Vandals destroy more aircraft
Carbonfibre-based lifeform
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Spoke to the police this morning. No leads yet, but they raised no objections to my proposal to take the perpetrators a few thousand feet up and then let them make their own way home from there.
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To all that had a/c damaged,
We are really sorry to see what happened and our sympathies go out to all of you.
If there is any way we can help, don't hesitate to contact us.
F-Nick
and "us upstairs"
We are really sorry to see what happened and our sympathies go out to all of you.
If there is any way we can help, don't hesitate to contact us.
F-Nick
and "us upstairs"
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I wasn't going to reply to this thread - words honestly failed me. The only thing I could think of saying was somthing along the lines of 'Wouldn't happen in the USA' - wasn't going to bother, but having read 411A's comment I have to agree (for once). One of the things I really hate about this country is the attitude of 'If I can't have that then nobody else is going to either'. Anyone who wants to do somthing a bit different here (whether that be learn to fly, start their own business or simply have their own opinion about how they live their life) is onto a loser, and I personally can't wait to get out of this sh1thole.
FS, sorry if my comments are of no particular help - as you can tell I'm just a little bit annoyed by this, and other such things. You're obviously dealing with this in a rational, calm and considered manner - good luck to you, you deserve better.
FS, sorry if my comments are of no particular help - as you can tell I'm just a little bit annoyed by this, and other such things. You're obviously dealing with this in a rational, calm and considered manner - good luck to you, you deserve better.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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That really stinks FS, I echo all the thoughts of the others and wish you a speedy and happy resolution, and a slow and horrible retribution to the b@ast@rds concerned.
When I used to visit Redhill as a kid, what sticks in my mind most (after the treasures in the Tiger Club hangar; and my thanks to the people therein who were always glad to see us!) was the horribly efficient airfield security guard (has my mind added Jack Boots to the image unfairly?) who would order us off the airfield pronto. Is that level of security now absent?
I can recall an arson attack on a Rallye at Biggin a couple of decades ago - is overnight vandalism at airfields more common now, or is this a (fortunately) rare occurence?
Treadders
When I used to visit Redhill as a kid, what sticks in my mind most (after the treasures in the Tiger Club hangar; and my thanks to the people therein who were always glad to see us!) was the horribly efficient airfield security guard (has my mind added Jack Boots to the image unfairly?) who would order us off the airfield pronto. Is that level of security now absent?
I can recall an arson attack on a Rallye at Biggin a couple of decades ago - is overnight vandalism at airfields more common now, or is this a (fortunately) rare occurence?
Treadders
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Just a thought from across the pond
I know this will not make you feel any better, but as an ex-pat living in TX, it is comforting to know that this type of crime over here, is a federal crime, for which you WILL get time in a state Penitentiary :-
U.S. Code, Title 18
Section 32. Destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities
(a) Whoever willfully -
(1) sets fire to, damages, destroys, disables, or wrecks any
aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United
States or any civil aircraft used, operated, or employed in
interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce;
......
shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not more than twenty years or both.
Ouch!
Good luck finding the d**k h***s and the loss adjusters.
U.S. Code, Title 18
Section 32. Destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities
(a) Whoever willfully -
(1) sets fire to, damages, destroys, disables, or wrecks any
aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United
States or any civil aircraft used, operated, or employed in
interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce;
......
shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not more than twenty years or both.
Ouch!
Good luck finding the d**k h***s and the loss adjusters.
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Oh, Fly Stim, that's awful.
I had a flight in a CT yesterday. Can't believe anybody'd do that to a lovely aeroplane - or to any of the others.
Makes you weep.
Hope everything goes OK with the insurance.
WS
I had a flight in a CT yesterday. Can't believe anybody'd do that to a lovely aeroplane - or to any of the others.
Makes you weep.
Hope everything goes OK with the insurance.
WS
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Absolutely disgusting......................
Gone are the days when you only had to worry about things being stolen out your aeroplane! I had a radio stolen and that was sickening enough......I cannot even imagine how all those affected are feeling.
I hope those idiots are caught and taught a damn good lesson.
How are the insurance companies reacting?
Gone are the days when you only had to worry about things being stolen out your aeroplane! I had a radio stolen and that was sickening enough......I cannot even imagine how all those affected are feeling.
