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View Full Version : Deptford Down - 10/12/08. What do they do there?

jonesy1275
11th Dec 2008, 14:50
I spent an interesting day at Deptford Down yesterday watching rotary crews do their thing. Out of interest, what do the crews practise there? I'm guessing they do auto-rotation practises but what else? I've never worked rotary so its new to me.

Jonesy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/jonesy1275/NY0L3444c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/jonesy1275/IMG_3547c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/jonesy1275/IMG_3583c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/jonesy1275/IMG_3608c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/jonesy1275/NY0L3563c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/jonesy1275/IMG_3664c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/jonesy1275/NY0L3585c.jpg
spheroid
11th Dec 2008, 16:47
They are conducting FAACIT work.
The Helpful Stacker
11th Dec 2008, 16:56
Isn't Deptford Down just over the hill from that secret underground airbase where they store the rest of the V-force?
AR1
11th Dec 2008, 17:51
Its the UK defence forces equivalent of the US Elite base 'Black Hawk Down'

I dont know the full story about what goes on in there, but involves Somali Militia and Helecopters.
MightyGem
11th Dec 2008, 18:10
If they are student pilots, it used to be a favourite place to practise autos, as you said, plus advanced transitions, ie landing and taking off with the wind from directions other than the normal "from the front" direction.
Double Zero
11th Dec 2008, 20:11
When I was last there - many moons ago - it was used by as a sort of test field by anything which felt like it, especially big fixed wing things dispensing the sort of troops who I would happily let spill my pint and just look the other way.

By the same token we got some very odd looks - and weapons - pointed at us & we were there officially & advertised.

I would not recommend the place for a ' lover's tryst ' in the back of one's Capri.
diginagain
11th Dec 2008, 20:45
Jonesy, mate, you need to get a girlfriend.
dead_pan
11th Dec 2008, 21:22
...the usual nap-of-earth training from the looks of your pics. Quite a lot of stooging around whenever I've been passing through the area, no doubt targetting buildings in the FIBUA town to the north.

A lot of this sort of stuff also goes on in the zone to the east of the Everleigh DZ.