Coffee Break

[Earl of Rochester]

Can you guess the helicopter types from the cryptic visual clues provided?

The first Rotorhead to complete the list shall receive a virtual prize!

Good luck :ok:

Earl

1. http://science-at-home.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/egg-small.jpg

2. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31rACRsUQSL._SS280_.jpg

3. http://www.doodledogpetbakery.com/images/Product/Bar_BQ_Chicken.jpg

4. http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/images/contentpages/helix.jpg

5. http://synergysci0708.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/oil_slick_angel_island.jpg


6. http://bp1.blogger.com/_d4m2Txz0O_k/SGsKB39pv5I/AAAAAAAAArQ/YrSaVb8pN3k/s320/cartoon_snake_1_thumb.jpg


7. http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/big_momma_s_house_2/martin_lawrence/bigmomma2.jpg

8. http://www.franmcmath.com/ist1_861721_frog_cartoon.jpg

9. http://www.trespassmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/pavlova.jpg

10. http://static.tvguide.com/MediaBin/Galleries/Editorial/090330/TVsBiggestFools/crops/01biggest-fools-homer-simpson1.jpg


Clue: All the symbols are cryptic, ie: no clue will relate directly to the official name or number of a helicopter but will refer to a helicopter nick name or code!

[Ian Corrigible]

1. OH-6 'Killer Egg'
2. H-21 'Flying Banana'
3. Mi-2 'Drumstick'
4. Ka-27 Helix
5. Huey 'Slick'
6. AH-1 'Snake'
7. CH/MH-47 FARE 'Fat Cow'…? :E
8. CH-46 'Phrog'
9. MH-53J Pave Low…? :E
10. Mi-12 Homer

I/C

[md 600 driver]

Rochester
Is no 3 a flying chicken leg Gazelle Surprizing I picked that one

I can agree with ic others exept 9 no idea

[SilsoeSid]

#3 is a chicken drumstick, if it was a chicken leg I would have this in the bag.

[Earl of Rochester]

A Silver Helicopter is Presented to Rotorhead:

"Ian Corrigible"

For winning the 'Coffee Break' trivia quiz! :D

http://www.seriordan.co.uk/images/products/seApache%20AH1%20Helicopter.jpg


* * *

Ian

Pretty much all correct with the exception of No.7 but you got almost everything on the first post (good enough!) and well done :D. I shall clearly have to set the bar a little higher!!!

1. OH6/Hughes 500 'Flying Egg'
2. Piasecki H21 'Flying Banana'
3. SA341/2 Gazelle 'Whistling Chicklen Leg' (A drumstick is still part of a chicken's leg!)
4. Kamov KA32 'Helix'
5. Bell UH1 'Slick'
6. Bell AH1 'Snake'
7. HH-3 Sea King 'Big Mother'
8. CH46 Sea Knight 'Frog'
9. CH53 'Pave Low' (The image was of a pavlova cake!)
10. Mi12 'Homer'

Earl

[Ian Corrigible]

Well, what can I say. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those who made this moment possible: the Almighty; the devil (just in case); Uncle Sam (for his patience); Frank Robinson (for having a sense of humor); Lynn Tilton (ditto); and the FAA (for granting me a license despite all the psychiatric reports suggesting that in no way should I ever be allowed to hold the lives of others in my hands).

Another ten, in increasing order of trickiness.

1. http://i.imgur.com/HyKqRwF.jpg

2. http://i.imgur.com/EtefRdG.jpg

3. http://i.imgur.com/YVblFMe.jpg

4. http://i.imgur.com/rHG9nO1.jpg

5. http://i.imgur.com/VWXvDbT.jpg

6. http://i.imgur.com/CSzCy6v.jpg

7. http://i.imgur.com/stmOxSa.jpg

8. http://i.imgur.com/jnTgXcm.jpg

9. http://i.imgur.com/OXmks1P.jpg

10. http://i.imgur.com/pLorX9I.jpg

I/C

[FH1100 Pilot]

...And I'm thinking, "Which damn helicopter is a strawberry shortcake? Pavlova cake...WTF??"

But, with all due respect to Ian (he certainly knew more of them than I did), an HH-3 is not a CH-47 (#7)

[Earl of Rochester]

Well I'm going to respond as I hope others might have to mine, by posting an initial attempt without searching online ..


1. AH1Z 'Viper'
2.
3.
4. MDX 'Explorer'
5. Sikorsky S72 'X Wing'
6. Kawasaki OH1 'Ninja'
7. Sikorsky S61 'T' ???
8. I'm thinking 'Valkyrie' but not sure if there is such an aircraft!
9.
10. Bell 409 YAH 63

Working on the empty spaces!

Earl

[md 600 driver]

Is number 6 a md product that is lyn tilton isn't it

[topendtorque]

8 will be robinson with the peeled back skin won't it?

I C you forgot to thank your mom and dad, poor form:{

[krypton_john]

To those mystified by the Pave Low reference - a Pavlova is a meringue cake that has an unusual cultural battle behind it's innocent, sweet and crusty facade.

This delectable treat was invented and the name coined (a reference to the Russian Ballerina of the same name) in New Zealand. However the Australians, powerless to overcome a genetic compulsion, have attempted to steal this dish and claim originator's rights to it themselves. It's just like Phar Lap, Neil Finn and even icebergs. But we're not bitter - we let them have Russell Crowe to keep.

So EOR. you must have been down this way some time?

[Earl of Rochester]

Second attempt:

1. AH1Z 'Viper'
2. CH47V 'Vampire Shredder'
3. R22 ???
4. MDX 'Explorer'
5. Sikorsky S72 'X Wing'
6. Kawasaki OH1 'Ninja'
7. Sikorsky S58T or S61T ???
8. AH2 'Rooivalk' ???
9.
10. Bell 409 YAH 63

[Ian Corrigible]

md 600 driver - Knowing the size of LT's legal team, I'm not going to comment... :E

TET - Sorry, it's a crappy photo. It's supposed to show a NASA-inspired fastener, which - I understand - is also popular amongst pleasure-seekers on Welsh farms. Allegedly. (And, yes, I forgot to thank Hwang Woo-suk. And the test tube.)

EOR - Pretty close. #2 is related to #1. #3 is another service nickname. #7 will be difficult for those outside of the colonies, so as a Google hint: that's a sports team logo familiar to those at Ma Bell; and for #10, the vessel is the clue. Proste!

I/C

[krypton_john]

#3 is CH-37C?

[Ian Corrigible]

:D
..........

[Earl of Rochester]

- Krypton Factor!

Have not been down your way but, would love to visit NZ and take the wife and daughters on some heli-tourist sightseeing, if we had friends there we would probably already have done it!

I don't think that its only your Aussie neighbours who are trying to steal away the Pavlova - here in the UK we're pretty fond of it also!

Wasn't aware that it was named after a Russian dancer (pictured) but this will only add to the flavour next time I eat one and which, after today, will (I think) be pretty soon!

Rgds

Earl

http://www.notablebiographies.com/images/uewb_08_img0548.jpg

Russian ballerina 'Anna Pavlova' after whom a rather tasty desert of apparently New Zealand origin has been 'thrown up' on PPRuNe this day!

[Earl of Rochester]

Okay Krypton; how did you get CH-37C from the two of diamonds?

[krypton_john]

CH37C, a.k.a. 'Deuce'

[krypton_john]

EOR - Of course you have friends in NZ - all the Robbie owners are lining up to take you flying! :-D

[Earl of Rochester]

- KJ!

Thanks. I should look forward to meeting them, perhaps at the local hostelry! Mercifully - none of the Robinsons are capable of accommodation my family so we would have to settle for something a tad more respectable .. such as a Squirrel (preferably twin)! ;)

Now - are we to admit defeat in the face of Ian Corrigible's challenge?

From what I see the following are correct:

1. AH1Z 'Viper'
2. CH47V 'Vampire Shredder'
3. CH37C 'Deuce'
4. MDX 'Explorer'
5. Sikorsky S72 'X Wing'
6. Kawasaki OH1 'Ninja'
7.
8.
9.
10.

Still requiring attention are:

7. Something connected with a US based sports team that has something to do with 'Ma Bell' ???
8. Clues are; a Nasa-inspired fastner, something that pleasure seekers enjoy on Welsh farms, wang woo suk ??? and the test tube. (All very interesting).
9. We have to interpret what kind of dance that is.
10. We need to identify the make/type of the ship!

Earl

[Earl of Rochester]

Clue No. 8

Clue No. 8 shows a photo of velcro. Though not invented (or even designed) by NASA, velcro did gain commercial success through NASA's application of its use on their space suits.

