Illustrious nearly loses a Merlin

[Razor61]

Saw this just now on UKAR forum.... thought others here might be interested

http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=642673

[Buzz Control]

Anyone like to spill the beans.


http://media.shipspotting.com/uploads/photos/Ship+Photo+HMS+ILLUSTRIOUS+IN+ISTANBUL+-+HELICOPTER+MISFORTUNE+%21/642673.jpg

[Rhino power]

They may have nearly lost a Merlin, but it looks like they're definitely short of an aircraft tug now, hope the individual that was driving it is ok, assuming they didn't jump out before it went swimming...

-RP

[Riskman]

I wonder what happened to the operator at the other end of the towing arm. Hopefully not hurt.

[Linedog]

Wheel change. No jacks available due to cost cutting.:ok:

[XV277]

Other websites have it that the tow wagon was accidentally put into reverse & the brakes on the Merlin failed. Driver jumped clear before it went over the side, and the tow point snapped with the force of the truck falling

[exscribbler]

I hope they don't expect the tow wagon driver to pay for a new one.

[strek]

Seeing on another forum that the Queen visited the ship the day after it happened, before it was craned off, I bet the Capt was slightly uneasy as the Her Majesty walked onto the flight deck.....:E

[TyroPicard]

No need to feel uneasy, HM is quite a good driver...
I think it's just the RN trying to provide a Caption Comp photo..
TP

[Gnd]

This is silly - I can see it, it isn't lost!!!! Is this like the kings new cloths, and I am..............no, I wont go there.

[cornish-stormrider]

where was the liney with his trusty chocks?? You are moving an aircraft in very tight quarters, you'd have an extra brakeman wouldn't you??

[The Helpful Stacker]

Hey give them a break, I expect its bloody difficult to move a cab on a deck packed with other aircraft.

[airborne_artist]

The lads/lasses that do the shunting are not called aircraft manglers for nothing :E

[L'aviateur]

According to rumours, an attempt to park the Merlin on the ramp caused the whole issue, driver managed to jump free before the tug went overboard. Floating crane was brought in to recover the tug. And yes the Queen was present the evening prior, before sailing with a local yacht for dinner with the Turkish PM. We were berthed next to the HMS Illustrious, and the entire spectacle provided a few hours of entertainment for my daywatch. Was a surprise to see how small our aircraft carriers are, when dwarfed by a cruise ship.

[aviate1138]

Strek said.....
"Seeing on another forum that the Queen visited the ship the day after it happened, before it was craned off, I bet the Capt was slightly uneasy as the Her Majesty walked onto the flight deck....."

Aviate adds...
The Merlin M'am? Why it's kneeling, in respect. :rolleyes:

[Dan D'air]

1138, :D:D:D, Very funny!!

[airborne_artist]

Was a surprise to see how small our aircraft carriers

Hardly surprising when you consider that they are not really aircraft carriers at all.

They were introduced as "through deck cruisers", and previous to that "command cruisers".

A real carrier such as the Nimitz class (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier) is much bigger - four or five times the displacement of Lusty.

[wub]

Was a surprise to see how small our aircraft carriers are, when dwarfed by a cruise ship.That's exactly what I said to Mrs wub as I took this last week:
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/wub_01/Istanbul/Carrier.jpg

[GANNET FAN]

Just on a side issue, am I right in thinking that Illustrious has recently come out of a refit? If so has someone been skimping on the coats of paint? If the job was done properly surely there would be no rust weeps?

[exscribbler]

I thought she looked a little "Rusty Lusty" but refrained from comment in case the Commander was reading this thread... :E

[Riskman]

Other websites have it that the tow wagon was accidentally put into reverse & the brakes on the Merlin failed. Driver jumped clear before it went over the side, and the tow point snapped with the force of the truck falling

The driver jumped into the netting. The towing arm sheared as per the design spec. Brake failure is definitely conjecture.

As far as accidentally putting the tug in reverse is concerned, The Helpful Stacker's earlier comment is spot on. Moving an ac from shed to line to HAS etc is the most routine of tasks and possibly the most career threatening if anything goes wrong.

