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25 Dead Spies

Not Here Still

18:47 / 05.02.02

Well, it's more likely to get you reading than 'Lords Inquiry Into Chinook Crash' - isn't it?

But doesn't anyone else wonder about this case?

Why were 25 experts all on the same flight?

Why are the Government so keen to blame the pilots?

What are they hiding?

It stinks, if you ask me.

I was going to post a lot more on this, but my computer stopped working for a bit as I was amassing the post (I blame THEM, of course), and I can't be bothered to go back and gather it all together again at the moment.

But I will if anyone is interested; I just wanted to get this out there and ask for thoughts...

Less searchable M0rd4nt

20:44 / 05.02.02

I don't really know much about this, beyond what's in the article.

I will say, however, that IMO the Chinook is a dodgy peice of engineering. The two sets of rotor-blades seem to have an unfortunate tendancy to get in each other's way, thus causing the wretched things to drop out of the sky at awkward moments.

My suspicion is that this particular incident was the result of a design flaw, and the reason the Government would like to blame the pilots is to avoid compensation claims relating to similar cases.

Although that still leaves the question: Why were all those experts on the same flight?

Not Here Still

08:38 / 06.02.02

Well, yes. It does rather, doesn't it?

I think I'm interested in this story because one way or another, there does seem to be a bit of a cover-up here.

As you say, the Chinook seems to be a bit of a badly designed aircraft.

But couple that with poor control software, and it's a recipe for disaster.

The FADEC system used upon the 'copter seems to be a bit dodgy, according to Computer Weekly. (nb: this web page loads funny on my computer)

And if that wasn't enough to get people worried, there is an even more outlandish suggestion relating to the testing of a top-secret plane nearby to contend with.

The Register's suggestion on the crash

An Aurora project homepage

I'd like this to be a nomadic thread eventually, so that it could go in science.

But I put it here first because teh political beast in me was getting angry with the Government.

I'll keep digging on this, but it sure worries me...

Not Here Still

10:35 / 06.02.02

Guardian Archive report 1:, Friday June 3, 1994(day after the crash)

Guardian archive report 2: Analysis from Satuday, June 4, 1994

Official version:

Air Chief Marshal Sir William Wratten's statement giving his version of the events

Not Here Still

10:42 / 06.02.02

Took me a while - a House of Lords' report on the crash

Right, I'll stop linking for a bit now. Mainly because that's a massive report and I haven't read it yet.

Anyone want to jump in here?

[edited because I'd linked to the written evidence, rather than the report]

[ 06-02-2002: Message edited by: Not Me Again ]

Opalfruit

08:51 / 07.02.02

If I remember correctly there was a similar row over Chinook's when one went down in the North Sea transporting Oil Rig workers. I think there was another military one that went down in the last 15 years as well.

quote:Nov 7th 1986
Forty-five people died in the UK when a British International Helicopters Chinook crashed into the sea off Sumburgh in the Shetland Isles. The Chinook, which was ferrying personnel from an offshore oil production platform, disintegrated on impact. Two survivors were found, a passenger and one of the crew. The Chinook was withdrawn from service in the UK sector of the North Sea after the accident, although a few continued to fly in the Norwegian sector.

Worst Air Disasters List

Not Here Still

10:04 / 09.02.02

Shall I write this as an article for the zine so it can be ignored there instead?

[ 09-02-2002: Message edited by: Not Me Again ]

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