Hwang Woo-Suk (sounding ominously close to our efforts at solving this riddle) was a veterinarian who pioneered aspects (somewhat unethically) of stem cell research.

Then Ian mentions test tubes!

This leaves faffing around on Welsh farms?

Somehow this all relates to a make of helicopter the identity of which is becoming intriguing!

EoR

[Earl of Rochester]

Clue No. 7

Flippin heck! This Ian Corrigible really is incorrigible!

After searching through 30+ names on a wikipedia list of Texas based sports teams there it appeared .. the Texas Rangers!

I recall very well the brief publicity surrounding this aircraft (early 80's) - I don't think any were actually delivered though!

How did I get to Texas? 'Ma bell' was evidently the nick name Americans used when referring to the phone company Bell System and from there it was a quick hop to Texas!

So ... No. 7 is the Texas Ranger - phew!

EoR

[Ian Corrigible]

EoR,

To avoid any more death threats from Plaid Cymru I'm going to give you #8: MH-60A Velcro Hawk (http://airlandseaweapons.devhub.com/blog/493153-blackhawk-helicopter-special-operations).

I/C

[Earl of Rochester]

Well that is very gracious of you but, I feel a bit of a plonker given that the helicopter actually has the name 'velcro' in it - I really should have been able to track that down!

I am waiting to see some responses from the US who may have a better idea on the ship clue - they also have to pull their weight!

Please do however explain how the Velcro Hawk connects with test tubes, stem cell research and having fun on Welsh farms!

Earl

[GoodGrief]

63 = Aircraft carrier 'Kitty Hawk'

[iorgasilviubogdan]

#2 there was a Cobra program for the RoAF that never materialized
AH1 Dracula was the name of the helicopter

[Earl of Rochester]

Yes, I know its not a helicopter but, as this is a 'coffee break' item I am hoping SP will permit it!

This photo was taken 'somewhere' in London this August but the photographer did not provide the location so I am genuinely interested to discover where this is. Anyone with any ideas?

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/4/8/0/1811084.jpg (http://www.pprune.org/photo/Untitled-(UK--/Sepecat-Jaguar-GR3A/1811084/L/)

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A, inverted, chromed and on display!

[Heliport]

Yes, I know its not a helicopter

So why not post your question in Jetblast?
I think you'd like Jetblast.

Or some other forum. Airliners.net, for example.

:rolleyes:

BTW, Tate Britain.

[Bravo73]

This photo was taken 'somewhere' in London this August but the photographer did not provide the location so I am genuinely interested to discover where this is. Anyone with any ideas?

Tate Britain| Current Exhibitions | Tate Britain Duveens Commission 2010 (http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/duveenscommissionseries/fionabanner2010/default.shtm)


HTH

[Earl of Rochester]

Every time I post some trivia on 'Coffee Break' someone comes back in the first post with the correct answer!

While I acknowledge that the average IQ of 'Rotorheads' members is way above the national average it is sometimes bloody annoying! :E

So, in an effort to increase the complexity of the clue .. can anyone identfy the following powerplant and tell me which types it is used in!

http://www.uk-odk.ru/img/content/products/tv3_117big.jpg

[Captain Cashmere]

Klimov TV3-117

Mi-14

[ec135driver]

19 minutes! what took you so long?

[Earl of Rochester]

'Flippin 'eck!'@! I give up!

And I suppose you're going to tell me you didn't right click on the image and check to see the name the image was saved as!

Bloody Hell!

Well, can you put up a challenging clue then?

Anyway well done! :ok:

Also used on most variants of the Mi-24.

Earl

[Earl of Rochester]

To which helicopter do these rotors belong?

http://lh5.ggpht.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/TPKPxxpf_TI/AAAAAAAAAHg/f3Swcg6EJAo/No%20clues%20here%21.jpg

[STVA]

Mil 8/Mil 17

[STVA]

Mil 4 Hound

[Earl of Rochester]

Oh well that didn't take long .. back to the drawing board on ideas for this thread! :{

STVA .. I posted without seeing your reply .. Mi17 it is! Well done. :D

Um .. Lifting I would have given it to you had you said Mi8 but then you thew in the four blade comment (which I understand - I specifically chose the photo because it gives the impression of being a four-blader but .. the trailing edge is a give away to anyone familiar with the Russian types).

http://lh6.ggpht.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/TPKUq0K8wSI/AAAAAAAAAHs/CFRPSqbxNYU/Bulgarian%20AF%20Mi17%20Plovdiv%20Bulgaria.jpg

Bulgarian Air Force Mi17

The photographer's comment on this photo was "It look like helicopter land in wolf's fur" but I am wondering just how common wolves are .. even in Bulgaria!

Earl

[STVA]

I think Um Lifting should get the credit by one minute it is very difficult to tell the differance between the Mil 8 & 17 by the view of just two blades

[Earl of Rochester]

No problem .. credit all round .. Um .. Lifting and STVA but if I award the correct answer to Um .. Lifting it comes with a price .. he has to set the next trivia challenge! ;)

Earl

[Hell Man]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/TSLG-6kcr4I/AAAAAAAABOE/bIWyn_CcBOg/Emirates%20A380-861%20Cabin.jpg

This is what a cabin looks like (if you can afford it) on an Emirates A380 'Super Jumbo'.

A glimpse at the other side of the industry. A far cry from the dusty old flight deck of the Huey where I have spent much of my career!

(Still prefer the Huey though :ok:)

HM

[Ned-Air2Air]

HM - On my last visit to Kenya I got to go FC on the A380 and its awesome. Had many drinks down in the bar down the back and also had a shower at 40,000 ft on the way to Dubai, now that was cooool. :ok:

Enjoy it. :ok:

[Hell Man]

EK are running the 380 on the DXB-NBO run?

[grumpytroll]

The Bulgarian forces are responsible for creating crop circles in England. Looks like the troops are heading out with their stomping equipment. Is this infrared? (This was a UFO on the thread for a couple of minutes):suspect:

[bolkow]

from the distance between them I think its a four blade machine, is it a Puma?

[Savoia]

Check Your Bearings: Because the North Pole is Migrating to Russia!


It sounds unlikely but it's true: the magnetic north pole is moving faster than at any time in human history, threatening everything from the safety of modern transport systems to the traditional navigation routes of migrating animals.

Scientists say that magnetic north, which for two centuries has been in the icy wilderness of Canada, is currently relocating towards Russia at a rate of about 40 miles a year. The speed of its movement has increased by a third in the past decade, prompting speculation that the field could be about to "flip", causing compasses to invert and point south rather than north, something that happens between three and seven times every million years.

Already the phenomenon is causing problems in the field of aviation. Tampa International airport in Florida has just spent a month renaming its three runways, which in common with those at most US airports are identified using numbers that correspond to the direction, in degrees, that they face on a compass. "Everything had to be changed; it was a huge project," Brenda Geoghagan, a spokeswoman for the airport, said.

The current rate of magnetic north's movement away from Canada's Ellesmere Island is throwing out compasses by roughly one degree every five years, prompting the US Federal Aviation Administration to re-evaluate runway names across the country every five years. Similar changes were recently made to runways at Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach.

Geologists believe that magnetic north pole (which is different from the true North Pole, the axis on which the Earth spins) moves around due to changes in the planet's molten core, which contains liquid iron. They first located it in 1831, and have been attrying to follow its progress ever since.

Records indicate that the pole's location barely moved in the early decades, but in about 1904, it began tracking north-east at a rate of about nine miles a year. That speed increased significantly from about 1989, possibly because of a "plume" of magnetism deep below ground. The pole is now believed to be heading towards Siberia at about 37 miles each year. "Earth's magnetic field is changing in time. And as far as we know, it has always been changing in time," geophysicist Jeffrey Love of the US Geological Survey in Colorado told Discovery News, which investigated the issue last week.

GPS systems, which rely on satellites, have replaced compasses as the means by which the majority of professional navigators orientate themselves. But compasses are still valuable, and are widely used by hikers and other amateur map-readers. In some environments, such as underwater or beneath ground, which cannot be reached by satellite signals, they remain the only option. The oil industry, which uses magnets to determine which angle it should drill into the earth, needs to keep track of the exact location of magnetic north.

Birds that fly south for the winter, along with migratory sea creatures, could face confusion. Long-living animals, such as whales and turtles, may in future be required to recalibrate their navigational instincts.
Despite the cost and inconvenience of altering runway names, not to mention the indignity of losing magnetic north to Russia, inhabitants of North America stand to benefit from the changes in at least one respect: it will give them more opportunities to observe the aurora borealis.