[aviate1138]

Wub said...
"Was a surprise to see how small our aircraft carriers are, when dwarfed by a cruise ship.
That's exactly what I said to Mrs wub as I took this last week:"

Aviate looks at the excellent pic and muses that in time of war if the top deck of the cruise ship was full of aircraft, they could be launched [enhanced Merlin style] and get to flying speed before they hit the water! :rolleyes:

Do we really need [or will actually get!] new aircraft carriers? ;)

[Dancing Bear]

Must have taken some force to rip the tail round like that!

Silsoesid, I so hope that is a waw waw!:ok:

[Occasional Aviator]

The way it's sitting on the radome doesn't look cheap....

[doubledolphins]

Naval Airman joins Submaine Service?

[High_lander]

What do you mean?


:}Its a folding tail. To make more space.:}

[On_The_Top_Bunk]

Surely that wouldn't be possible because of the drive shaft and control cables/hyd pipes!

It's a viscous fluid flexible drive to allow for a great degree of misalignment.

And they have flexible pipes and rubber cables. Seems to do the trick.

[Riskman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SilsoeSid http://www.pprune.org/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?p=4128218#post4128218)
Surely that wouldn't be possible because of the drive shaft and control cables/hyd pipes!

It's a viscous fluid flexible drive to allow for a great degree of misalignment.

And they have flexible pipes and rubber cables. Seems to do the trick.

The Wessex tail folded too. http://celag.free.fr/museum/h34/images/h34_307.jpg

[GreenKnight121]

The CH-53E also has a folding tail boom:
note the diagonal break line on the boom in the first photo:

http://www.military.cz/usa/air/in_service/helicopters/ch53e/ch53sm.jpg

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/2/9/3/28102_1201495392.jpg (http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/2/9/3/28102_1201495392.jpg)

[Tigger_Too]

A rather more graphic example of the CH-53 folding tailboom!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWh8QXHQEUg

[Kitbag]

Reckon SilsoeSids' fishing trip has been pretty successful so far:D

[spheroid]

Most Naval/Maritime Helicopters have a folding tail. T'otherwise they wouldn't fit in the Hangar.

[cornish-stormrider]

The more I see of helicopters the more I am becoming a "fan" of the notar ducted fan thingamajig

That long driveshaft or whatever voodoo the merlin uses, scary scary.

As to the chinny.......18 inches of clearance, I think I'll walk.

[wub]

Here's a Merlin tucked up for bed aboard HMS Lancaster:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/wub_01/merlin.jpg

[spheroid]

Ahhh,....the trusty Mk 11 DC.....a superb weapon.

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!]

Most Naval/Maritime Helicopters have a folding tail. T'otherwise they wouldn't fit in the Hangar.why don't they just make bigger hangars? :confused:

[Union Jack]

Hardly surprising when you consider that they are not really aircraft carriers at all.

They were introduced as "through deck cruisers", and previous to that "command cruisers".

Absolutely right, so far as the second sentence is concerned, but don't forget that this nomenclature was a Baldrick-like "cunning plan" to get the INVINCIBLE Class aircraft carriers approved in the first place, just as the County Class DLGs were called destroyers to get them approved, even though they in turn were virtually replacements for cruisers ....

Jack

[airborne_artist]

County Class DLGs were called destroyers to get them approved, even though they in turn were virtually replacements for cruisers ....

And built like ocean liners. I was brought up on them. My father was the Signals Officer (and in fact the first officer appointed, before commissioning) of HMS Hampshire in 1962 I think, and then later the XO of HMS Antrim, in about 1974. Great ships apart from the hangar/stupid track to the flightdeck. They were specced with an officers' speedboat, the glorious Fairey Huntress.

[Green Flash]

why don't they just make bigger hangars?

OK, I'll bite.

'Cos we'd need bigger boats! And that means bigger money.









Which we ain't got.

