Nomination for the 2012 Darwin awards

[RogerS]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-t ... l-20242535

 

[MickCheese]

Fantastic

The pioneering sprit lives on

Actually it hasn't lived on, has it! :roll:

Is that a case of confidence in excess of ability I wonder?

Mick

 

[wombar]

Surely someone wouldn't just jump into a microlight and take off with little/no experience? Would they?

I'll have a bash at learning most things myself, but flying isn't one of them

 

[RogerS]

Surely someone wouldn't just jump into a microlight and take off with little/no experience? Would they?

I'll have a bash at learning most things myself, but flying isn't one of them

It's possible that he was already a pilot (powered or glider) and thought 'That looks easy'.

 

[Limey Lurker]

>Surely someone wouldn't just jump into a microlight and take off with little/no experience? Would they?


Orville Wright did.

 

[wombar]

Yeah he must have had some experience in one form or another.

 

[RogerM]

Yeah he must have had some experience in one form or another.

Don't bank on it. 30 years ago I used to teach hang gliding for a living and some people used to phone up and when they found out how much it cost they said that they'd give it a try on their own and then if they liked it they would book up for lessons.

 

[colinc]

In the USA it is entirely legal (if not exactly sensible) for anyone to get into and (attempt) to fly an FAR 103 compliant Ultralight.

In the UK it is illegal to act as a pilot without an appropriate licence for that type of aircraft, but there is now a category of aircraft called SSDR (single seat de-regulated) which can be built and flown without any approval or inspection as long as the pilot has the appropriate licence.

regards,

Colin

 

[Benchwayze]

I must be getting slow.
Trying to figure out the 'Darwin' connection; I surmise it must have something to do with 'Natural Selection' and the 'Survival of the Fittest.' I.e, there's one 'stupidity' gene that won't be reproduced. (Unless he has already procreated.)
But I still don't know if I surmise correctly, re the Darwin Award! :mrgreen:

 

[Benchwayze]

>Surely someone wouldn't just jump into a microlight and take off with little/no experience? Would they?


Orville Wright did.

I read somewhere that a Brit also did it; before the Wright brothers too. I could be wrong. 8)