Vandals destroy more aircraft
Carbonfibre-based lifeform
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Vandals destroy more aircraft
I read about the vandalism at Felthorpe recently with anger, but today I found out how it actually feels when I got a call this morning from Redhill to say that five aircraft, including mine, had been badly damaged by vandals ramming them with a stolen car.
According to the police who I spoke to, this is the sort thing that happens when the nation's youth are on holiday as they are at the moment.
My own aircraft (the CT in the blue covers) was only eight months old, and needless to say I had all sorts of plans for the summer until today.
Might be a good time to check the security at all your fields - I would hate this to happen to others as well.
According to the police who I spoke to, this is the sort thing that happens when the nation's youth are on holiday as they are at the moment.
My own aircraft (the CT in the blue covers) was only eight months old, and needless to say I had all sorts of plans for the summer until today.
Might be a good time to check the security at all your fields - I would hate this to happen to others as well.
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Genuinely sorry to see those pictures.
Words fail me when I think of the kind of jeaulous pricks who could do such a thing.
I wish you and the police the best of luck finding the culprits.
When I see things like this happen I can't help wondering where our army get their enthusiasm from to defend this country like they have for the past five weeks.
Try and keep smiling
Words fail me when I think of the kind of jeaulous pricks who could do such a thing.
I wish you and the police the best of luck finding the culprits.
When I see things like this happen I can't help wondering where our army get their enthusiasm from to defend this country like they have for the past five weeks.
Try and keep smiling
Not so N, but still FG
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That is truly appalling. You have my deepest sympathy. I dread to think how vulnerable most parked or hangared aircraft are to vandalism and arson. I have seen adverse comment about the new security fencing at Sywell, but perhaps we all face that in the future.
I despair at the cause. I live in an area where million quid houses are a few minutes slouch from some wretched estates. The streets are patrolled by the blank faced, hooded top wearing youths of the underclass. They look into the brightly lit houses with their books, paintings and antiques and at the shiny cars parked outside and think only of destroying what they see: they don't appear to have any aspirations even to get things for themselves. Part of me sympathises with their hopeless situation, the other part of me would like them to be force fed to their parents on live television. Arrrgh, it is hateful to turn into a Daily Telegraph columnist.
I despair at the cause. I live in an area where million quid houses are a few minutes slouch from some wretched estates. The streets are patrolled by the blank faced, hooded top wearing youths of the underclass. They look into the brightly lit houses with their books, paintings and antiques and at the shiny cars parked outside and think only of destroying what they see: they don't appear to have any aspirations even to get things for themselves. Part of me sympathises with their hopeless situation, the other part of me would like them to be force fed to their parents on live television. Arrrgh, it is hateful to turn into a Daily Telegraph columnist.
Utterly utterly criminal.
My deepest sympathy to everybody whose aircraft were damaged, and I hope most sincerely that the culprits are caught and suitably and severely punished.
Fly Stimulator, if I can do anything to help with the wheels of insurance, officialdom, etc. in getting the CT up again as fast as possible, give me a call. Although, under the circumstances, I do hope that your insurance replaces it with a new aircraft.
G
My deepest sympathy to everybody whose aircraft were damaged, and I hope most sincerely that the culprits are caught and suitably and severely punished.
Fly Stimulator, if I can do anything to help with the wheels of insurance, officialdom, etc. in getting the CT up again as fast as possible, give me a call. Although, under the circumstances, I do hope that your insurance replaces it with a new aircraft.
G
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Fly Stimulator,
Really sorry to read this
Hope you and your colleagues at Redhill get up and flying again ASAP.
I'm not going to waste my breath giving an opinion on the Amoebas that did this.
FWyg
Really sorry to read this
Hope you and your colleagues at Redhill get up and flying again ASAP.
I'm not going to waste my breath giving an opinion on the Amoebas that did this.
FWyg
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Disgusting photos
I certainly hope that you and the other aircraft owners are insured - not that insurance money can do much to help salvage this flying season for you 
- but it is appalling to think that eveyone's insurance premiums will be adversely affected by such stupid, pointless acts. 
I'm not holding my breath about the vandals being severely punished if they are caught. No doubt they are underprivileged, misunderstood and disadvantaged youths more deserving of sympathy and encouragement than condemnation.
- but it is appalling to think that eveyone's insurance premiums will be adversely affected by such stupid, pointless acts. I'm not holding my breath about the vandals being severely punished if they are caught. No doubt they are underprivileged, misunderstood and disadvantaged youths more deserving of sympathy and encouragement than condemnation.
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Fly Stimulator
I'd say this is unbelievable, but sadly it isn't.
Chin up! One day we, as a society, will deal with these vermin.
I can't turn the clock back, and I can't help fix the damage, but if you need a flying-fix whilst your's is repaired - give me a shout
I'd say this is unbelievable, but sadly it isn't.
Chin up! One day we, as a society, will deal with these vermin.
I can't turn the clock back, and I can't help fix the damage, but if you need a flying-fix whilst your's is repaired - give me a shout
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You have my profound sympathy. I am involved at the lowest level of the criminal justice system, and it does me no harm to be reminded of the horrible experience of being a crime victim, even though my wife and I have been victims ourselves in the last few years.
The loss you suffered is a form of defilement; these weren't just any old school aircraft, they were personal - even more personal that any car could be.
Looking forward, as my father always encouraged me to do, let's hope that you soon get back up to soar above the scrum on the ground, and to remind yourself that those vandals will never be more than earthbound oafs, you will continue to climb and to soar in the clear sunlight.
