RIP Jim Henderson

piranha-bro2 said:
That's very concerning material in the article Joe. I wonder how much a heli pilot fighting would be exposed c/w an on the ground firefighter. The article is brief and doesn't specify what chemicals are associated with the cancer.
Click to expand...
Not sure if it's the same but a few years ago a class action was brought against the Aus government by communities that lived near ADF bases (such as Oakey in Qld) claiming toxic chemicals (pfas) from fire fighting foam contaminated nearby land and ground water. Class action I believe was won but not sure if there has ever been conclusive scientific evidence.
Very sad news about Jim, never met him but always seemed like someone you'd like to meet. RIP
 
Last week I spoke by phone with Mary, Jim's wife, after Jim had transitioned to hospice care. I had been chatting with Jim on an ongoing basis since last summer comparing pancreatic cancer treatments and options. When I was speaking with Mary, she told me Jim was about to "leave on his last flight....."

Jim was a great guy, touched a lot of lives very positively. I really liked him. Jim will be missed.

Paul LeClair
 
piranha-bro2 said:
That's very concerning material in the article Joe. I wonder how much a heli pilot fighting would be exposed c/w an on the ground firefighter. The article is brief and doesn't specify what chemicals are associated with the cancer.
Click to expand...
There isn't a single scientific reference in those pages.
Without saying it isn't true there is too much rumour and hearsay in our societies.
Paul
 
piranha-bro2 said:
That's very concerning material in the article Joe. I wonder how much a heli pilot fighting would be exposed c/w an on the ground firefighter. The article is brief and doesn't specify what chemicals are associated with the cancer.
Click to expand...
I haven't researched it, but it seems it could be a concern for those involved in firefighting. You would think a helicopter's rotor would direct the smoke downwards, but it could also push it towards the cabin. Wonder what type of cabin filters (if any?) would have been on Jim's helicopter. I know absolutely nothing about these things.
 
Takes a lot of personality to make a big impression in a small format like this. Traded with Jim here & there over the years- wish I had the privilege to meet him in person. He will be missed on the forum and his exchanges with Paul Marx were always a treat! Would someone please post his obit when able?
 
JoePurple73 said:
I haven't researched it, but it seems it could be a concern for those involved in firefighting. You would think a helicopter's rotor would direct the smoke downwards, but it could also push it towards the cabin. Wonder what type of cabin filters (if any?) would have been on Jim's helicopter. I know absolutely nothing about these things.
Click to expand...
If he flew a UH-1H or variant, none. I don’t know about the 212 or 214 models, but I suspect that there was no filter. or climate control, less to go wrong and less weight. My commercial helicopter career was many years ago and new models have been introduced since then, but the Bells were pretty basic.
 
Shit! I'm gobsmacked and saddened by this news. I never met Jim but appreciated his sense of humour here. He came to Australia a couple of years ago to help our firefighters when we had a really bad fire season. That alone marks him as a top bloke in my book.

Re the cancer link with firefighting, maybe it's related to the fire-retardant chemicals they put in the water. When they do arial firefighting here in Aus, the water looks like it has red dye in it when it's dumped out of the aircraft.
 
It was the aqueous foam that is used on oil fires that has the worst reputation. Ended up in the soil and groundwater often at airfields from training areas.
 
Jim's death is Sad, really Sad. He never reveled his state of health in the forum nor to me. Like us, he was a Breganzie Laverda Enthusiasts and Forum member and most of all a fellow Canadian that supported not only me but all of us - My condolences to his Family and Loved ones - I'll miss his presence.

It's hard to see his eMail address in my OutLook. We did attempt to meet but distance was a no go over time. I will keep his correspondence as remembrance of a Great Person and Online Friend ;o(

RON
 
Last edited:
Laverda SF said:
Jim's death is Sad, really Sad. He never reveled his state of health in the forum nor to me. Like us, he was a Breganzie Laverda Enthusiasts and Forum member and most of all a fellow Canadian that supported not only me but all of us - My condolences to his Family and Loved ones - I'll miss his presence.

It's hard to see his eMail address in my OutLook. We did attempt to meet but distance was a no go over time. I will keep his correspondence as remembrance of a Great Person and Online Friend ;o(

RON
Click to expand...
I also view his email and messenger link every day. His enthusiasm for not just Laverda machines but also Moto Guzzi machines, where I became friends with him, was not exceeded by anyone I know of. A real cool dude!
 
  • Like
Reactions: IAG
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top