No one can predict the impact of "polar reversal", during which magnetic north and south reverse, since one hasn't happened for 780,000 years, the longest stable period in the past 5 million years. Some geologists think we could be about to find out, though: they believe that the current changes to magnetic north could be the early stages of a "flip". But Mr Love says we shouldn't be too concerned. "Reversals typically take about 10,000 years to happen," he said. "And 10,000 years ago civilisation did not exist. These processes are slow, and therefore we don't have anything to worry about."

Article: Adjust your compass now: the north pole is migrating to Russia - Science, News - The Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/adjust-your-compass-now-the-north-pole-is-migrating-to-russia-2233610.html)

Some choice sentences in this article!

S.

[Savoia]

Sea King Helicopter Force Wins National Award For Engineering Excellence

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/TXo0nawBoKI/AAAAAAAACBs/WwtPpqUadwI/s640/cu-00911-rolls-royce-engine.jpg

The 2009/10 winner of the Rolls Royce Engineering Efficiency Trophy has been given to the Navy Command Sea King Helicopter Force based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.

Unusually this year, the highly coveted Trophy has been awarded to the whole Force rather than to an individual unit, in acknowledgement of the exceptional combined engineering achievements of the Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) and Search and Rescue (SAR) Squadrons.

The presentation ceremony took place in 771 Squadron’s newly modernised Hangar with Commodore Marsh (Assistant Chief of Staff, Logistics) and Ian Ritchey Senior Vice President – Engineering and technology (Rolls Royce) as principal guests. Apart from those operating on frontline duties in Afghanistan, the whole of the Sea King Force was present.

Some of the Royal Navy’s Sea King aircraft date from the 1970’s, but they are equipped with the most technically advanced radar and communications equipment available. With its high tempo of operations and training requirements, the Sea King Force places a heavy workload on its engineers requiring them to provide fully serviceable aircraft round the clock and across the globe.

The Sea King Force is made up of five Naval Air Squadrons. 857, 854 and 849 Squadrons provide the Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) capability, while 771 and Gannet SAR Flight provide SAR cover in Cornwall and Scotland.

More: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/establishments/naval-bases-and-air-stations/rnas-culdrose/news/national_award.htm (http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/establishments/naval-bases-and-air-stations/rnas-culdrose/news/national_award.htm)

[Savoia]

Last night's downtime upgrading PPRuNe's vBulletin software seems to have resulted in the loss of the cumbersome 'security identification' process which used to crop-up after you signed-in. Hooray! :D

Perhaps I was the only one who, on several occasions, had to 'refresh' the letter string because the characters proffered were sometimes so obscure. My daughter however (who often sits on my lap when I browse PPRuNe in the evenings) used to love the challenge of deciphering the letters!

Apparently one can now just 'drop in' the entire URL for You Tube inserts but .. the option to colour text seems to have been temporarily lost.

Other changes seem to be that the bottom of 'quote boxes' are now clipped and that a small gap is automatically inserted at the top of each post.

How does vBulletin compare with other forum software?

Someone sent me this:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/TYB4ASkGm1I/AAAAAAAACJE/LhPSHJzE2gs/Oooh%20..%20arrrgh%21.jpg

.. and I was trying to think of an appropriate caption but all I could come up with was 'Oh dear'.

S.

[Non-PC Plod]

Does it belong to a deck chair company? Did the pilot pass a colour-blindness test for his medical?

[topendtorque]

Check Your Bearings: Because the North Pole is Migrating to Russia!




and, better check yer maps.

Print (javascript:printStory();) Email (http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/mailto/mailto-nojs_query.pl?http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/13/3162741.htm) Share (javascript:shareStory();)
Massive quake moved Japan over 2m

Updated Sun Mar 13, 2011 3:18pm AEDT
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201103/r733336_5932088.jpg (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201103/r733336_5932126.jpg)The quake and tsunami engulfed towns and cities on Japan's north-eastern coast (Reuters/Kyodo)


Related Story: Japan takes stock as death toll rises (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/13/3162725.htm)
Related Story: No reports of Australian casualties in Japan (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/13/3162590.htm)
Related Story: In their words: Japan's twin disasters (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/13/3162707.htm)


Japan's earthquake, one of the largest ever recorded, appears to have moved the main island by about 2.4 metres, the US Geological Survey (USGS) says.
Friday's magnitude 9 quake unleashed a terrifying tsunami that engulfed towns and cities on the east coast of Honshu island, destroying everything in its path.
The quake and its tectonic shift resulted from "thrust faulting" along the boundary of the Pacific and North America plates, according to the USGS.
The Pacific plate pushes under a far western wedge of the North America plate at the rate of about 83 millimetres per year, but a colossal earthquake can provide enough of a jolt to dramatically move the plates, with catastrophic consequences.
"With an earthquake this large, you can get these huge ground shifts," said USGS seismologist Paul Earle.
"On the actual fault you can get 20 metres of relative movement, on the two sides of the fault."
He said similar movements would have been seen for Chile and Indonesia.
Kenneth Hudnut, a USGS geophysicist, said experts read data, including that from global positioning systems, to determine the extent of the shift.
"We

[topendtorque]

In answer to Savoia, post #54, i guess someone mistimed April 1st. not even a photoshop play-in could be that stupid.

[500e]

Nice to see the pilots colour coordinated
I was thinking Paint Co.

[Dan Reno]

Just click on where you think the city is and the plane will land there,
then it will show where the city actually is!! Good luck !!


Take the 'Pilot's' test below. Warning - it can become addictive!

http://www.lufthansa-vp.com/vp1/play.html (http://www.lufthansa-vp.com/vp1/play.html)

[Savoia]

.
Dan, great stuff! Good piece of software for the kids to learn some European geography! :ok:

And now ..


Katie Price Wants Pink Helicopter

http://www.styleguru.org/images/jordan_bling.jpg

Katie Price is planning to buy a pink helicopter and wants to have a helipad installed at her home.

Katie Price is planning to buy a pink helicopter. The British star is taking flying lessons and hopes to have a helipad installed at her home so she can fly off at a moment's notice.

Katie told The Sun newspaper: "I'm planning to get my own helicopter, a pink one, a proper Pricey one, just as soon as I pass my flying test. I'm going to have a helipad at my new house. People might think it's extravagant, but I'd like to see people following me in the air. "If people are bothering me, I'll just zoom over their heads."

Katie has long been a fan of choppers and she arrived with her new boyfriend, Argentinean model Leandro Penna, by helicopter last week when they attended the horse racing at Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, South West England.

The 32-year-old star also admitted she has to communicate with Leandro - who she met at Sir Elton John's Oscars party on February 28, shortly after announcing her split from cage fighter Alex Reid - by "winking", as she doesn't speak his native language.

She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I don't speak Spanish, and he doesn't speak much English, but we communicate in other ways. Even simple things like winking."

Katie - who has three children, Harvey, eight, Junior, five, and three-year-old Princess Tiaamii, from previous relationships - also boasted she has great career prospects in the US, and is planning to be spending much more time Stateside in the coming months. However, she is against a permanent move to the country.

She said: "I know people say you have to move to the States to break the States but I don't need to do that. It's already happening for me. So I don't need to move there."



Barbie wants helicopter to play with (http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/katie-price-wants-pink-helicopter_1208435)

Someone please put her in touch with Lynn.

S.

[TRC]

Someone please put her in touch with Lynn


I presume that was a typing error - didn't you mean:

Someone please put her in touch with reality.

[Ian Corrigible]

...or with PHI:

http://www.alecbuck.com/mediagallery/mediaobjects/disp/2/2bd07bd66a028a19a6e11ef77cff6a05.jpg

I/C

[ascj]

I reckon if one of those dogs jumped in after me i'd learn to swim a whole lot better!

[902Jon]

Katie has long been a fan of choppers
:p

I don't think I can add anything here :O

[SilsoeSid]

Showbiz - News - Katie Price 'wants pink helicopter' - Digital Spy (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a310239/katie-price-wants-pink-helicopter.html)

Katie Price 'wants pink helicopter'

Katie Price has revealed that she plans to buy a pink helicopter so that she can maintain some privacy.

The glamour model, who recently split from her husband Alex Reid, explained that she has been taking flying lessons.

Price told The Sun: "I'm planning to get my own helicopter, a pink one, a proper Pricey one, just as soon as I pass my flying test. I'm going to have a helipad at my new house. People might think it's extravagant, but I'd like to see people following me in the air.

"If people are bothering me, I'll just zoom over their heads."


