Alex James

Black Hawk down

Alex James spends time with the Colombian special forces

issue 27 October 2007

My friend Spud had an Agusta 109. That’s the best type of helicopter. They’re like super-fancy flying Ferraris, shiny, and all Louis Vuitton and shagpile inside, the closest thing to a magic carpet that you can get. For Spud, the 109 was a skeleton key to everything, as well as a magic carpet to everywhere. People always wanted to borrow it to go to swanky soirées and special occasions in. Those he hardly knew invited him to grands prix, garden parties, Glastonbury, Glyndebourne and for the short amount of time that he owned it he went to absolutely everything. He sold it for a couple of million more than he paid for it, too. It’s funny how these things work. Everyone was happy in that invincible bubble. 109s aren’t cheap, but it’s definitely best to stick with expensive helicopters. A low-priced helicopter isn’t something that properly exists. People are always buying it in cheap choppers.

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