Circumnavigation attempt fails on first day

SteamWake · 01-19-10, 03:08 PM

Sad really

Quote:

He set off yesterday morning from Gloucestershire Airport at Staverton in a microlight for the 11,000-mile round-the-world trip and did not even make it to France before he crashed into the English Channel five hours later.

http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/58585,...ust-five-hours

AVGWarhawk · 01-19-10, 03:18 PM

That is to bad.

Buddahaid · 01-19-10, 03:50 PM

Must have watched Avatar last week.

Schroeder · 01-19-10, 03:56 PM

Going around the world in an microlight is pretty brave or pretty stupid. Those things don't do well in bad weather.

Jimbuna · 01-19-10, 04:51 PM

Very sad....I hope the money will still be raised and given to the charity in his memory.

Freiwillige · 01-19-10, 06:40 PM

I hope somebody gets inspired by his vision and fills his shoes to complete the mission!

UnderseaLcpl · 01-19-10, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Going around the world in an microlight is pretty brave or pretty stupid. Those things don't do well in bad weather.

Do microlights/ultralights not have artificial horizons or altimeters?

Where the hell is GoldenRivet when you need him?

GoldenRivet · 01-19-10, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Where the hell is GoldenRivet when you need him?

Observing from afar inquisitively.

however... not being familiar with the rules on the other side of the pond...

According to American regulations the aircraft wouldn't be required to have an artificial horizon.

I have been a passenger onboard some microlights which had only a few basic engine instruments. an airspeed indicator, compass and an altimeter.

i can imagine that given the special nature of his flight, he probably had quite a bit of extra equipment.

Instrument weather... she is a treacherous thing.

classic case of continued visual flight into instrument flight conditions it looks like.

unfortunate and sad.

Schroeder · 01-20-10, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Do microlights/ultralights not have artificial horizons or altimeters?

Some have but they are still nasty to fly when being in windy weather. Microlight means that those things have a maximum take off mass of 450 kg (at least over here) which makes them a flag in the wind so to speak. My flight instructor once said that he abandoned his microlight license as "A measure to prolong my life.". And that guy is doing aerobatics in gliders.

01-19-10, 03:18 PM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	That is to bad. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

01-19-10, 03:56 PM	#4
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	Going around the world in an microlight is pretty brave or pretty stupid. Those things don't do well in bad weather. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

01-19-10, 04:51 PM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,461 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Very sad....I hope the money will still be raised and given to the charity in his memory. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

01-19-10, 03:50 PM	#3
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	Must have watched Avatar last week.

01-19-10, 06:40 PM	#6
Freiwillige The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phx. Az Posts: 1,458 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	I hope somebody gets inspired by his vision and fills his shoes to complete the mission!