Or if you prefer, 'vriendlik groete' a nice introduction that I learned from JetRanger.
As some of you are now aware, I tend to place my feet in Oliphant k@k from time to time. Well, 'verskoon my' but I may just be about to do it again, so start walking Mr Oliphant and have a dump here and there for me to tread in. By the way oh knight's of the sky. The only reason I drop myself into the proverbial is because I care and when I care I do something about it and I care about this post because it includes you all and I care about you too.
Short while ago, we had a post on covering the cost's of running the web site. I suggested then that we, as a group of Microlighters, should consider paying a monthly contribution by DD and I explained why. I still consider it to be a good idea so I am loath to give it up until I am told too in a direct manner.
Flying can be dangerous, if it wasn't then you wouldn't have rules to follow and people to guide you and watch over you like Leprechaun. JetRanger has also passed a lot of information to me to read before I start to learn and I am very grateful for his interest. He said "If it helps you to fly safe, then it's worth it. Do your ground checks. Complete your pre-flight checks etc etc. Check, check, check and then go flying, but even then things can go horribly wrong.
Even the most experienced make mistakes and when it happens, it effects many things in the Pilots life. I won't list them because you don't need me to remind you, do you? You have all witnessed or experienced the pain of another, what I am suggesting is support. Financial support at times of need for fellow microlighters from NSEW when the k@k hits the fan, or in this case, the prop. Now we are finally getting there and all the different emotions that humans feel are starting to rise to the surface. Let's be positive guys.
When your machine hits the ground when you don't want it too in the UK, the chap in the green paramedic suit comes to your aid and there is no charge. I repeat gentlemen, there is no charge. Whether you end up in traction or just break a toe, there is no charge. I have the utmost respect for Ranger and Andre even though we have never met but consider please or as you say 'asseblief' the medical bills that these two colleagues of our's are facing and god forbid, any one of us could face the same at anytime regardless of how good a Pilot you are.
We could join together and create a fund. A Medical Fund if you wish to call it that and it wouldn't cost much. Bottle of klipdrift once a month or even less at R50. Before the keyboards start rattling away, consider this. You have a Forum where you get together. You exchange idea's, you help each other. You arrange 'Fly In's' 'Breakfast In's and whatever In's you enjoy doing, in other words you support each other in doing what you enjoy doing. All I am suggesting is that we help other pilots in need to get back to flying over Africa without them or their Families having to face crippling medical bills.
Fifty Rand a month is not a lot on it's own Guy's, but could be a Million Rand collectively.
Nothing I can do now but hold the stick firmly, brace the rudder bars and weather the storm if I have made an error of judgement:
Alles van die beste
I have always considered pilots honest and trustworthy 
), is I have two doubts. First whether there would be enough mass here to start a fund of any worthy significance. Second doubt is the rules of the fund would probably always be up for debate. For instance in the one accident reported here - every one was sympathetic etc, but when official report came out, the pilot was breaking the law at the time. So in that instance the fund may have made a contribution to a law breaker. Would this be acceptable - that would probably be too much to debate and I could see many collars doing overtime.
