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Proudly Australian website - Most recent Update: Saturday 22nd November 2008
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WELL KNOWN HELICOPTER PILOT AND SPRINT CAR CHAMPION MARK GROSVENOR DEAD IN ULTRALIGHT FIXED WING ACCIDENT IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
Greg Weir
Photo of Mark Grosvenor by Brad Fleet
The Darwin Speedway Drivers Association says Territory sprintcar driver Mark Grosvenor was one of two people killed when a light plane crashed at an airstrip near Pine Creek yesterday afternoon.
Police were called to Jindare Station, about 40 kilometres south-west of Pine Creek, at about 1:30pm.
Police have not yet officially confirmed that the 38-year-old NorthernTerritorian was on the plane. Officers were due to resume an examination of the wreckage at first light this morning.
A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman says the plane was a two-seater kit-built aircraft known as a VANS RV7.
Grosvenor's company Albatross Helicopters is expected to comment some time later today.
In January 2008, Mark Grosvenor, 38, was competing in a race at the Bacchus Marsh Speedway in Victoria, when his car ploughed into a wall injuring him seriously. The vehicle crumpled on impact, trapping him for 40 minutes. Paramedics at the event treated him before he was flown to the Alfred hospital in Melbourne. Doctors placed Mark Grosvenor in an induced coma, a condition he remained in for several days. His family maintained a bedside vigil. The popular helicopter pilot and father had been in Victoria trying to further his sprintcar career after a successful season in his home area, the Northern Territory, in 2007.
Gary Pendlebury, from Sprintcars NT, said a mechanical fault had caused Mark Grosvenor's car to crash into the wall at more than 150km/h. "Bacchus Marsh is one of the largest tracks in Australia, so it does allow the guys to get a lot of speed up," he said. "In Darwin the track's a bit smaller, so they probably only get up to about 120km/h, but he would have been doing up to 160km/h."
Mark Grosvenor also walked away from a crash in Warrnambool Victoria earlier in January 2008, but he had otherwise been enjoying a successful southern season.
Mr Grosvenor had decided to head south after his most successful Territory season to date, including a breakthrough victory in the blue-ribbon Chariots of Thunder event at Northline Speedway in September 2007.
Away from the track, Mr Grosvenor had developed a reputation as a well-respected businessman as owner and chief pilot of Noonamah-based Albatross Helicopters. "He was a hell of a pilot, I can tell you that much," Mr Pendlebury said. "He wasn't a bad pilot in the sprintcar, either."
WESTPAC HELICOPTER SRVICE TO CONTINUE AS NORMAL NOW
Garry Luxton
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service will continue, with it's management signing a 3 year renewed contract for water based rescue work, which will expire in 2011. At a visit to the Helicopter base, following the signing of the new contract, Westpac CEO, Gail Kelly, praised the crew and pilots and added that Westpac’s employees are proud to support the Helicopter service. This year, the service celebrates it's thirty-fifth year of community service in the air.
“We are all thankful for the dedication, skill and bravery of everyone involved with the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service,” Ms Kelly said.
“Westpac’s partnership with this vital community service spans three decades and highlights our long-term commitment to supporting rescue services around
A familiar sight over
Peter Yates, Chief Pilot for the service said: “While the Westpac Rescue Helicopter is no longer tasked as an aero-medical service, it continues to provide a vital community service of coastal surveillance and rescue operations.”
Back in active service, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter will again be watching over
Working with police and other rescue services, the Helicopter will conduct search and rescue operations as required and help keep
Based at La Perouse in the
It has the ability to reach either the
UPCOMING AVIATION EVENTS
With Jamie Campbell www.Aeroclub.com.au
Nov 22 Mittagong, NSW, CASA AvSafety Seminar & BBQNov 22 Corryong, VIC, The Southern Cloud Tribute
Nov 22-23 Wahring, VIC, Goulburn Valley Soaring Open Day and Fly-In
Nov 23 Tumbarumba, NSW, Tumbarumba Boggy Creek Fly-In
Nov 28-29 Murrayfield (near Mandurah), WA, WALAC
Nov 29 Luskintyre, NSW, LAFM Luskintyre Christmas Party
Nov 29 Heck Field, NSW, CASA AvSafety Seminar and BBQ
Nov 29 Richmond RAAF Base, NSW, RRFC Fly-In 29 Nov 2008
Nov 29 Griffith, NSW, GAC Christmas & Wings Presentation night
Nov 29 Lethbridge Airpark, VIC, Antique Aeroplane Assoc of Aust - VIC Toy Run
Nov 29 Lethbridge, VIC, AAAA Lethbridge Toy Run
Nov 29-30 Narromine, NSW, Narromine
Nov 29-30 Cooma, NSW, Aveo Phantom Official Launch **Date Change**
Nov 30 Caboolture, QLD, Antique Aeroplane Assoc of Aust - QLD Toy Run
Nov 30 Truro Flats Airpark, SA, Antique Aeroplane Assoc of Aust - SA Toy Run
Nov 30-Dec 1 Narromine, NSW, Gliding
Dec 3 Bankstown, NSW, CASA AvSafety Seminar and BBQ
Dec 4-5 Beijing, Oth, China Aviation Outlook & North Asia LCC 2008
Dec 6 Luskintyre, NSW, LAFM Lunch with the Tiger Moths
Dec 6 Luskintyre, NSW, Antique Aeroplane Assoc Aust - NSW Toy Run
Dec 6 Bullcreek (Perth), WA, Lancaster Day 2008
Dec 14 Maryborough, VIC, MAC Christmas Fly-In
Dec 20 Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island, QLD, Straddie Christmas Breakfast Fly-In
DO YOU WANT YOUR HELICOPTER OR PLANE
PAINTED IN OILS ON CANVAS?
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Contact Alan Craddock at klattu@bigpond.com or ring on 0412 540 854.
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