charity microlight trip tragedy.
Discussion
the body of 49yr old Martin Bromage has been found off the french coast.
he had set off from gloucestershire airport on monday attempting to fly to australia in 6 weeks to raise money for help for heroes.
dover coastguard said there was bad visibility in the area at the time and revealed he was trying to turn back when contact was lost.
very sad news.
r.i.p martin.
best wishes to his family at this tragic time.
he had set off from gloucestershire airport on monday attempting to fly to australia in 6 weeks to raise money for help for heroes.
dover coastguard said there was bad visibility in the area at the time and revealed he was trying to turn back when contact was lost.
very sad news.
r.i.p martin.
best wishes to his family at this tragic time.
I have to say that it doesn't sound a very well conceived exploit.
'At that moment he was flying at over 3,000 ft at a speed of 74mph, about two miles off the French coast. His last contact with French air traffic control in Lille was at 1250 GMT, when he advised that due to the weather he couldn't get into Le Touquet and was diverting to Abbeville.'
You don't need an airport, you can land a microlight anywhere - and with that height and speed and only two miles to go... and had he not planned for an emergency water landing?
'At that moment he was flying at over 3,000 ft at a speed of 74mph, about two miles off the French coast. His last contact with French air traffic control in Lille was at 1250 GMT, when he advised that due to the weather he couldn't get into Le Touquet and was diverting to Abbeville.'
You don't need an airport, you can land a microlight anywhere - and with that height and speed and only two miles to go... and had he not planned for an emergency water landing?
Simpo Two said:
I have to say that it doesn't sound a very well conceived exploit.
'At that moment he was flying at over 3,000 ft at a speed of 74mph, about two miles off the French coast. His last contact with French air traffic control in Lille was at 1250 GMT, when he advised that due to the weather he couldn't get into Le Touquet and was diverting to Abbeville.'
You don't need an airport, you can land a microlight anywhere - and with that height and speed and only two miles to go... and had he not planned for an emergency water landing?
There are several threads running on the usual forum sites on the subject - in fact, for a while on Pprune the post accident discussion was on a thread started by the poor chap in question a couple of weeks ago - I'm glad to see they've sorted that out now. There was also one on the News section of PH, but that rapidly turned unpleasant and is best left alone.'At that moment he was flying at over 3,000 ft at a speed of 74mph, about two miles off the French coast. His last contact with French air traffic control in Lille was at 1250 GMT, when he advised that due to the weather he couldn't get into Le Touquet and was diverting to Abbeville.'
You don't need an airport, you can land a microlight anywhere - and with that height and speed and only two miles to go... and had he not planned for an emergency water landing?
The weather conditions over the channel at the time were marginal, and appeared to deteriorate as he was crossing. Microlights (or any aircraft without appropriate instrumentation, and an instrument-rated pilot) do not mix well with IMC conditions.
Very sad indeed, all the more so considering what the chap was trying to achieve.
Simpo Two said:
I have to say that it doesn't sound a very well conceived exploit.
'At that moment he was flying at over 3,000 ft at a speed of 74mph, about two miles off the French coast. His last contact with French air traffic control in Lille was at 1250 GMT, when he advised that due to the weather he couldn't get into Le Touquet and was diverting to Abbeville.'
You don't need an airport, you can land a microlight anywhere - and with that height and speed and only two miles to go... and had he not planned for an emergency water landing?
According to a video interview with him before he left (on the Times Online website), he had a liferaft and all the gear needed for ditching in the sea. Apparently he'd turned around and was trying to get back to England for some reason.'At that moment he was flying at over 3,000 ft at a speed of 74mph, about two miles off the French coast. His last contact with French air traffic control in Lille was at 1250 GMT, when he advised that due to the weather he couldn't get into Le Touquet and was diverting to Abbeville.'
You don't need an airport, you can land a microlight anywhere - and with that height and speed and only two miles to go... and had he not planned for an emergency water landing?
Yes, it is a tragedy - an experienced pilot, well prepared and well intentioned.
Don't fly microlights myself, prefer the fan above my head, but they are very versatile machines, fly IMC and have been involved in many amazing achievements. Didn't Colin Bodill fly around the world in a Thruster, accompanying Jennifer Murray on her 'solo' world trip in her Robinson R44?
Yes, any trip like this has a high risk element, but it's sad that it ended so prematurely.
let's hope the original cause gets the support it deserves - http://www.justgiving.com/flytoaus
Don't fly microlights myself, prefer the fan above my head, but they are very versatile machines, fly IMC and have been involved in many amazing achievements. Didn't Colin Bodill fly around the world in a Thruster, accompanying Jennifer Murray on her 'solo' world trip in her Robinson R44?
Yes, any trip like this has a high risk element, but it's sad that it ended so prematurely.
let's hope the original cause gets the support it deserves - http://www.justgiving.com/flytoaus
Simpo
Field landings in fog generally end badly and in France cause no end of hassle with the local plod. Not least if it is your point of entry into the country.
Ditching in flex wing is a very tricky thing. There are so many things like wires and struts to get trapped by not to mention being flung around on impact.
Geneve
Colin Bodill used a flex wing of some sort not a truster.
All in all a very sad end to what should have been a great adventure.
Field landings in fog generally end badly and in France cause no end of hassle with the local plod. Not least if it is your point of entry into the country.
Ditching in flex wing is a very tricky thing. There are so many things like wires and struts to get trapped by not to mention being flung around on impact.
Geneve
Colin Bodill used a flex wing of some sort not a truster.
All in all a very sad end to what should have been a great adventure.
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