what was the coolest way you've died?

Not exactly "cool"

Saturday, April 14, at 2:50pm CST, CAF member Roy D. Green, 53 of Midland TX took his Fairchild PT-19A single engine aircraft to the skies. While flying just north of the MAF, heading due south, the plane encountered a severe downdraft, causing the aircraft to slam into the runway while attempting a touch and go. He did not survive the crash. His co-pilot/passenger, Lt. Mangred Aust of the German Air Force survived the crash with minor injuries. The craft hit nose first into the runway, smashing the entire front section up to the co-pilot seat. I mention this tragic event cause the pilot, Roy D. Green was a good friend of mine and helped me obtain my private pilots liscense, as well as let me take the controls of that very aircraft on occaision. Its a sad time for us in the CAF community. I just thought Id mention this since he too, was a fan of the Wing Commander games.

God bless you Roy.

RFB
log on to http://www.oaoa.com, sunday edition for complete story and photo of crashed aircraft
 
Thats really sad - sorry to hear it. I don't know how appropriate it is to be asking questions at such a time as this, but what is CAF?
 
Oh...I also feel sad about that. It's always tragic if a plane crashes. And of course it's always tragic if a human dies...not only by being victim of a plane crash...I feel very sorry...for him and for you and for all whom miss him.
 
Thank you all for your condolences. I will print this section of the thread and pass it along to the family.
His spirit shall live on in everyone who loves to fly, as he loved flying more than anything. He gave his time to many who needed it most. He was always happy to put aside his schedule to help anyone who needed a friend. He will be truly missed.

RFB
 
I certainly mean no disrespect, but I felt I should bring this up:

Does it seem to anyone else a little... odd... to place the notice of the death in a discussion labeled "what's the coolest way you've died?"

That said, I offer you my sympathies. It can't be an easy thing to lose a friend.
 
Odd for title

Yes it was a bit odd for this threads title. I did not want to start a new thread about someones death tho. But I felt that since Roy did enjoy the later Wing Commander games, WCIII thru Prophecy to be exact, I thought that maybe by posting it here, somehow his spirit would carry on. He may not have been very active in the WC community, but he too enjoyed the games, anything that involved a flight stick he was into, from real airplanes, RC models to computer sims.
He was always into various hobbies. Being retired and member of the CAF, he enjoyed many things most 50+ year olds wont even touch. Thats what made him special. He never would accept the fact that he was not a young pilot like all those years ago, so instead of wasting away on a couch reading newspapers all day, he got into computers and RC models, and became very active in the community and the CAF.

I apologize to anyone who might have been offended or confused by the post. Thank you all for the kind words. I will pass them on to the family.

"Your spirit will forever fly into the endless horizons of the heavens, God bless you Roy."

RFB
 
Don't worry RF, I think it was rather appropriate to place it in a 'deaths' thread. We have a lost someone close. I don't think anyone minds.
 
I, personally, thought it was a good place to post such a note -- a good reminder that in realty death *isn't* cool.

(Death, not ^Death_... he's exceedingly cool).
 
Re: Not exactly

Originally posted by RFBurns
Saturday, April 14, at 2:50pm CST, CAF member Roy D. Green, 53 of Midland TX took his Fairchild PT-19A single engine aircraft to the skies. While flying just north of the MAF, heading due south, the plane encountered a severe downdraft, causing the aircraft to slam into the runway while attempting a touch and go. He did not survive the crash. His co-pilot/passenger, Lt. Mangred Aust of the German Air Force survived the crash with minor injuries. The craft hit nose first into the runway, smashing the entire front section up to the co-pilot seat. I mention this tragic event cause the pilot, Roy D. Green was a good friend of mine and helped me obtain my private pilots liscense, as well as let me take the controls of that very aircraft on occaision. Its a sad time for us in the CAF community. I just thought Id mention this since he too, was a fan of the Wing Commander games.

God bless you Roy.

RFB
log on to http://www.oaoa.com, sunday edition for complete story and photo of crashed aircraft
Click to expand...

Though having never lost a friend yet i wish to say i feel for your loss.
my condolences and may he find peace in whichever afterlife he believed in.
 
After consideration, and the "ok" from Roy's family, I have decided to continue my "Project Centurion" in his honor. The model will have his name placed just under the canopy of the cockpit, much like they do today and in the past, placing the pilots name and rank on both sides of the canopy. Thank you all for the kind words. The family of Roy D. Green appreciates it very much!

RFB
 
I plan to publish a complete assembly manual and parts list, as well as draft assembly pages on each part that will need to be crafted from bulk material, such as some of the framing work will need to be crafted by the builder, unless a model company buys the idea and pre-manufactures the individual pieces. The frame itself will be quite a task to build since it must be able to withstand flight wind loads, and hold everything inside. Pictures and small documents will be posted at my web site and hopefully here at the CIC news pages. I have the wireframe file donated by one of the WCTC memebers (dreaddnott)and once I get this wireframe file to a format where I can print it out and blow up the print, I can begin to build the frame pieces. The frame may consist of both balsa wood parts and aluminum tubing, probably the aluminum tubing will be the "keel" and main hard points of the model.

Once completed, the hull will consist of the same thin plastic sheet material used on regular RC planes, lightweight and strechable, and of course, painted grey. Retractable landing gear with landing lights and navigation lights on the wingtips and belly. On board cameras will provide a "pilots point of view" from inside the cockpit complete with a cockpit pannel that will resemble the cockpit from the game.

A second camera, mounted just in front of the nose landing gear will provide an extra view during landings and take offs. The engine in consideration for this model will probably be a small "weedeater" type engine, a 2 cycle gas engine, since regular "cox" engines might not be powerfull enough.

Air will be pulled into the 4 engine nozzles and ducted out the same nozzels to the rear. The tail fins on top will be slightly larger in hight to allow for a rudder control surface, plus increased stabalization. The delta wing will keep its shape, except for a slight increase in thickness from the front edge of the wing and narrowing towards the back. Each wing will have a full length alieron control surface with two functions, one for roll and turn, the other function will serve as flaps and or elevator assistance during take offs and landings. All that will be wind tested using large industrial fans.

Just a small detail of what the project will require and I estimate that the framework alone will take a few months to complete, mostly due to drafting each part after test fitting, then draw up the part full size and document the process. By the time its all said and done, it will be like the assembly instructions found in other model kits, except for the model itself, but the book will have a complete listing of all the materials you will need, plus detailed instructions on cutting each part from those raw materials, radio and servo parts listings and where to find those parts, recommended engine types as well as complete wind test data.

Off to buy more material!! :)

RFB
 
BTW, how much does it cost if you really want to start RC flying? I am not that good (yet) in building things myself, so what I want is an easy flying model with wheels that can start and land from the ground, has a combustion engine, an RC unit that can be upgraded for later models so that I do not have to buy another expensive transmitter later on.

Do you have any ideas how much that would cost? And how difficult is flying with it (my flying "experience" is MS Flight simulator with a CH flightstick)?

I live in Denmark, but prices in USD, D-Mark or Danish Kroner will do.

Greetings Michael
 
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