Own up, who is her instructor ?
http://www.justdaves.com/forum/images/smiliez/boobs.gif


I was looking for a 'There may be trouble ahead' video, but thought this would cheer us up more :ok:

YouTube - XXXX beer - not for air version

[hands_on123]

http://www.pprune.org/jet-blast/279615-watch-out-katie-price-jordan-airborne.html

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/385103-flying-spice-geri-halliwell-celebrates-after-taking-her-first-helicopter-lesson.html#post5131196

I seem to remember Denis Kenyon was teaching her??

[TRC]

I can suggest either a 300C or a 500D (for our metric friends), or a 47H if she can find one, or maybe a 76C++....

[Gordy]

I am sure I can loan her our 212---just need to change the picture and name on the side:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/212BT/PICT0004-HM.jpg

[flysebi]

it's true the Hannah-Montana copter? I think it's the pinkyest helicopter in the world :eek:

[birrddog]

I would not be surprised if our friend Mr JTobias has something todo with this.... ;)

http://jetbox.wordpress.com/#!/entry/1289

[ShyTorque]

4Hlw5lHns5Q

[birrddog]

Shy, we wont ask how you knew about that music video :E

[ShyTorque]

:rolleyes: My daughter found it some years ago and it's one of her YouTube favourites. The girls were/are about the same age as her.

[Nubian]

Gordy,

Any chance of a picture with a full matching bambi attached??? or a rapelling fire-crew??

[Savoia]

.
If we're really going to head down this slippery slope then how about this to put you off your breakfast!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5557400191_14b0dfd10f_z.jpg
Victoria Beckham (aarrgh .. the keyboard winces at just writing her name) with an Air Haro 76

S.

[Thud_and_Blunder]

I wonder what effect she was aiming for? Probably not the coffee/keyboard moment it had here...

[Bravo73]

.Victoria Beckham (aarrgh .. the keyboard winces at just writing her name) with an Air Haro 76



Looks like a couple o' pretty cool doods in the background... :E

[Savoia]

.
Ah yes, see where you're coming from.

Well, if not being attracted to VB has me playing for the 'other side' then .. guilty as charged!

In her 'size' I think Brasil has much to offer in the form of Adriana Lima (http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/adriana-lima-pregnant.jpg) or even Alessandra Ambrosio (http://img.ezinemark.com/imagemanager1/files/2010/4/7/alessandra_ambrosio-2894.jpg) .. but that's just me!

;)

S.

[mtoroshanga]

Savoia
I'm with you there,man!!

[Bravo73]

.
Ah yes, see where you're coming from.


Was that to me, Sav? If so, thankfully you've got the wrong end of the stick.

I was meant to be taking the p1ss out of the two pilots in the background, one of whom (if my eyes aren't deceiving me) is a regular poster on here. ;)


And don't worry, that's not 'just you'. Brazil has quite obviously got a lot of, er, natural attractions. :ok:

[Savoia]

.
B73: No sweat!

Re: Your friend from Air Haro;

My godfather looked after MAF's first two helicopters, G-BAKX (which was bought by Roy Flood of Castle Motors) and G-BFAL (the UK's first 206L now flying as G-OLDN). Regarding pilots .. short-sleeve order was rarely permitted, a couple of months during the summer (if I remember rightly) but .. when doing anything 'official' such as paying landing fees, boarding passengers etc. pilots were encouraged [read obliged] to don their uniform jackets with hat while carrying gloves in hand!

Hands in pockets (especially when cameras were about) .. was strictly 'verboten'!

If there is an Air Haro jock within the Rotorheads community then why for the love of God can't they post a little info on some of their 'non-sensitive' sorties along with a few shots of their craft including the 92 if they still manage it.

Sav

[Savoia]

.
An inspiring story: Female Medic Awarded Military Cross (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/8408236/Female-medic-awarded-Military-Cross-for-bravery.html)

.
A small selection of helicopters with flare!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5566509435_f8e8b96374_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5566509439_3e5aa03d39_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5566509443_11b820a7ce_z.jpg

Sav

[Savoia]

.
Bell to restart JetRanger line in response to R66 | Helihub - the Helicopter Industry Data Source (http://www.helihub.com/2011/04/01/bell-to-restart-jetranger-line-in-response-to-r66/)

Good one HH! :ok:

[strey]

You never know ;)

[Savoia]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5182/5582366495_4b80cc3a82_z.jpg
Nurses from the US Army's 1st Air Cavalry c.1966 (Photo courtesy of PPRuNer Hell Man)

Should your 300 fail its CofA .. you can always transform it into this:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5147/5582366441_461608ce76_z.jpg
AgGem 'HoverHughes' built by Albert Newton and seen outside the Forrestal hangar at Princeton, New Jersey in 1965.

Sav

[DennisK]

I've got a short cockpit video sequence of Katie 'squealing' (actually worse) at the apex of a 'wing-over' if someone can tell me how I get it on here! DRK

[Senior Pilot]

Dennis,

Video posting tutorial is in the Announcement at the top of the Rotorheads Forum page :ok:

[Savoia]

http://bigtu.eastday.com/img/201104/04/59/264536187836173839.jpg
A police helicopter flies over suburb of Beijing, capital of China, April 3, 2011

BEIJING, April 4 -- Beijing police on Monday succeeded in using a copter to lift two stranded climbers off a suburban mountain.

This was the first time that a helicopter was used in a rescue work in China's capital.

The two climbers were among 39 students from the Beijing Institute of Technology, who got lost during a spring outing activity organized by the school's climbing club to hike Mount Mao'er in Fangshan District, western Beijing, on Monday.

Beijing Bureau of Public Security sent some 300 policemen combing the mountain to search the missing climbers, upon receiving a hotline call Sunday evening. Rescuers found 37 of the stranded students before dawn.

Police on the rescue copter noticed an alarm using mirror reflective light sent by the remaining two students at 8 a.m. Monday, and dropped the cable to lift them off the mountain.

Eastday-Stranded climbers rescued by police copter in Beijing (http://english.eastday.com/e/110404/u1a5823604.html)

[DennisK]

Thanks SP ... I'll give it a go. Need to get the KP sequence off a 60 min DVD tho' DRK

[Savoia]

http://www.helihub.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/110404-heliportugal1-2x.jpg

PC in Portugal last Thursday

AgustaWestland (http://www.agustawestland.com/)

[Savoia]

Turkey's top government and military authorities will meet Tuesday to select and announce the winner of a $4 billion contract for the co-production of 109 utility helicopters, a senior procurement official said Friday.

Turkey's top decision-making body for procurement, The Defense Industry Executive Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will convene to choose between the United States’ Sikorsky Aircraft and Italy's AgustaWestland.

Sikorsky is offering its T-70, the Turkish version of its S-70 Black Hawk International, which is presently being used by the militaries of dozens of countries, including Turkey. AgustaWestland is competing with its TUHP 149, the Turkish version of its newly developed A-149.

"The event will have only one agenda item: the selection of Turkey's new utility helicopter type," the procurement official said.
The first batch will be for 109 utility helicopters, but with follow-on orders, more than 300 platforms are expected to be built with a price tag of over $10 billion, according to defense analysts.

The Turkish decision comes at the end of a final round of talks with the two competing companies.

"The two offers will be judged in accordance with their final prices and commercial benefits for the Turkish industry involved in the program," said the procurement official.

Sikorsky Aircraft and AgustaWestland have so far announced benefit packages worth billions of dollars each.

Several Turkish companies, most notably Turkish Aerospace Industries, or TAI, will take part in the joint production of the platforms.

In addition to Erdoğan, the Defense Industry Executive Committee's other members include Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül, Chief of General Staff General Isık Koşaner and Turkey's top procurement official, Murad Bayar.

Turkey to make helicopter decision on Tuesday - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkey8217s-copter-decision-to-come-april-12-2011-04-10)

[Savoia]

.
Any truth behind the rumour that Lynn Tilton is planning to recruit Amanda Lepore to join MDH's marketing team?

http://images.quickblogcast.com/6/6/0/5/8/185283-185066/amanda_and_gazelle_in_the_air.jpg?a=80

;)

Sav

[Ian Corrigible]

Turkey to make helicopter decision on Tuesday

Déjà vu all over again...

Turkey to make helicopter selection this week (http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/11961318.asp?gid=244) (June 2009)

:E

I/C

[Savoia]

Déjà vu all over again...

Is there a major Turkish helicopter procurement exercise which has not been stalled, cancelled or re-tendered?

And the winner is ...


