Poof. Just like that. I lost two Russian friends over the weekend.

[DFW]

Well, more like one was a friend and one was HIS friend that I had known for years but was not close to. My friend was only 18 when the Soviet Union collapsed. He adapted, moved from his Siberian home to Moscow, and, atypically, did well in the business world by being honest and straight with everybody—not a given in Russia. His friend was older by 14 years, still had that Soviet era mentality that honesty was not always the best policy, but always had this jovial « things will work out » attitude, and they apparently usually did. This time it did not work out. My friend had bought a tiny single-engine plane he was still learning on. He had apparently carelessly given the controls to his older friend for a moment, and that was all the time he needed to clip a power line. They lost control and crashed into a river. Neither survived.

We were all going to be in the Chicago area in a few weeks at the same time. And now *poof* things have changed. Permanently. Take nothing for granted. Take no one for granted.

[mercuryblues]

1. Sorry tohear about the loss of your friends

[DFW]

4. Friends, especially younger friends

You just always take them for granted, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way.

[FakeNoose]

2. Sorry for the loss of your friends

I've always thought that people shouldn't be allowed to buy their own small plane until they've already earned their pilot's license. So many things can happen and most of them aren't good.

[DFW]

3. Russians love bending the rules

That was the only way you got anywhere in the Soviet era, and the mentality is still quite prevalent there. Maxim may have had a pilot’s license for all I know, but I’m sure Konstantin did not, and he probably took the cockpit controls no more seriously than a canoe paddle. For all his cleverness, that’s just the way he was—a smart 60 year old kid who thought he was immortal.

[Major Nikon]

8. Many people buy a plane to learn to fly in

In order to do it legally you have to fly with an instructor until you are signed off to solo and even then are limited to the airports your instructor has authorized. Most other countries have pretty much the same rules.

It’s really no different than renting an aircraft and doing the same thing.

[DFW]

9. I have no clue what Russian civil aviation laws are

But if they are like any other laws over there, they are carved in jello, not stone.

[Major Nikon]

11. Aviation is much more international than other industries

I know several Russian commercial pilots. All are former military and quite good at what they do. Those I have flown with had as much respect for the rules as anyone, but they wouldn’t last long flying internationally otherwise. As far as how their aviation is domestically the accident rate over there speaks for itself, but I’m sure it’s still far safer than driving.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Sorry for your loss.

[Sherman A1]

6. My condolences on your loss

Your words Take nothing for granted. Take no one for granted are so very true.

[panader0]

7. When I was 18 my friend at Pacific U, in Forest Grove, Oregon

knew a guy who was trying to get hours logged for his license.
We went up with him in a small Cessna and cruised over the Columbia
and Portland. I was nervous because his knowledge of English and his
radio skills were lacking. He was Chinese. I loved the flight, the sights,
but decided not to go again. Two weeks later he crashed and died, alone.
Ed

[MustLoveBeagles]

10. I'm sorry for the loss of your friends

[Rhiannon12866]

12. Oh, I am so very sorry!

I visited the USSR back in 1986 with my grandmother's peace group and met so many lovely people. I think of them often these days and wonder how they are. We had so much hope back then And I agree, life can change in a moment, I find I'm missing so many these days.