headcorn in that it fulfills all the requirements placed upon it. I'm sure, being so close to London, that Headcorn receives a nuimber of visits from the CAA every weekend; there are probably a few PPL holders at the ministry.
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Goodbye Stevey D
Steve worked very long and hard to get his qualifications. He never gave up and I'm sure he didn't on that last flight.
My thoughts are for his Mum who lost her husband and then her son in the most tragically short space of time.
Goodbye matey.
My thoughts are for his Mum who lost her husband and then her son in the most tragically short space of time.
Goodbye matey.
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Information.
How sad. That is a well timed piece of information & puts the whole sorry business into perspective.
don't bash Headcorn either people - those who did - it is a great place & a much needed breath of fresh air in a corporate dominated world.
don't bash Headcorn either people - those who did - it is a great place & a much needed breath of fresh air in a corporate dominated world.
The Original Whirly
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OC619,
I just read the verse you quoted. If my death should happen to be related to doing what I love, please can someone make sure it gets put on my gravestone. Meanwhile...who wrote it; what do you know about it?
I just read the verse you quoted. If my death should happen to be related to doing what I love, please can someone make sure it gets put on my gravestone. Meanwhile...who wrote it; what do you know about it?
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Whirly,
I've searched for more information on a couple of occasions - but found little.
It's called "The Path We Choose".
The only 2 names I've ever found associated with it are:
OC619
I've searched for more information on a couple of occasions - but found little.
It's called "The Path We Choose".
The only 2 names I've ever found associated with it are:
- James Freeman (not the Headcorn one)
- Bill Beer
OC619
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Intelligent Idiot
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Here to be exact.
