I apologize.In light of your situation, my remarks come across as flippant. But helos are hazardous. The only SAR related memorial service I attended was for two Arizona DPS pilot who crashed returning from their last mission. They had dropped off three of our volunteers about twenty minutes before their ship turned into a rock.

No apologies necessary. I didn't take your remark as flippant. I took it as realistic.

Having flown in helos both for work, and for SAR, I have a love-hate thing with them. On the one hand, a helicopter is like a magic carpet. You decide "I want to go there" and it takes you there, to a place it would take many hard hours (if not days) to reach on foot. On the other hand, they scare the crap out of me.

I am reminded of a quote:

My feelings are very similar to yours and definitely ambivalent. I resolved long ago that I would jump, either on or under, a helicopter to participate in a significant mission. But I would never get near one for something frivolous or insignificant.

These days there are commercial sightseeing helicopter tours in the Black Hills (South Dakota) and the Grand Canyon. I wouldn't go on one of those if you paid me.

The Reasoner quote,or something very similar,is said to explain why plane pilots are happy and optimistic, while helicopter pilots are always frowning and worried.

10,000 parts flying in close formation. I'm sorry about your friend, AKSAR.

AKSAR, my condolences. Some 35 years ago I worked in a Hospital which had a helicopter transport service as a part of its ambulance service. I never got to ride on a helicopter transport. Once I was irritated about that. No longer. Helicopters just scare me now.

In the Army I was Quickly was Taught the 5P's "Poor Planning Provides Poor Performance". In reality I was really taught the the 7P's in the 1980's, but political correctness soon got rid of 2 of them!