Topic: Colin McRae dies in helicopter crash

[idolminds]

Sad.

Not only him, but his 5 year old son, his sons friend (age 6) and one of Colins friends.

[Quemaqua]

Very sad.  Was he flying?  I hate to be insensitive, but rich people dying in airplane/helicopter accidents is really common.  It happens to doctors more than you could imagine.  They have money and can buy expensive toys, but then don't worry about whether or not they really know how to use them.  I saw a lot of this kind of thing because my grandpa was heavily involved in aviation during his lifetime, and I have several friends in law enforcement who've added some stories as well.

Either way, it's tragic.

[Ghandi]

That is sad.

Helicopter crashes are generally fatal, given that you are above a certain altitude. My cousin is a helicopter pilot for the army, and he was in a crash recently, it was pretty scary. He survived with every bone broken below the waist, only because he was good enough to control the crash somewhat. I guess other people aren't so lucky.

[Cobra951]

He was apparently piloting a chopper near his home in Lanarkshire when something went tragically wrong . . .

From Joystiq

So it seems Que is right.  This sort of tragedy is unnecessary, and I'm surprised there's never any backlash about it.  It does happen way too often.

[Ghandi]

I don't understand why a helicopter would be your first choice of transportation...even for trained pilots they are very dangerous.

[WindAndConfusion]

Tragic.

[Jedi]

I don't understand why a helicopter would be your first choice of transportation...even for trained pilots they are very dangerous.

I'll just point out that the guy was a rally driver so his job alone was dangerous!

They have money and can buy expensive toys, but then don't worry about whether or not they really know how to use them

I'm sure he had training and a license to fly the thing. Seeing how it was common for him to be flying around where he lives sort of suggests he knew what he was doing. But I do see your point though.

[Pugnate]

Holy Shit!

[Quemaqua]

I'm sure he had training and a license to fly the thing. Seeing how it was common for him to be flying around where he lives sort of suggests he knew what he was doing. But I do see your point though.

Well yeah, I wasn't *necessarily* suggesting that he didn't know what he was doing, just saying that a couple lessons and a license have lead to an awfully large quantity of deaths in his cash bracket.

[Cobra951]

Right.  Same with Kennedy Jr.  I see nothing wrong with someone wanting to take risks to get some jollies, as long as it only affects them.  This business of treating small private aircraft as daily drivers is risky, especially when amateurs are at the controls every time.  Sooner or later, something is going to go wrong.  In a car, that would mean pulling over to the side of the road and cussing at your engine; accidents are usually no worse than bumps, bruises and twisted metal.  In the air, it's all fatal outside of miracles.

[Quemaqua]

Right.  People treat it casually, but it's really very dangerous, because malfunction can easily mean severe injury or death.  The same is true of a car in certain cases, but not nearly so many.  Aviation is obviously a valid hobby, but I think where it starts to get scary is when people take it a step beyond hobby and treat it as something too pedestrian.  It needs to be respected to be enjoyed.