Two die in Glider mid-air

Witnesses indicate two sailplanes in the same thermal.

Anyone have pilot names or are these Alberta Soaring Council people?
Some of them were just here with their new winch, visiting us in the
Southwest US.


http://WWW.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...der-crash.html

Karen

I have no other details but do know they were both Invermere locals.

Hard to think of anything other than pilot error for a mid air. Even with my relative lack of experience, I have had a close call or three. Thus far the best advice I have been given is that if I don't like how someone is flying in a thermal, go find another thermal.

Walt

On Sep 5, 2:43*am, Hagbard Celine wrote:
I have no other details but do know they were both Invermere locals.

Both flew out of Invermere, but one lived in Calgary, the other in
Kelowna, B.C.
Few details are known at this time.
The names of the pilots have not been released pending notification of
next of kin.
Condolences to their families and friends is about all we can say at
the moment.

On Sep 5, 7:20*am, Walt Connelly Walt.Connelly.
wrote:
Hard to think of anything other than pilot error for a mid air. *Even
with my relative lack of experience, I have had a close call or three.
Thus far the best advice I have been given is that if I don't like how
someone is flying in a thermal, go find another thermal. *

Walt

--
Walt Connelly

perhaps we can combine this tragic accident with the recent thread
about the "joy of soaring" book and have a discussion about how to
avoid these accidents by having better reading/instructional material
available.

Brad

On Sep 5, 8:20*am, Walt Connelly Walt.Connelly.
wrote:
Hard to think of anything other than pilot error for a mid air. *Even
with my relative lack of experience, I have had a close call or three.
Thus far the best advice I have been given is that if I don't like how
someone is flying in a thermal, go find another thermal. *

Walt

--
Walt Connelly

Wave at them. If they don't wave back........

On Sep 5, 2:43*am, Hagbard Celine wrote:
I have no other details but do know they were both Invermere locals.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/09/05...liders-mourned

"Friends within a tight-knit flying club are still coming to terms
with the loss of two of their own, victims of a deadly mid-air crash
near Windermere, B.C. The men have been identified as Calgary
resident Keith Watson, 50, and Kelowna’s Ray Perino, 59, longtime
sailplane enthusiasts who had become friends through the Canadian
Rockies Soaring Club."

Originally Posted by Frank Whiteley

On Sep 5, 2:43*am, Hagbard Celine wrote:
I have no other details but do know they were both Invermere locals.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/09/05...liders-mourned

"Friends within a tight-knit flying club are still coming to terms
with the loss of two of their own, victims of a deadly mid-air crash
near Windermere, B.C. The men have been identified as Calgary
resident Keith Watson, 50, and Kelowna’s Ray Perino, 59, longtime
sailplane enthusiasts who had become friends through the Canadian
Rockies Soaring Club."

This is the latest I have been able to find. Wait until Cookie reads this.

http://www.canada.com/health/blindne...383/story.html

I guess there are times of day and geographies where being blinded by the sun is a possibility but under such conditions I think I would depart the thermal.

Walt

Fare well, Smurf.
Jim
http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0...l?dsId=2119643

Walt Connelly wrote:
Hard to think of anything other than pilot error for a mid air.

Yes an no. Fact is, it's impossible for a human to see every threat in
time. Yes, we have to try, but at the same time we must admit that no
matter how hard we work at it, we will never be able to reach that goal.
That's the reason why FLARM has been developed.