I just heard that a Contract Bell 207 went down in Northern California on a fire and 2 Canadair CL-415's have crashed in Europe fighting fires....
One of them was here in Greece.. :-\ http://news.ert.gr/en/c/7/26312.asp (http://news.ert.gr/en/c/7/26312.asp)
This is a video circulating the media the past days. It was made by one of the two pilots that were killed in the crash and shows their line of work. http://www.haf.gr/media/cl-415.wmv (http://www.haf.gr/media/cl-415.wmv)
|:)\ |:)\ |:)\ |:)\ |:)\
Right now, another fire is raging right on our doorstep here http://news.ert.gr/en/c/7/26347.asp (http://news.ert.gr/en/c/7/26347.asp) http://news.ert.gr/en/c/7/26353.asp (http://news.ert.gr/en/c/7/26353.asp) right next to where my mom's family lives..
Not feeling very funny these last days, sorry guys..
Title: Re: A bad year for those who fly to fight fire
Post by: Mike on July 27, 2007, 04:38:20 AM
Aw Gee, too bad, sounds like he had a neat life------I hope he has blue skies and fair winds on his westward journey |:)\ |:)\
You know guys, . . . Dennis was a friend of mine. I really looked up to this guy. He taught me a lot of stuff and I was lucky to know him and to work with him on fires and to hang out with him and his crew when he was flying the Moab ship. I believe he crashed 3 times before in his life, twice while flying in Vietnam. He flew Dust-Off back then and it's one of the main reasons while I respected him this much. He also was a naturpathic doctor and had a degree in irologie. This is a tough thing for me and kind of puts a shadow on my comic-con experience.
The thing that comforts me is that he really had almost no regrets. He lived a full live and died quickly doing what he loved the most. If I had my choice, I'd chose this over the long ordeal my mom had to go through.
How about we have a cold one in his name tonight?!
Title: Re: A bad year for those who fly to fight fire
Post by: G-man on July 27, 2007, 05:38:05 AM
Never knew Dennis, but I have known many that are no longer with us---unfortunately too many....once again I think this poem sums it all up:
Flight is freedom in its purest form, To dance with the clouds which follow a storm;
To roll and glide, to wheel and spin, To feel the joy that swells within;
To leave the earth with its troubles and fly, And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;
Then back to earth at the end of a day, Released from the tensions which melted away.
Should my end come while I am in flight, Whether brightest day or darkest night;
Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain, Secure in the knowledge that I'd do it again;
For each of us is created to die, And within me I know, I was born to fly.
Just had a "Martoooni" in the name of Dennis........
Title: Re: A bad year for those who fly to fight fire
Post by: TheSoccerMom on July 27, 2007, 05:48:46 AM
Hear, hear. |:)\
Dennis was obviously a fine pilot and a gentleman. My condolences to his friends, family and crew.
It has been a tough year already, yet it seems every year, somehow, has that hard side to it. May we toast him, and all the others.
With respect......
Title: Re: A bad year for those who fly to fight fire
Post by: TheSoccerMom on July 28, 2007, 03:43:35 AM
It has been a tough summer for a lot of folks.... but on the brighter side, I must say that AT-802 is one helluva tough machine.... strong and tough! It was strong enough to protect a good friend of all of ours, and take care of him last week when he went down.
So, Thanks to a good aircraft.
|:)\
Title: Re: A bad year for those who fly to fight fire
Post by: TheSoccerMom on October 01, 2007, 03:09:17 AM
A few weeks ago, another SEAT hit some trees (at least, one good-sized green one), and the pilot made it back to the airport.
I'm more and more impressed with that airframe... the tree made a pretty big hole but that a/c got him back alright.
TIME FOR A COLD ONE AND REMEMBRANCE OF THE TOUGH SUMMER THAT TOOK SOME OF OUR FRIENDS.
In Respect and Memory. |:)\
Title: Re: A bad year for those who fly to fight fire
Post by: airtac on October 01, 2007, 02:40:53 PM
::drinking:: Fair skies |:)\
Title: Re: A bad year for those who fly to fight fire
Post by: TheSoccerMom on October 03, 2007, 11:44:25 PM
And today is the anniversary of T-99, in southern California.
I'll toast Carl and his copilot tonight.... |:)\
He was always fun to fly with. Hat's off..... |:)\
Title: Re: A bad year for those who fly to fight fire
Post by: Frank N. O. on October 04, 2007, 08:26:05 AM
My respect and gratidude to those risking their lives to save others |:)\
