jahgirl8 wrote: 
Kobe was not the pilot. 

Kobe is king here in L.A. He meant so much to all of us. And you're right, he should not have been flying that helicopter. He got all his requisite certifications, yada yada, but he was a hobby amateur pilot. Real pilots know about the fog that was there, and the way the machine handles in the extra pressure of fog, and how to handle such low visibility. A man who can afford a pilot, should hire one when he ferries 9 people. I'm all for getting your own maching and flying it maybe with a friend or two. He got his certifications and they wanted to sell him the most expensive machine they could.  There's blood on many hands in this situation, and lessons to be learned. If 9 people need to be transported, you need a near professional, former professional or current professional to fly them, period.

I am not a fan of spectator sports but this man appears to be very popular and for lots of good reasons.  Talking to a buddy last night, it would seem that Kobe has lots of admiring fans up here in Canada.  Sad.

I have been up and down numerous times in small helicopters, especially many decades ago while slashing seismic lines for oil and gas exploration in the Canadian Rocky mountains — both in SE British Columbia and SW Alberta.  Back in those days, large straight lanes were still cleared with chain saws.  These days, the jug lines are run around and in between trees, a major improvement.  Clear cut seismic lines can have negative ecological impacts.  I digress. 

Our camp helicopter pilot had an accident and ended up spending several weeks recovering in hospital.  The stats of helicopters are not pretty — it is the most dangerous form of modern transportation.  I believe helicopter use is even more dangerous in mountain ranges due to shifting winds. 

It is indeed spectacular to fly around the Rockies in a helicopter but frankly if I never get in one again I will be very, very happy. 

 Prodigal_SOB wrote:
 
Every helicopter pilot I've met has been cautious to a fault, and it sounds like this company is no exception. And yet they were flying VFR in fog, when other helicopters were grounded. The pressure to not "be the bad guy" and tell Kobe you can't fly must be immense. 

 Prodigal_SOB wrote:
 

Just saw that. Only 41. Sad.

  Kobe Bryant dies at age 41 in helicopter crash in California

If you grew up in the Philly area, you'll remember  Gene London

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.co...

 sirdroseph wrote: 
Most singers wouldn't mind leaving the way Olney did...Singing on stage, apologize to the audience, bow your head, and die. 

 maryte wrote: 
Sad indeed.

 maryte wrote: 
Yea just saw this and the David Olney from yesterday.  Very sad indeed.

Terry Jones

David Olney
.
Olney died of an apparent heart attack during a performance onstage at the 30A Songwriter Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, on January 18, 2020, at age 71. He was in the middle of his third song "when he stopped, apologized and shut his eyes," Amy Rigby said of Olney. "David was playing a song when he paused, said 'I'm sorry' and put his chin to his chest. He never dropped his guitar or fell off his stool. It was as easy and gentle as he was," fellow singer Scott Miller said.
.
Olney was a revered figure in the folk-rock and Americana communities who had recorded 20 albums of his own as well as having his songs covered by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Del McCoury and his former roommate Steve Earle.

Neil Peart’s Essential Songs: Hear 10 Tracks - NYT

Edd Byrnes @ 87

 ScottN wrote:
 
Sad - he was a great one and was the standard for prog rock drummers. Rest In Peace, Neil; will never forget your live shows.

 ScottN wrote:
 
WTH?!? I just watched the video for "Subdivisions" the other night on YouTube. I have no real knowledge of drumming but his work always seemed crisp, precise and integrated with the other instruments.

 ScottN wrote: 

sad to hear this

i played drums in a past life and among musicians i knew he was respected and revered

saw him with rush several times and always a great show

rip

Neil Peart, Rush Drummer Who Set a New Standard for Rock Virtuosity, Dead at 67

 buddy wrote:
 


From 1959-62, he generated some notoriety by pretending to be G. Clifford Prout Jr., the president of the Society for Indecency to Naked Animals (SINA). Henry called the prank organization 'a parody of uptight, silly morality chasers.' (Slogans included 'A nude horse is a rude horse.') But Walter Cronkite, who broadcast a serious segment on SINA for CBS News, never forgave Henry for not letting him in on the joke."