Turkey's top procurement body has once again delayed a much-expected, multibillion-dollar decision planned for Tuesday to select between an U.S. company and an Italian firm to lead the production of Turkey's next generation of military utility helicopters.

The key reason is Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ongoing visit to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France.

The members of the Defense Industry Executive Committee, the top procurement body, are Erdoğan, Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner and procurement chief Murad Bayar.
One procurement official said now the decision is expected to be announced toward the end of next week.


Turkey's helicopter decision delayed, again - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkeys-helicopter-decision-delayed-again-2011-04-12)

Note: What they didn't tell you is that the imperative nature of Recep Erdoğan's stay in France was underscored by an invitation Mrs Erdoğan received to attend a private shopping 'experience' at Yves St Lauren in Paris! :E

[Dan Reno]

Jigidi Puzzle - Birddog in Flight (http://www.jigidi.com/solve.php?id=14AUA7FG)

[birrddog]

Very nice puzzle though it looks nothing like me.... I look a little more like this in flight:

https://files.me.com/birrddog/8abxug

:p

[Savoia]

Wills invites 'mates' to wedding

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01862/william-crew_1862000c.jpg
L-R: Winchman Sergeant Ed Griffith, Flight Lieutenant Alan Connor, Prince William and winch operator Sergeant Paul Jones.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01872/william-rescue-tea_1872482c.jpg
L-R: Flight Lieutenant Andy Doyle, Flight Lieutenant al connor, Squadron Leader Dave Taylor, Squadron Leader Iain 'spike' Wright , Flight Lieutenant Thomas Bunn, Flight Sergeant Nick Swannick, Sergeant Paul Jones, and Sergeant Keith Best.


Crew members at RAF Valley in Anglesey, where the Prince works as a search and rescue (SAR) pilot, praised him for his progress and said all 27 members of C Flight 22 had been invited to the wedding, along with their partners.

Flight Commander Iain ''Spike'' Wright, William's line manager, said he was ''dumbfounded'' when he realised he had been invited.

''I didn't expect it. It's a great honour. Then I relaxed and thought 'This is actually going to be quite good fun'.''

Flt Cdr Wright, 42, who is originally from Plymouth, added: ''The vast majority of us are going with our partners.''

Flight Lieutenant Thomas ''Sticky'' Bunn, 38, said: ''First of all I couldn't believe it. My wife certainly couldn't. When that envelope drops through the door with a Buckingham Palace stamp on it, it's not something you see every day.''


Prince William's RAF colleagues delighted at invitation to Royal wedding - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8450416/Prince-Williams-RAF-colleagues-delighted-at-invitation-to-Royal-wedding.html)

[strey]

That's nice of him, probably what many other would do to their colleagues :)

[Dan Reno]

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt80/DanReno2/07.jpg

[Savoia]

.
Great stuff DR! :ok:

Invincible's Sorry Ending


The former Royal Navy flagship and icon of the Falklands War, HMS Invincible, has arrived at the Turkish port where she is due to be scrapped. She could eventually be recycled into girders for buildings, bridge cables, chairs or even razor blades.

Half a million people turned out to welcome Invincible on her return from the Falklands in 1982, including the Queen who was in attendance as head of the Armed Forces as well as being a proud mother who's son, Prince Andrew, was serving aboard as a helicopter pilot.

When Invincible departed Portsmouth on her final voyage, less than 50 people turned out at the quayside to see her off. The Royal Navy made no announcement of her farewell and did not even lay on a piper.

It fell to a lone standard-bearer from the Royal British Legion and a handful of well wishers to pay tribute.


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/04/13/article-0-0B9BD23E00000578-507_638x410.jpg
HMS Invicible now rests at the Port of Aliaga in Turkey waiting to be scrapped.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/24/article-1369599-0B529B4B00000578-40_634x374.jpg
Invincible on her return from the Falklands campaign

A sorry end: Queen's former flagship HMS Invincible arrives in Turkey to be scrapped | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1376501/A-sorry-end-Queens-flagship-HMS-Invincible-arrives-Turkey-scrapped.html?ito=feeds-newsxml)

[Savoia]

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says the Prime Minister's use of an Air Force Iroquois helicopter on Saturday was appropriate and perfectly reasonable.

Mr Key was flown from Auckland to Hamilton and back, so he could attend both the V8s racing and a golf club dinner.

The Labour and Green parties have labelled the trip extravagant and disgraceful.

Dr Mapp says when Mr Key has accepted an invitation it is important he show up and he disagrees with criticism of the use of the Iroquois.
He told Morning Report the Prime Minister often has to be in different places within a short time and it is perfectly reasonable that he would use an Iroquois, as have previous Prime Ministers.

Labour's associate finance spokesperson, Trevor Mallard, says using a helicopter was slower than using a car in this instance, and even if there was extra time involved it was an expensive exercise and one which should not be happening.

The Air Force has confirmed Mr Key has used the helicopters four times since 31 March.

Radio New Zealand : News : Political : Minister defends PM's use of Iroquois (http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/73464/minister-defends-pm's-use-of-iroquois)

Kiwi's should be pleased that there is no legislation requiring their PM to be transported in a twin with two pilots as that would cost them even more!

Sav

[Savoia]

YouTube - Mystery over Royal couple's honeymoon

[Savoia]

Helicopter Game - Free Online Arcade Games from AddictingGames.com (http://www.addictinggames.com/helicopter.html)

An annoying little game!

[Gordy]

Better helicopter games:

Helipopter (http://www.gamesforwork.com/games/play-10621-Helipopter-Flash_Game)

Cool external load game (http://www.physicsgames.net/game/Air_Transporter.html)

[Savoia]

.
The Berlusconi Files: Straddling the Rubicon

Following Silvio Berlusconi's declared interest in Rotorheads (early April) ;) and in order to keep 'abreast' of his helicopter related activities:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/TchYL_X0uRI/AAAAAAAADJ0/XecEz33sRBs/s720/karima-el-mahroug%2022.jpg
Silvio Berlusconi's acquaintance Miss Karima el Mahrough (of unknown age) arrives at Luigi's Italian restuarant in Koettlach Austria on 3rd March 2011 as a guest of Austrian businessman Richard Lugner who, under strict instructions from 'Il Cavaliere' to treat Miss El Mahrough as a 'princess', ensured that she arrived for her lunch date in 'appropriate' style. Miss El Mahrough went on to accompany Mr Lugner to the Vienna Ball.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/TchXD5gRMeI/AAAAAAAADJs/fYSxIEAb694/Hubi%20Fly%20As350B2%20Spielberg%20Austria%2018%20May%2003%2 0%28Elisabeth%20Klimesch%2922.jpg
The craft used for this assignment was Huby Fli's AS350B2 OE-XCH seen here over Spielberg, Austria on 18th May 2003. (Photo: Courtesy of Austrian helicopter pilot and photographer; Elisabeth Klimesch)

Sav

[Savoia]

.

Alex Salmond joins chorus of those saying: "Its cool to fly single"

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01889/salmond-helicopter_1889687c.jpg
SNP Leader Alex Salmond boards an HJS 206L at Strathaven airfield on 4th May 2011

Sav

[Savoia]

.

Fortunate Fortune honoured at BP

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/TctvEDsc70I/AAAAAAAADL4/1xMKv7hSqdY/Flt%20Lt%20Ian%20Fortune%20BP.png
Flt Lt Ian Fortune receives the Distinguished Flying Cross from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace


An RAF pilot who managed to land his Chinook helicopter carrying injured troops after being shot in the head in Afghanistan was honoured at Buckingham Palace.

Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing injured troops under fire and while injured himself.

Prince Charles spoke to the pilot about his lucky escape and was enthralled by his "most excellent story".

After getting his award Flt Lt Fortune said: "It feels tremendous. The hairs on the back of my neck are still standing up. I feel very proud.

"The Prince of Wales asked me how I managed it all and I said I didn't really know."

In January 2010, the 29-year-old pilot had taken off from Garmsir in Helmand province with six wounded soldiers on board when his Chinook came under fire from Taliban militants.

One bullet came through the windscreen and shattered his helmet visor but was deflected by his night vision goggles.

Flt Lt Fortune recalled: "When I twigged that I had been hit with a bullet and that I was okay, it was a pretty amazing feeling.

"If it hadn't been for that bit of metal (on my goggles), I might not have been here today."

Despite his injuries the pilot managed to get his damaged helicopter back to base. All the wounded soldiers on board survived.

Flt Lt Fortune said: "The main sense of achievement as a result of getting those casualties back, and what we achieved as a crew, will stay with me for the rest of my life, I think."

