Well done 658 Sqn AAC

[AlanM]

I believe a big well done to Mr Watkins (and crew!) - who won the Helicopter Club of GB British Championships again last weekend!

As he won last year he was running as #1 again (Schumacher style!) and didn't dissapoint.

Some pics of him, colleagues, and of the DHFS Squizzzels:

http://www.pbase.com/kbmphotography/image/44836918.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/kbmphotography/image/44836919.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/kbmphotography/image/44836920.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/kbmphotography/image/44836921.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/kbmphotography/image/44836922.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/kbmphotography/image/44836923.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/kbmphotography/image/44836924.jpg

more here (http://www.pbase.com/kbmphotography/hcgb2005)

(I have an old friend (also ex-mil) trying to track Mr W down - anyone able to establish contact for me!?!?!)

[PPRuNe Radar]

Must be so much easier to practice for such an event though when someone else is picking up all the bills ;)

Well done to all crews taking part, and especially so to the winners :ok:

[diginagain]

Yes, well done to the crew of the bucket-with-an-overslung-floppy.:D

[wg13_dummy]

Must be so much easier to practice for such an event though when someone else is picking up all the bills

Perks (few around nowadays) of the job, Radar. Not exactly a massive bill to the taxpayer. If a Robbo driver feels jealous, he should join up and help the cause!

Well done AGAIN to W!

[ZH875]

It's no use, the Teeny Weenies will never do SAR, so no point in trying to fish with a bucket.

[6foottanker]

Glad to see someone's having fun while the rest of us suffer under the budget cuts. So let me guess, it's all under the auspices of 'training for ops' right??

'OK Sarge, you're to deposit this red snooker ball in the enemy's bucket at grid ref 7883 4563, and if you do it before the Iraqis, we win the war!'.

Brilliant, think of the reduction in loss of life. :ouch:

[diginagain]

'OK Sarge, you're to deposit this red snooker ball in the enemy's bucket at grid ref 7883 4563, and if you do it before the Iraqis, we win the war!'.
Just make certain that it IS a grid refrence, and not a telephone number

[miles magistrate]

ZH 875

It's no use, the Teeny Weenies will never do SAR, so no point in trying to fish with a bucket.

It never ceases to amaze me that you turkeys cannot get your facts right before you post stupid comments. "ZH" in the vain hope I can educate an idiot, you should be aware that TWA has been in inolved in SAR in Brunei for years - I was flying sorties out there 25 years ago, plus since 1994 when the Pumas pulled out of Belize, TWA also took over SAR for that country as well.

I know several ex TWA pilots who fly for the UK HM Coastguard today and several have been decorated.

You are offensive and a knob.

[miles magistrate]

Mike,

You could be right, I hope you are, but sorry I still find it offensive and uncalled for. Good hearted banter is one thing and I enjoy that as much as the next man but sometimes you can cross the line and I feel this is such a case.

MM

[vecvechookattack]

hey...a bit of banter is always worth it. Well done pongo fellas.....Its a shame the Army PR people have missed the boat and failed to publicise the event more thoroughly. But a good effort all round.

[diginagain]

Having been involved in this sort of skills competion, the Army PR probably try to keep it low-key to avoid all that Must be so much easier to practice for such an event though when someone else is picking up all the bills ballyhoo.

[PPRuNe Radar]

But any PR outfit worth its salt would be able to demonstrate the link between such a performance in a national competition and improving the crews skills in their operational task, leading perhaps to public acceptance of the requirement for more funds to improve across the whole of the organisation. The public see their tax £££'s in action and gaining results.

Unless, of course, it is just a perk of the job.

[teeteringhead]

But any PR outfit worth its salt ... says it all really ...:(

[Bright-Ling]

The Nav phase of the Chapionships acted as a vital part of the contest.

Probably explains why the AAC are considerably better than their blue counterparts in navigating on the London HeliLanes!! :) :cool:

(.....take cover....!):ok:

[AlanM]

...anyway!

Anyone work/in contact with Mr Watkins?? As I said I was supposed to give an old chum of his their email address so he could contact them

Any thoughts?!?!?!

Alan

(PM me!)

[vecvechookattack]

Strange....I've never heard them known as the "London Heli lanes" before.


Journo warning red !!!!!!!

[Airmech II]

Ex 658 myself and sorry to hear my tax is now wasted on you bunch of tossers all singing each others praises. Please all get a real job .

[Letsby Avenue]

Typical REMF:yuk:

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

How is Airmech a REMF:confused: Surely as your valued GC's they were as far forward as possible, in danger, in support and denied the ability of being able to simply fly away:rolleyes:

And without them how would you have ever, if ever, gotten the task completed...........if anyone is typical Lesbian avingyou, SIR it;s you....stroker:}

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[helidriver]

As a competitor for the last 3 years, I would like to add there is no magical allocation of hours for the British Helicopter Championships. I was very fortunate my OC allowed me to use his Sqn training budget, normally reserved for general flying practise and check rides. As it has been alluded to this is the British Helicopter Championships. I don't hear too many gripes regarding the Red Arrows, Red Devils, White Helmets motor cycle display team, the Blue Eagles, the Guards units on public duties and stars such as Kelly Holmes (Olympian, only fairly recently left the mob!) and bloody rightly so!!! :mad:

Oh, and if you are wingeing about taxes I pay them as well. Therefore, I pay my own wage which in essence makes me self employed. So, if I want to take MY helicopter, train MY arse off, in MY own time then I bloody well will!!

Prongs! :ok:

helidriver :cool:

[wg13_dummy]

Lol. Very good reply helidriver!!

(I'll try the 'its MY heli' next time I go on leave, it might work!!)

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

(I'll try the 'its MY heli' next time I go on leave, it might work!!)

If you do keep away from all water and try and bring it back dry:p

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[212man]

"Strange....I've never heard them known as the "London Heli lanes" before.


Journo warning red !!!!!!! "

May be you ought to get out more; it may not be the 100% correct terminology, but it is a widely accepted colloquialism.

Even the CAA use it!

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/224/Environmental%20impact%20analysis.pdf

(Last page)

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

London Heli lanes was it's name 10 years ago when I enjoyed a few night trips on the plastic persuit ship:ok:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[Bright-Ling]

....OK OK

I should have obviously mentioned that the Navy were definitely worse than the RAF!

See - not really a journo but thanks for the label!

B-L