Good luck.
The loss you suffered is a form of defilement; these weren't just any old school aircraft, they were personal - even more personal that any car could be.
Looking forward, as my father always encouraged me to do, let's hope that you soon get back up to soar above the scrum on the ground, and to remind yourself that those vandals will never be more than earthbound oafs, you will continue to climb and to soar in the clear sunlight.
Good luck.
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Fly Stimulator - my vocabulary fails me. I can't even begin to imagine how you and your fellow pilots feel at the moment. As others have said, if I can do anything to help, you only have to ask.
It saddens me that such a thing could happen at Redhill, especially after all the recent "security improvements".
Oh, and flyingwysiwyg - please stop insulting amoebas.
With heavy heart,
MD.
It saddens me that such a thing could happen at Redhill, especially after all the recent "security improvements".
Oh, and flyingwysiwyg - please stop insulting amoebas.
With heavy heart,
MD.
Carbonfibre-based lifeform
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Thanks very much everybody. I still feel gutted at the moment, but I do very much appreciate the moral support.
I was due to spend Easter at a charity fly-in in Ireland and I'm still planning to make that, albeit for a much shorter visit now, in an aircraft borrowed from a friend, so the bastards haven't grounded me yet!
My aircraft is insured, but I suspect that the time required to process a claim, whether write-off or repair, will consume the summer at least.
Thanks again,
FS.
I was due to spend Easter at a charity fly-in in Ireland and I'm still planning to make that, albeit for a much shorter visit now, in an aircraft borrowed from a friend, so the bastards haven't grounded me yet!
My aircraft is insured, but I suspect that the time required to process a claim, whether write-off or repair, will consume the summer at least.
Thanks again,
FS.
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Fly Stimulator
I'd like to echo what everyone else has said - my deepest sympathy.
Glad to hear you're going to be airborne again soon
If what the police said it right, I'm totally and utterly ashamed to be in the same generation as those worthless sh!ts
tKF
I'd like to echo what everyone else has said - my deepest sympathy.
Glad to hear you're going to be airborne again soon
If what the police said it right, I'm totally and utterly ashamed to be in the same generation as those worthless sh!ts
tKF
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Fly Stimulator,
I can't really add much to what everyone else has said. I felt quite sick even just looking at those photos; I really feel for you. Glad to hear you're at least going to manage to fly over Easter.
KentishFledgling,
Age/youth and generation has nothing to do with it; no-one in any way associates you with these b@stards. There are good and bad of all ages.
I can't really add much to what everyone else has said. I felt quite sick even just looking at those photos; I really feel for you. Glad to hear you're at least going to manage to fly over Easter.
KentishFledgling,
Age/youth and generation has nothing to do with it; no-one in any way associates you with these b@stards. There are good and bad of all ages.
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Fly Stimulator
I feel absolutely gutted for you & all the other aircraft owners. I can't believe how dignified & expletative-free your original post was. If it happened to me I would be boiling over. Your measure & composure does you credit.
I can't offer any more than moral support, but best wishes, & I hope that the insurance bods get you sorted out and in the air again ASAP.
Mr. W
I feel absolutely gutted for you & all the other aircraft owners. I can't believe how dignified & expletative-free your original post was. If it happened to me I would be boiling over. Your measure & composure does you credit.
I can't offer any more than moral support, but best wishes, & I hope that the insurance bods get you sorted out and in the air again ASAP.
Mr. W
niknak
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I fail to understand why anyone would do this sort of thing.
However, I do not subscribe to the small minded arrogance of MLS and FNG who automatically blame "the youths of today", whilst having absolutely no memory or understanding of that age group, or tolerance of anyone under the age of 18.
They also obviously have an insight as to who actually perpatrated the crime, so perhaps the plod should be knocking on their doors first.
The damage at Felthorpe was arson, deliberate and well planned according to the police and fire brigade, it wouldnt suprise me if this was a similar sort of thing.
However, I do not subscribe to the small minded arrogance of MLS and FNG who automatically blame "the youths of today", whilst having absolutely no memory or understanding of that age group, or tolerance of anyone under the age of 18.
They also obviously have an insight as to who actually perpatrated the crime, so perhaps the plod should be knocking on their doors first.
The damage at Felthorpe was arson, deliberate and well planned according to the police and fire brigade, it wouldnt suprise me if this was a similar sort of thing.
Not so N, but still FG
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Thank you, niknak, for altering the tone of this thread with your insulting rermarks. Would you prefer me to comment admiringly on the excellent planning and daring execution of the raid? A crime of this type has every indication of an act motivated by anti-social impulses, of the kind frequently demonstrated by a-socialised young people. Absent extreme nimbyism, which is not impossible but seems unlikely, there is no other likely motive for what appears to be pure vandalism. If you read my post, you might notice that I exposed myself to a different type of flaming from yours, by indicating that it is even possible to regret the conditions which generate the typical perpetrators of anti-social behavior, ranging from graffiti, through joy riding, to this sort of thing. I even said, and now repeat, that I can sympathise with the socially excluded (although this does not detract from my unequivocal condemnation of this incident and of its perpetrators). No one has flamed me for that, this being perhaps a reflection of the usually tolerant and good mannered ethos of this forum.
Last edited by FNG; 16th Apr 2003 at 19:30.
Come on chaps, if you want to criticise anybody but the perpretrators of this crime, this isn't the place to do it. Pprune has Email and messaging for private discussion, and it's best kept there.
G
G