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01058/SNN0517C-180_1058225a.jpg
The fortunate helmet

Sav

[Savoia]

.
Hoon lands job with AgustaWestland


Geoff Hoon is to take up a full-time job with a helicopter company, just over a year after the former defence secretary told undercover reporters he looked forward to translating his “knowledge and contacts” into money.
Mr Hoon is joining AgustaWestland in an international role, aiming to sell helicopters around the world, although not in the UK or Italy, the company’s home markets.

http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00265/Geoff_Hoon_265771s.jpg

He was suspended from the Labour party last year after being recorded by a Channel 4 Dispatches investigation seeking £3,000 a day for lobbying work, weeks before he was due to step down from parliament.

“I’ve got two children at university so I’ve got to get a job,” he told the undercover reporters, after saying that his experience as a minister would “open doors”.

“One of the challenges that I’m really looking forward to is translating my knowledge and contacts about the international scene into something that frankly makes money,” he added.

Mr Hoon later “unreservedly apologised” for the comments, but he is now apparently making good on his prediction, becoming executive senior vice-president of AgustaWestland’s international business.

His new job has been cleared by the committee that vets business appointments of former ministers, and company insiders say Mr Hoon did not sign off any of its contracts at the Ministry of Defence.

After leaving the government in June 2009 and standing down as an MP in April 2010, Mr Hoon helped to set up an independent consultancy, TaylorHoon Strategy. One of his clients was AgustaWestland, a global design, development and manufacturer of helicopters, with its international headquarters in Farnborough.

During a political career stretching over 18 years, Mr Hoon was chief whip, transport secretary and leader of the Commons.

He was perhaps best known, however, as Tony Blair’s defence secretary, where over six years he oversaw preparations for wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq, developing a network of contacts in the defence world.

Mr Hoon joined forces with his former cabinet colleague Patricia Hewitt to mount an unsuccessful coup against Gordon Brown.

He said: “I am delighted to have been asked to join one of the world’s leading technology and manufacturing companies.

“AgustaWestland’s helicopters are acknowledged to be the most advanced of their kind. I am joining an established and successful team which is part of a great workforce around the world.”

Hoon lands job with helicopter company: Financial Times (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/56af5770-7ff3-11e0-b018-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1MaL85of8)

Oh dear!

Sav

[ShyTorque]

I am joining an established and successful team which is part of a great workforce around the world.”

Didn't he say that about Blair's team? :cool:

[Savoia]

.
Will Grimsvoetn prove grim for Britain?


Ash from an erupting Icelandic volcano is expected to reach Britain by tomorrow airlines have been warned.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/Tdpsh_47BJI/AAAAAAAADR4/PTObmrG32Is/Grimsvotn%20Eruption.jpg
The beautiful but disrupting plume of ash from Iceland's Grimsvoetn volcano which has been ejected 12 miles high into the atmosphere

The ash could force the authorities to shut airports and close UK airspace, in a move which could disrupt many thousands of passengers almost exactly a year since a different Icelandic volcano closed airspace across Europe.

The latest warning is based on five-day weather forecasts but experts said the wind patterns were changeable and could yet sweep the cloud away from the UK.

Aviation authorities yesterday said no disruption was expected to European or transatlantic airspace over the next 24 hours.

However, if the eruption continues at the same rate and winds do not change, ash could reach northern Scotland by tomorrow and spread to England, France and even Spain by Thursday or Friday, forecasters said.

Grimsvoetn, Iceland’s most active volcano at the heart of its biggest glacier, began erupting late on Saturday, sending a plume of smoke and ash 12miles high.

So much ash was blasted into the sky that it blocked out the sun and covered nearby villages and farms.

By yesterday, the ash had reached the capital Reykjavik, nearly 250m to the west, and all the country’s airspace was closing down.


Ash cloud from Icelandic volcano to hit Britain tomorrow - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8529178/Ash-cloud-from-Icelandic-volcano-to-hit-Britain-tomorrow.html)

[Savoia]

.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/Tdqo8Kr-g0I/AAAAAAAADSM/5yrYnxkOqjQ/Snap17.jpg
The O'Bama's leave a VH-60N 'White Hawk' earlier today during their Irish visit

Obama sips the 'black nectar' in the land of his ancestors (http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/05/23/vo.ireland.obama.beer.cnn?hpt=C2)

Word on the apron is that Obama's travel plans to the UK may be moved forward due to the bonfire (see post above) in Rotorrookie's backyard! .. Ash cloud hastens Obama UK arrival - UK, Local & National - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/ash-cloud-hastens-obama-uk-arrival-16003376.html)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/23/article-1389934-0C39651400000578-279_634x421.jpg
Oops! A US serviceman - part of a Chook crew supporting the Presidential visit in Eire, falls over prior to the arrival of AF One.

Ah, the shenanigans the Americans get up to in the land of the Sheamus'!

[Savoia]

.
AgustaWestland to Announce New Aircraft

AgustaWestland will take the wraps off its latest helicopter type on Monday, June 20 at 12:00 p.m. during the Paris Air Show.
AgustaWestland Appoints New CEO


Bruno Spagnolini has become the new CEO of AgustaWestland taking over from Giuseppe Orsi who has became CEO of parent company Finmeccanica. Spagnolini was previously AW's COO.

China Commercial Heli Expo


The first China International Helicopter Exposition, China's first professional expo on helicopters approved by the State Council, will be held in north China's port city of Tianjin from September 15 to 18 this year, organizing authorities said Wednesday in Beijing.

Li Peisheng, deputy secretary of Tianjin Municipal Government, said the helicopter exposition will focus on displaying the latest complete machines, engines, avionic systems and airborne equipments from home and abroad.
"Meanwhile, academic seminars, business negotiation meetings and aerobatics will be held as well," said Li.

The international helicopter expo will be jointly held by Tianjin Municipal Government, state-controlled Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and the Army Aviation Department under the General Staff Department of People's Liberation Army (PLA).

AVIC, together with prominent world aviation enterprises, such as France's Eurocopter and Safran, America's Goodrich, Honeywell, Sikorsky and German's ThyssenKrupp will take part in the exposition.

China International Helicopter Exposition is scheduled to be held every other year from 2011, as the complement of China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition held in south China's port city of Zhuhai.

[Savoia]

.
No-fly zone to apply over Highclere Castle


It has already demonstrated its power to keep millions of devoted viewers glued to their sofas. But it appears the influence of Downton Abbey extends well beyond the nation’s front rooms – even to the senior ranks of the Royal Air Force.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/06/18/article-2005297-0BE91E12000005DC-513_468x312.jpg
No Chinooks please, we're trying to be British

The £1 million-an-episode ITV drama prides itself on the authenticity of its historical setting, at the start of the First World War in 1914. So filming for the new series faced costly delays when it was interrupted by the thoroughly modern racket of a squadron of twin-engine Chinook helicopters on manoeuvres.

Until, that is, senior executives were able to persuade the RAF to redirect its aircraft – training for deployment in Afghanistan – away from the show’s set at Highclere Castle in Berkshire.

The Sunday night drama, starring Hugh Bonneville and charting the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family, became ITV’s surprise hit of last year and returns for a second series in the autumn.

It is understood the aircraft noise problem first arose while shooting last year’s series. So when it forced filming to a halt again earlier this month, the show’s historical adviser Alastair Bruce took matters into his own hands. Mr Bruce, a lieutenant-colonel in the Territorial Army, called a senior RAF contact to ask them to practise their formations elsewhere. And such is the sway of the Bafta-nominated series, the RAF agreed.

A source on the set said: ‘Alastair put in an informal call to politely ask the RAF to move elsewhere.

‘It did the trick and that one phone call saved the production tens of thousands of pounds in potentially lost filming time. ‘Word spread pretty quickly and Alastair was very much the hero of the hour. Everyone on set was extremely grateful.’

A Downton Abbey spokesman refused to comment but another show source added: ‘Alastair making this call to the RAF became the talk of the set. He was very modest and insisted that it was something that anyone could have done.’

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/06/18/article-2005297-0C9F318200000578-619_468x240.jpg
The RAF have applied a self-enforced no-fly-zone over Highclere Castle at the request of Downton Abbey's producers

The helicopters were on manoeuvres from RAF Odiham in Hampshire – 25 miles from Highclere Castle, which doubles as the fictional Abbey – and just ten minutes’ flying time from the set.

The Ministry of Defence said last night: ‘Low-flying training is essential to develop and practise the tactics and techniques that are necessary for operations in Afghanistan. We do all we can to minimise disturbance.’

Since its debut, Downton Abbey – written by Oscar-winning scriptwriter Julian Fellowes – has been sold to more than 100 countries, including Australia and the US.