I hope those idiots are caught and taught a damn good lesson.
How are the insurance companies reacting?
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Gutted.
Fly - absolutely terrible to see G-KATZ on his side like that. I just read about it in the local rag (which I'll save for you) and discovered what had happened.
When he comes back from the doctor's can you also get them to re-stencil the port and starboard markings correctly on the covers to save me the confusion?
Sorry to hear about this and the Cloud Base aircraft as well. Bagsy take the offenders for some Spinning when they are caught!
When he comes back from the doctor's can you also get them to re-stencil the port and starboard markings correctly on the covers to save me the confusion?
Sorry to hear about this and the Cloud Base aircraft as well. Bagsy take the offenders for some Spinning when they are caught!
Carbonfibre-based lifeform
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When he comes back from the doctor's...
The insurance claim process is underway, but there is no decision yet on write-off vs repair. The only certainty seems to be that nothing is going to happen quickly.
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FS
I really sympathise with you. I cannot imagine what you felt when first seeing the result of this act of mindless vandalism.
I agree that the perpetrators should be hunted down and executed, they have proved themselves to be worthless human-beings and their absence will only be missed by the fact that ones pride and joy will remain in the same condition as one left it.
The only people I know who have such a disregard for general aviation are employed at Aviation House... maybe the police should pay them a visit.
When I was in the States, the town where I stayed had a curfew for teenages. Any found outside after 22:00 were arrested. Sounds like a good scheme. Knowing the rules and deliberately breaking them is virtually a confession of perpetraing nefarious activities. Why can't we have such laws in this country?
Once again I am deeply saddened by you post and heartbreaking pictures, I hope you return to the sky as soon as possible.
BlipOnTheRadar
I really sympathise with you. I cannot imagine what you felt when first seeing the result of this act of mindless vandalism.
I agree that the perpetrators should be hunted down and executed, they have proved themselves to be worthless human-beings and their absence will only be missed by the fact that ones pride and joy will remain in the same condition as one left it.
The only people I know who have such a disregard for general aviation are employed at Aviation House... maybe the police should pay them a visit.
When I was in the States, the town where I stayed had a curfew for teenages. Any found outside after 22:00 were arrested. Sounds like a good scheme. Knowing the rules and deliberately breaking them is virtually a confession of perpetraing nefarious activities. Why can't we have such laws in this country?
Once again I am deeply saddened by you post and heartbreaking pictures, I hope you return to the sky as soon as possible.
BlipOnTheRadar
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When I was in the States, the town where I stayed had a curfew for teenages. Any found outside after 22:00 were arrested. Sounds like a good scheme. Knowing the rules and deliberately breaking them is virtually a confession of perpetraing nefarious activities. Why can't we have such laws in this country?
tKF
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TKF
Point taken, however the responsible, well balanced, well behaved majority who respect other people and their property can always have a parent or guardian accompany or transport them. It is the deviant few with the intention to harm or destroy that which does not belong to them, that are being singled out.
It may be draconian, but it is effective.
I can't imagine any parent agreeing to take their children joy-riding or vandalising parked aircraft.
Just my opinion, if you find it offensive I'm sorry. Our experiences determine the way we think and behave.
BlipOnTheRadar
Point taken, however the responsible, well balanced, well behaved majority who respect other people and their property can always have a parent or guardian accompany or transport them. It is the deviant few with the intention to harm or destroy that which does not belong to them, that are being singled out.
It may be draconian, but it is effective.
I can't imagine any parent agreeing to take their children joy-riding or vandalising parked aircraft.
Just my opinion, if you find it offensive I'm sorry. Our experiences determine the way we think and behave.
BlipOnTheRadar
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"Blunkett proposes new legislation: all teenagers to be preceded on foot by man with reg flag".
That is the sort of thing which Blunky would probably go for, but don't mind Radar Blip, TKF. You will have noted Blip's moderate suggestion of executing vandals and the gratuitous side-swipe at the CAA (I am told that the CAA has an alibi for the night of the incident). Probably just winding you up. No one could seriously contemplate a generalised curfew.
Best of luck, Fly Stim, with the insurance claim.