[zalt]

Give me strength...:ugh:

On the Wessex at Weston - look closely and you will see the hinges
On the frigate flight deck the flag staff can be removed

[Green Flash]

Way hey! Zalt bit and I didn't!:} I'm learning!:ok:

[exscribbler]

OK, me too...

It's not an English flag - it's a White Ensign! :ugh:

Puts teeth back in pocket...

[GreenKnight121]

Since silosid seems to be a moron, here is a photo of the tail of a CH-53 while folded.

Even he can see how it works.

http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/Rotorhead/Images/2513.jpg



And two of an H-34 (US designation for what Westlands license-built as the Wessex):

http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/Seabat/Images/5833.jpg

http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/Seabat/Images/7398.jpg


And a pair of a Merlin (not folded, but clearly showing the break-line & hinges from both sides:

http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/EH101/Images/6365.jpg

http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/EH101/Images/4016.jpg

All from this site:
http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/Rotorhead.html

Look at the "walkaround" for each type, there are lots of such photos
http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/EH101.html

[exscribbler]

SS seems not to know too much about ensigns!

White Ensign: worn by HM Ships in Commission and the Royal Yacht Squadron. All Saints, Burnham Thorpe, wears the pre-1801 version.

Blue Ensign: worn by British merchant vessels whose officers and crew include a certain number of retired RN personnel or RN reservists or are commanded by an officer of the RNR in possession of a Government warrant. Yachts belonging to members of certain long-established British yacht clubs for example the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club.

Red Ensign: worn by British merchantmen.

The defaced Blue Ensign shown is that of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club - where SS got that from is anyone's guess.

I'm also surprised he doesn't know about folding tails on helos when his profile indicates qualification on EC135, MD902, AS355, BH206, Lynx9, Lynx7, Alouette3, Gazelle, Scout. :E

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Sid,

a) You've obviously got no scrotes to chase now that the flats in Chelmsley Wood are all getting free internet.

b) You're never going to get all those hooks back, are you?

c) You're a very, very naughty boy (but have provided the best laughs outside the caption competition)

:ok:

[francophile69]

As someone who has sailed on ships flying this as far as I can recall the criteria is the Captain being RNR.

I do have a vague recollection about fishing boats, unfortunately memory a tad hazy these days.

Wikipedia? is it the done thing to quote it for anything these days :ugh:

I reckon if someone is merely quoting verbatim, they should have the decency to say so, then at least the rest of us know that their "facts" aren't.:ok:

[Green Flash]

Sid

Carefull now, us fish are getting wise to your bait! It was very yummy bait though, but you'll have to change the recipe! But good try nevertheless:ok:

And anyway, Gibson was named after a very very distant relative of his who once tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

[exscribbler]

OK; it was Wiki but it was a simple, concise and easily understood explanation and saved me writing it all myself.

The part about All Saints Burnham Thorpe was all mine, however.

I know I bit again, but if it makes you feel better... :ok:

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm250/exscribbler/IMG_2101a.jpg

[Riskman]

Exscribbler,

That is a magnificent photo of a flag/ensign on a pole/staff (delete as appropriate) but from what ship is it flying?:confused:

[exscribbler]

SilsoeSid: The church flies the pre-1801 version of the White Ensign presumably because Nelson left in 1793 and never returned. Perhaps the village sign-maker got it wrong?

BTW, nice photo; it's good to see it isn't only me who made the pilgrimage. :ok: I visited on Trafalgar Day 2006. Sadly there was only one other car outside the church; its driver was a retired Cdr USN who didn't realise the significance of the date. :ugh:

[oldshuck]

Not sure of the ship Riskman but it must be flying from the forecastle or

fo'c's'le pronounced fooksal


good old Wikki

[John Eacott]

Another view of All Saints, back in the days of 700S :ok:


http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/2146-2/Sea+King+_amp_+Phantom+at+Nelson_s+church.jpg



SS,

Quantity and quality: quite a full net :D

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!]

I hope it's in a hover :eek:

[Green Flash]

...What the Fawkes that!

Fer fawkes sake .....