Chinooks upset film crew of Downton Abbey (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2005297/ITV-persuades-RAF-turn-Downton-Abbey-Chinook-free-zone.html)

Shame really as I could think of nothing more entertaining than to be watching a period piece which was suddenly interrupted by the unmistakable resonance of a Chook's rotors!

[Ian Corrigible]

Shame really as I could think of nothing more entertaining than to be watching a period piece which was suddenly interrupted by the unmistakable resonance of a Chook's rotors!

Sav - To make it up to you, a T-72 appearing in a period piece.

DQLhIWnpM6M

I/C

[Savoia]

.
Ian ... excellent! :E

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Erm - I fink it's a T55...

[XV666]

Hmmmm: I think it's the wrong colour :p

http://s3.amazonaws.com/pixmac-preview/pink-tank-prague-czech-republic.jpg

and it's an Is-2

[HowlingMad Murdock]

Ian Corrigible - great vid. have not seen before!
Heli - pink tank....really? Good grief! Great if we are ever attacked by the House of Dior, heh,heh,heh!:)

[Savoia]

.
Its been a polo sort of day today!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PFCWj05_GIE/Thi_olKrqiI/AAAAAAAAD4s/9gVT5rKCB-Q/s800/Santa%252520Barbara%252520Polo%252520and%252520Racquet%25252 0Club.jpg
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arriving at the Santa Barbara Racquet and Polo Club for a charity polo match earlier today courtesy of a 109S (any American PPRuNers with knowledge of the operator please chip in)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lNHMaeafNKo/Thi_n9_i1wI/AAAAAAAAD4w/UqBaQq-PHao/s800/article-2012983-0CF0D65B00000578-573_964x502.jpg
Wills and Kate alight from the Grand

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_iylhZ9H4fE/Thi_nPrgeHI/AAAAAAAAD40/gS5PDqZ1xwo/s512/article-2012983-0CF0C5F200000578-930_470x706.jpg
And on to the event

Some hours earlier back in Blighty the Duke of Essex Polo Trophy was taking place at Gaynes Park in Epping. Evidently one of the celebrity guests was Lydia Bright (whom I had never heard of until today) seen below with someone called James Argent:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-493ssc9ZPw0/Thi_mWDmRyI/AAAAAAAAD5E/TWp8eAvEIic/s512/article-2012890-0CEFDFA100000578-609_634x890.jpg

This however is how she appeared when emerging from an AS355:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XYXVRBkCT3k/Thi_lh5oPnI/AAAAAAAAD5A/2WgaI0sQ9WM/s512/article-2012890-0CEFA1FB00000578-250_306x709.jpg

Polo on chaps!

[Savoia]

.
A somewhat special Blackhawk image (me thinks):

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hTGdw3ONW50/TiawHGPNYdI/AAAAAAAAD_0/nBR7dOWvof8/Columbian%252520Air%252520Force%252520AH-60L%252520Arpia%252520III%252520%252528S70A-41%252529%252520Jose%252520Maria%252520Cordova%2525209%25252 0Jul%25252011%252520%252528Andres%252520Ramirez%252529.jpg
A Columbian Air Force AH-60L Arpia III (S70A-41) at Jose Maria Cordova 'bunts' and deploys flares during an exercise on 9th Jully 2011 (Photo: Andres Ramirez)

And something to put a smile on the face of our Irish Rotorheads:

rZD62OhaDTI&feature=related

[Savoia]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IJsjKUlacl8/TivUEcOkCeI/AAAAAAAAEGw/catHjXUojeQ/ln-ocp.jpg
Norwegian Police EC135

Question. From what I understand the Norwegian Police have at least one aircraft (above) available to them and the military doubtless have access to one (maybe even more than one).

This being the case, why the heck wasn't one of these aircraft used to deploy the SWAT team to Utoya Island last Friday instead of waiting 1hr:30mins to respond to multiple phone calls alerting them to the massacre underway?

[Ian Corrigible]

From BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14266815):

Meanwhile more details have emerged about why the police operation to capture the gunman took so long. Local police said a boat they wanted to use to get to the island was too small and leaky to carry personnel and equipment, and they decided to wait for a special unit from Oslo. And asked why a helicopter was not used, police chief Sveinung Sponheim said this would have taken longer as the nearest police helicopter was at a base in the south.

I/C

[Ian Corrigible]

Brenda reported to be looking for an S-76 chief pilot (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/8694089/Queen-looking-for-80000-a-year-pilot.html), paying £80,000/year. Just make sure you know what you're getting into.

m17M_rv9Xv8

I/C

[Savoia]

.
IC, Amusing!

Jolie Copter

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/08/11/article-2024996-0D64E09200000578-741_634x334.jpg
Agusta 109A Mk II G-JBRG of Interceptor Aviation lands somwhere on the outskirts of Richmond to collect Angelina Jolie yesterday

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/08/11/article-2024996-0D64E0AA00000578-221_634x414.jpg
Reports say Jolie used the Agusta for an out of town shopping trip

.

[Savoia]

.
An Egyptian government Gazelle featured earlier in this thread on page 33 (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/160829-gazelle-flying-operating-buying-33.html).

Now an image has emerged of an Egyptian Gazelle participating in the 'rukus' from earlier in the year:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_RnaYZTH1LQ/TkZT3wRAKDI/AAAAAAAAEak/8xVtdzYQ9Uk/Egyptian%252520Gazelle%252520Tahrir%252520Square%252520Feb%2 525202011.jpg
An Egyptian government Gazelle SA342L flies low over protestors in Cairo in February 2011

Aside from the obvious lack of options in the event that something untoward should happen to the aircraft (either mechanically induced or from the craft's proximity to the crowd) one wonders as to the effectiveness of such a manoeuvre in terms of crowd control?

The photographer claims the purpose of the government sponsored Gazelle was to 'intimidate' the crowd!

Interesting to see the KFC outlet among all the Arabic shop titles.
.

[Savoia]

Sorry, simply unable to resist posting this sublime impression of a Sea King.

To those who knew him, Igor Sikorsky made no secret of his hope that the development of the helicopter would find its ultimate fulfillment in the role of life-saving vehicle and, beyond question, Sikorsky-designed helicopters have been performing this role with distinction for many-a-decade!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AAajvfnBl8Q/TmnGuEvcmVI/AAAAAAAAE2c/QaX1km9fecw/s800/WSK%252520HC4%252520ZF120%252520Salisbury%252520Plain%252520 31%252520Jul%25252011%252520%252528Rick%252520Ingham%252529. jpg
Royal Navy Westland Sea King HC4 ZF120 over Salisbury Plain on 31st July 2011 (Photo: Rick Ingham)

[Savoia]

There I was, just the other day, thinking to myself .. I really would like to know a little more about the San Jose Police Department's helicopter unit - specifically about the work of their observers. Then this photo turned up! (Yeah, right.) ;)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qSes8dG1muc/TnS026zciyI/AAAAAAAAE8M/aujEAjtXxI8/s512/San%252520Jose%252520Police%252520Observer.jpg
A 'Tactical Observer' from the San Jose Air Support Unit during a patrol in one of their EC120 Colibri aircraft

San Jose ASU weblink (http://www.sjpd.org/bfo/SpecialOps/#Air2)

[Ian Corrigible]

Post-crash recommendation noted by Bell 47 ag pilot after wirestrike (courtesy of Flight (http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/as-the-croft-flies/2011/09/losing-lopes-in-los-banos.html)):

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/as-the-croft-flies/assets_c/2011/09/Butthead%20Bell_2-thumb-560x98-140102.jpg

I/C

[Savoia]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PQKupikesc0/ToFOOa_yACI/AAAAAAAAFEA/drhGH2t1Kj0/Avicopter%252520AC-312%252520China%25252015%252520Sep%25252011%252520%252528Fen gxiaoxi%252529.jpg
AVIC AC-312 B-980L during a test flight at the AVIC plant on 15th September 2011 (Photo: Fengxiaoxi)

The very first Avicopter AC312 (basically an AS365N built under licence) completes flight testing at AVIC's helicopter plant prior to delivery to the Tianjin Police.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9f/AVIC_title.png/300px-AVIC_title.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AVIC_title.png)

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC or in Chinese: 中国航空工业集团公司) is a Chinese state-owned aviation company which was founded in 1951 as the Aviation Industry Administration Commission.

The Corporation employs over 400,000 people and manufactures/assembles everything from fighter jets to helicopter trainers (read S300).