That is the sort of thing which Blunky would probably go for, but don't mind Radar Blip, TKF. You will have noted Blip's moderate suggestion of executing vandals and the gratuitous side-swipe at the CAA (I am told that the CAA has an alibi for the night of the incident). Probably just winding you up. No one could seriously contemplate a generalised curfew.
Best of luck, Fly Stim, with the insurance claim.
Last edited by FNG; 1st May 2003 at 16:51.
The Original Whirly
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Fly Stimulator,
That's just terrible, and I really feel for you, and I don't know what to say...if I haven't said all this on this thread already.
But let's not use this terrible incident as an excuse for teenager bashing. TKF is absolutely right; you can't impose a curfew on all young people because of what a few do. So, it was the young this time...but it might not have been. A pensioner knocked a friend of mine off her bike and seriously injured her when he stepped out without looking...so do we keep all pensioners off the pavements? People from London can't drive properly on our North Wales mountain roads, so maybe we should ban the lot of 'em. Come to think of it, a red-haired albino thief was caught in the next town last week; so let's impose restrictions on all red-haired.... I'm sure you get my point.
That's just terrible, and I really feel for you, and I don't know what to say...if I haven't said all this on this thread already.
But let's not use this terrible incident as an excuse for teenager bashing. TKF is absolutely right; you can't impose a curfew on all young people because of what a few do. So, it was the young this time...but it might not have been. A pensioner knocked a friend of mine off her bike and seriously injured her when he stepped out without looking...so do we keep all pensioners off the pavements? People from London can't drive properly on our North Wales mountain roads, so maybe we should ban the lot of 'em. Come to think of it, a red-haired albino thief was caught in the next town last week; so let's impose restrictions on all red-haired.... I'm sure you get my point.
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Just a few points here.......(Firstly), great sympathy for the owners of the aircraft...........(secondly), i hate the fact that a lot of people in this country, not just teenagers, resent the fact that others have achievements/assets. Im no analyst, so i dont have the answers...but in other countries i find people more easy going about the fact, and not screwed up with self devouring envy. (Saying that......) before taking up my flight training...i was expecting fellow pilots to be "snobbish"....this is not the case at all......they are probably the most "down to earth" people i know.
(Thirdly,)......im quite surprised at the total lack of security at some general aviation aerodromes........in the middle of nowhere, with no security guard etc...i know it costs money but....... .
Its not just theft /vandalism....but after 9/11 there's other threats.
I love flying and i know how i would feel if some W*nker had deliberately damaged my aeroplane...........but keep your head up, what "goes round comes round"........the authorities will catch the crooks...probably think it would rehabilitate them by giving them a trial flight....YOU take them to 3000ft....and chuck the b*stards out.......................simple aint it
(Thirdly,)......im quite surprised at the total lack of security at some general aviation aerodromes........in the middle of nowhere, with no security guard etc...i know it costs money but....... .
Its not just theft /vandalism....but after 9/11 there's other threats.
I love flying and i know how i would feel if some W*nker had deliberately damaged my aeroplane...........but keep your head up, what "goes round comes round"........the authorities will catch the crooks...probably think it would rehabilitate them by giving them a trial flight....YOU take them to 3000ft....and chuck the b*stards out.......................simple aint it
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I apologise to one and all
...for suggesting that we should live in a crime-free society. I am deeply sorry.
Catching and imprisoning criminals is indeed a violation of their human rights. I stand corrected.
Please accept my apology, I admit it, I was wrong.
BlipOnTheRadar
...for suggesting that we should live in a crime-free society. I am deeply sorry.
Catching and imprisoning criminals is indeed a violation of their human rights. I stand corrected.
Please accept my apology, I admit it, I was wrong.
BlipOnTheRadar
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You might be interested to know that it would appear that it was NOT teenagers. The local constabulary are actively seeking out an individual who they wish to talk to regarding this terrible act.
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Blip, your ridiculous idea is almost as infuriating as those vandals. By your logic if I wanted to go to see a film that finished after 10 I should be accompanied by my mum because I'm 19. How about just making the sentance harder for those who are caught vandalising/mugging etc rather than imposing idiotic laws that punish the majority for the mistakes of the few. I agree with TKF. They should just make it so that anybody commiting a crime who is under 18 is not immediately dealt in a completely ineffective and stupidly leniant way.