THE helicopter industry is in mourning, following a crash that killed a Durrington pilot and two engineers.

Captain Ian Shoobridge (51) and his crew, James Gordon-Stables (37), from Ludgershall and Neville Moger (45), from Romsey, died when their Twin Squirrel came down in a field at Hurstbourne Tarrant, near Andover, and burst into flames.

The trio had taken off from Thruxton airfield on a test flight for FAST Helicopters, when the accident happened at 2.30pm last Tuesday.

Emergency services received reports that the helicopter had landed upside down. They rushed to the scene but could find no signs of life.

Mr Shoobridge had been flying helicopters for 25 years and had an impeccable safety record.

Early indications are that the crash was caused by a technical failure, although it will take weeks for air accident investigators to complete their inquiries.

Mr Shoobridge's wife, Sue (49), said her husband would be desperately missed by his many friends.

"Everyone loved Ian - he was the life and soul of the party," she said. "He had such a variety of friends from the different parts of his life.

"He was so sharp and quick-witted and always thought of the right thing to say.

"Ian was the most wonderful husband and father - it seems so wrong that he's gone."

Mr Shoobridge was brought up in north London and joined the Army Air Corps in 1980. He served in Germany, the Falklands and Ireland, where he took part in a dramatic night rescue that earned him the Air Force Medal.

After marrying Sue in 1980, the couple moved to Durrington in 1983 and their daughter Laura, now 17 and a student at Lackham College, was born.

Mr Shoobridge took part in the first Gulf War and left the army seven years ago to become a commercial pilot.

"Flying helicopters was his whole working life - Ian was so proud of the machines he flew," said Mrs Shoobridge. "It sounds strange but I never thought he'd die in a helicopter - he had survived all those wars and he was so safety-conscious."

When he was not flying, Mr Shoobridge enjoyed socialising at Durrington working men's club, playing snooker and supporting his beloved Queens Park Rangers football club.

He regularly took his family to the country hotels where he flew his clients and was looking forward to entertaining friends at his Cygnet Drive home in the run-up to Christmas.

"Everyone is devastated - we feel so cheated," said Mrs Shoobridge. "Friends and family have been very supportive - we know they are sharing our terrible loss."

Chief pilot at FAST Helicopters Mike Green paid his respects to Mr Shoobridge and his colleagues.

"Our sympathy goes out to the families and friends of the three men," he said.

"Early signs are that there was a catastrophic failure, which resulted in this accident.

"We shall be anxious to learn exactly what caused the helicopter to fail in flight.

"Ian Shoobridge was an experienced, dedicated commercial pilot and instructor. He will be greatly missed by his friends and the industry as a whole."

The funeral of Mr Shoobridge will take place at St Alban the Martyr, Larkhill Garrison Church, at 1pm on Thursday December 18.

Flowers are welcome but donations can be made to the Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, care of Dunnings Funeral Directors, 4 Church Close, Andover.