I fear I may have lost a few friends.

[Sour Puss]

Rally driver feared dead in crash
Colin McRae in his helicopter

It is believed Colin McRae was on board the helicopter
Former world rally champion Colin McRae is believed to have been killed along with three others in a helicopter crash near his home in Lanarkshire.

The helicopter, which police believe was owned by Mr McRae, 39, came down at 1610 BST in Jerviswood, about a mile from Lanark, and caught fire.

Strathclyde Police said Colin McRae, a keen pilot, is thought to have been on board with three others.

However formal identification of those killed still has to be carried out.

Strathclyde Police said the damage to the Squirrel aircraft was so bad it was initially unclear how many people had died.

A police statement said: "Around 1610 BST on Saturday, 15 September 2007, emergency services were called to a helicopter crash in Jerviswood, east of the A73 at Lanark.

"There are no survivors."

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been informed and will carry out a full inquiry.

Police have been conducting a full scene examination and area search.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6997134.stm

[Snoopy]

Given that it was his helicopter, crashed close to his home and he hasn't been seen since I would say it's a fair bet.
I know that the police have to proceed with their investigations, inform Next of Kin, gain formal identifications etc but really sometimes they do behave in a very silly fashion.
Having attended burnt out choppers and recovered the crew's bodies in my RAF days I do not envy them that task. It is not nice and formal ID of the "Oh yes that is my husband" variety is just not possible. What a fire fueled by aviation spirit can do to the human body is incredible ~ a 6'3 man reduced to the size of a chimpanzee and simply made up of carbon. I don't mind saying I was very 

[Barman]

You're a comfort to us all! 

[Snoopy]

You're a comfort to us all! 

Tell you this ~ There is nothing on earth that would get me to go up in one of those things.
At least in a fixed wing you can delude yourself with the thought that you can glide to earth in a reasonably controlled fashion. Helicopters just drop like a bloody stone.

[Nick]

I was discussing just that with Growler last week. Helicopters have a way of plummeting that is rather worrying. Fixed wings, we agreed, can offer the illusion of an opportunity to glide, but seldom manage it. I imagine those big jet blowy things help maintain the "aloftness". If they pack up, then a life jacket and a whistle ain't going to help you a great deal.

[Barman]

They can do clever autorotation stuff if the engine packs-up but you?re buggered if one of the bolts that holds that complicated head together fails.

You can glide in a ?plane if the engine fails but finding a suitable landing place without crashing into power cables isn?t as easy as it sounds?

[Snoopy]

They can do clever autorotation stuff if the engine packs-up but you?re buggered if one of the bolts that holds that complicated head together fails.

You can glide in a ?plane if the engine fails but finding a suitable landing place without crashing into power cables isn?t as easy as it sounds?

They don't all have that facility and anyway even those that do are normally falling from to low a height for it to be much use.
I do recall from my RAF days a Major from some Army Regiment asking where his men, who we were transporting, would find their parachutes in the event of an emergency. The pilot told him that the only parachutes on board were in the flight cabin and in any event there were only enough for the crew. When the Major protested he was told firmly that an aircrew cost millions to train but "Pongos" were ten a penny.
The major demanded to see a "Senior Officer" who listened carefully and then pointed out that providing parachutes would be pointless as neither he nor his men were trained in their use. The Major got on the aircraft a wiser but not happier man (scared sh*tless we Erks reckoned)

[grumpyoldsoldier]

I was on the same flight, as a young battle weary sergeant. On taking off at an extreme climbing angling which seemed to go on for ever the captain of the aircraft announced over the cabin speakers, "We are having difficulty getting the nose of the aircraft down, would the fat major please move forward to the front of the aircraft" Oh how we larfed....

[Misunderstood]

Wasn't my flight.  When I asked that question, the pilot said "Don't worry whoever is left alive of the aircrew will hand what we have out to the survivors."

It was a quick(er) flight.

[Berek]

I flew in a lot of helicopters when I worked offshore, I used to have sleepless nights worrying about getting in them.

back to the topic, his wife must be devestated, losing a 5 year old. I hope she doesnt chose to wash his cuddle cat and keeps the scent instead

[GROWLER]

Unbelievable coincidence. Colins' boss when he was at Prodrive/Subaru.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6997784.stm

[Barman]

Unbelievable coincidence. Colins' boss when he was at Prodrive/Subaru.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6997784.stm

McRae was piloting a French machine though? 

[Mr Happy]

hmmmm.



I was awaitng the release of ColinCopter07 on my X-Wii-Station360, suppose now it will be relegated to terrorist training schools...