Well done all concerned !

[cowpatz]

QUOTE (chopper_nut @ Jan 8 2015,2:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If he wasn't wearing a helmet, which he wouldn't have been, then the chances of getting knocked out in the accident go up dramatically (the reason I ALWAYS wear a helmet now). Going into the water and then getting knocked out would most likely have been fatal.

Chopper_nut doing what you do I'd wear a helmet and a suit of armour like Ironman3 .....
http://player.vimeo.com/video/115532128

I did a little bit of meatbombing in my time. All I needed to have done is one jump....and that was static line. Jumping out with no reserve and probably no freefall experience (especially low alt....a brave chap) I'd risk it in the XL thanks, especially if it was off runway 17.
If it was at 2000ft AGL and in a now empty aeroplane (once the jumpers were away) it would have been quite a straight forward forced landing. Plus the XL is a rugged beast.
Still this is only from dubious reports. There may have been other issues not yet known.

[chopper_nut]

Haha. Danger Zone is going in my head every time I hit the starter

[cowpatz]

One lunch time, many moons ago when I was running Commercial pilot and Instrument rating theory courses at Ardmore, a certain Heli rescue pilot from Taupo (who used to commute to and from the course in a then 'new on the NZ scene' R22 helicopter) invited me to go up for a fly. I took one look inside at the cyclic control set up (being what appeared to be just a Tee section of 19mm aluminum tubing with a pip pin at the intersection and two Masport lawnmower/wheelbarrow rubber hand grips to hold onto) and respectfully declined the invitation.....
During a LA layover I did manage to meet Mr Robinson during breakfast. He regularly used to have breakfast at our hotel in Torrance. A very interesting chap.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jan 9 2015,4:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I did manage to meet Mr Robinson during breakfast. He regularly used to have breakfast at our hotel in Torrance. A very interesting chap.

Its a 'well done' on that one as well, Mr Robinson, It is good to chew the fat with top end av celeb's, .. think the biggest thing I found they really get interested in is the construction of the models .. they finally get a break from repeating exactly what is almost line for line for the media.

[chopper_nut]

There are things I don't like about Robinsons but at the end of the day, I have over 1000 hours in them with only two mag failures in that time and of course, that's an engine issue not an airframe issue. Frank changed the industry.