Helicopter designer and pilot dead after crash near Okotoks
By MADELINE SMITH StarMetro Calgary
Mon., July 16, 2018
CALGARY—An Alberta designer of lightweight helicopters is dead after a crash northeast of Okotoks, Alta., on Sunday.
John Uptigrove was the pilot of the ultralight helicopter that went down around 5:30 p.m., according to his business partner Dwight Junkin, the owner of Composite FX in Trenton, Fla.
RCMP say fishermen called police after they saw the helicopter crash, and the 54-year-old pilot, from Rocky View County, was the only person on board. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Uptigrove’s company, Innovator Technologies, designed a line of helicopters called Mosquito, and Junkin’s company produced and distributed the parts and kits for owners to build their own helicopters.
A statement from Junkin’s company offers condolences and asks the “Mosquito community” to be respectful of Uptigrove’s family.
John Upitgrove Passes in Mosquito Accident
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Re: John Upitgrove Passes in Mosquito Accident
He had some interesting designs, sorry to hear of the loss.
Regards,
Regards,
'Mankind has a perfect record in aviation - we have never left one up there!'
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