AVIC Website (http://www.avic.com.cn/EnglishVersion/FromthePresident/index.shtml)

[Savoia]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cBTg3A-sfX8/Toc8MID1XDI/AAAAAAAAFIc/juaGDuBaY4k/s720/Mi%2525208%252520MTV1%252520Grobnik%252520Croatia%25252019%2 52520Sep%25252004%252520%252528Emil%252520Pozar%252529.jpg
Mi-8 MTV-1 of the Croatian Air Force departing Grobnik Airport on 19th September 2004 (Photo: Emil Pozar)

On departing Grobnik Airport this Mi-8 managed to slice apart a converging seagull .. and which brings to mind the following recipe:

Bird Strike Pie

1 minced seagull
40g plain flour
5 large carrots
1 large onion
1 sweet pepper
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons tomato purée

;)

[Brilliant Stuff]

LOL. :D:D:D

[zlocko2002]

sorry, we will be more careful next time :O

[Savoia]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zns79YzifXo/TtePWOUxzpI/AAAAAAAAGmQ/oiGcG7tJcKY/s880/Chequered%25252044.jpg

Oh dear!

[Ian Corrigible]

"Scotland unveils its first stealth helicopter..."

:E

I/C

[Ian Corrigible]

Shamelessly lifted from the Helicopter Museum's (http://www.helicoptermuseum.co.uk) blog:

http://i.imgur.com/3dHICSl.jpg

I/C

[Savoia]

Lol, excellent IC.

At least we now get to see Heli1 "in action" during his day job! ;)

[Torque and temp]

Oh dear!Savoia - yeah, that's a strange looking 44 for sure. It belongs to the old Swedish luxury bed manufacturer Hästens' Beds Company (Hästens Beds' website (http://www.hastens.com/en-gb/)). They've got the square pattern as kind of a trademark for their beds, and this legacy has transferred onto some of their vehicles as well.

http://www.hastens.com/upload/01_Beds/03_Adjustable_beds/01_Citation/Citation_vinj.png

Here are some more pics and info on the aircraft itself:
Nordic Rotors - SE-JHS

(http://www.nordicrotors.com/SE-JHS/2119)

[rotorrookie]

Do have to where pajamas to fly it?

[Torque and temp]

Do have to where pajamas to fly it? Yeah.. kind of: ;)

http://www.nordicrotors.com/images_2/display_2/SE-JHS2011-12-21_18:19:37_display_4731.jpg
Photo: © Rickard Gillberg / Nordic Rotors
(http://www.nordicrotors.com/SE-JHS/4164)

[Savoia]

Lol .. ah well T&T .. that was something I needed to see in order to believe .. only in Sweden!

Aussie's Not So Bad Afterall! ;)


http://www.riotintocoalaustralia.com.au/documents/Helicopter_shot_450px.jpg
Pictured: Hail Creek Mine acting manager health, safety, environment, and community: Fiona Kruger and CQ Rescue chief executive officer Phil Dowler in front of one of CQ Rescue's helicopters in Mackay.

In lieu of sending traditional Christmas cards this year, Rio Tinto Coal Australia employees have chosen to donate $20,000 to a charity that comes to the aid of people across central Queensland in times of need.

The CQ Rescue helicopter service was selected after employees and contractors were asked to choose the charity they were most passionate about in Rio Tinto Coal Australia's inaugural 'Choose Your Own Charity' initiative.

CQ Rescue chief executive officer Phil Dowler thanked Rio Tinto Coal Australia and its workforce for the donation and said it will be used to train an extra rescue crew member.

More (http://www.riotintocoalaustralia.com.au/media/38_media_releases_2450.asp)

[Savoia]

The Monarch's private helicopter "Rainbow" was tasked today to carry out a visit by senior members of the Royal Family to Papworth Hospital near Cambridge where the Duke of Edinburgh is recovering from emergency heart surgery.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rxKxjCUNpwM/TvZgeVfkT7I/AAAAAAAAG6o/bqBq2wZxdkk/s634/article-2078181-0F447A6000000578-700_634x354.jpg
HM The Queen, with the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex, board the Royal Household's S76C at Papworth Hospital earlier today

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MTWBVfRHbnM/TvZgaoW966I/AAAAAAAAG6s/AUHLtBq4Wnc/s634/article-2078181-0F447A9000000578-330_634x331.jpg
"Rainbow" departs Papworth Hospital with the Royal party aboard (45 minutes after its arrival) bound for Sandringham House

More (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2078181/Duke-Edinburgh-treated-blocked-coronary-artery.html)

[Savoia]

One reported 'Ranbow's' tasking into the Papworth Hospital (above) but, from an operational point of view the real story was Philip's uplift and transfer the night before:

It is believed the Duke was flown to the hospital, which is around 60 miles away from the Sandringham estate, by a Sea King helicopter from RAF Wattisham, near Stowmarket in Suffolk, where Prince Harry is based.
When at first I read that the Duke had arrived during the night via helicopter I had assumed that Rainbow had been deployed for this and was wondering what kind of procedure TQHF followed for making a recce prior to landing. From the images it looks as though Rainbow used a car park for the landing and presumably this is what the Sea King carrying Philip the night before also used. I suppose with a crewman 'out the door' they are in a better position to survey the landing site prior to setting down!

Teenager, 16 completes first solo

http://cmsimg.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=BH&Date=20120101&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=111231003&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Scarsdale-teen-s-ride-choice-helicopter

Alex Berl of White Plains New York recently completed his first solo flight in a helicopter at the age of 16. Alex's father, Carlos Berl, flies both airplanes and helicopters and enjoys seeing his children follow his path, “It’s an incredible feeling to see them fly for themselves,” he said.

Berl will be able to obtain a private license when he turns 17 in June. After high school, he plans to attend a military school with a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program for which he can fly helicopters. If he likes it, he plans to make a career out of it.

His father said it takes passion and enthusiasm to learn to fly, and that the reward is great, whether a pilot makes it a career out of it or not.

More (http://www.lohud.com/article/20120101/NEWS02/111231003/Scarsdale-teen-s-ride-choice-helicopter)

[Savoia]

On 15th October 2011 an AS332C1 Super Puma, HB-ZKN, belonging to Eagle Helicopters, came across to Milan to complete the 231 metre Garibaldi Tower situated in Milan's new Porta Nuova complex next to the Porta Garibaldi rail station. The building was designed by Cesar Pelli and is now Italy's tallest building. It is the new headquarters for Unicredit Bank:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1XT8ZNEYAM4/TxKRYFNgqAI/AAAAAAAAHUU/OhI21YA2btI/s640/puma_torre7.jpg
HB-ZKN lifts from the contrsuction site, with her line attached, after a final pre-lift briefing with ground crews

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NHFJcf-Dgd8/TxKRk9VMBRI/AAAAAAAAHUg/xSV0-JkMFck/s640/puma_torre12.jpg
ZKN positioning herself for the pick-up and being flown (as showcased on the Nostalgia Thread) in single pilot configuration

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aukF12YUlIs/TxKZ2acj72I/AAAAAAAAHVQ/miRL_VXTFfw/s576/puma_torre13.jpg
Load hook-up

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dkymfH2sD_0/TxKRNRg03XI/AAAAAAAAHT8/04qroCH8WFI/s576/puma_torre1.jpg
The load (the upper portion of a communications tower) is away

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pUTPxsoUmHc/TxKRNXWSYKI/AAAAAAAAHUA/LMOlBb8Xsaw/s640/puma_torre2.jpg
The tip of the communications tower now clearly visible and on its way to the building's summit

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oemtchHBCgc/TxKROrIo_6I/AAAAAAAAHUE/F2lVaLPubAg/s640/puma_torre3.jpg
Lining-up the load for its reception

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rk5_tPJihWA/TxKZ1PNt1EI/AAAAAAAAHVc/JwKGqaGhAOs/s512/puma_torre10.jpg
Final alignment

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x4fJ5RdiV0c/TxKRPogGWJI/AAAAAAAAHUI/UjBrCUlaROw/s512/puma_torre4.jpg
Contact!

Once the tower tip was aligned the crowd below let out a round of applause!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gSbKBDoRRsY/TxKRnfsy_5I/AAAAAAAAHUk/wfPkW-te5HA/s512/puma_torre14.jpg
Job done! Italy's tallest building now complete!

Well done to the construction team and the flyboys at Eagle Helicopters! :D

[Savoia]

There’s lots of great information and photos on the Air Ambulance website, but when I found this next image from their 2010 “Bag a Bra” day I couldn’t resist showing it (what that has to do with air rescue, I’m not too sure but on closer reading, I discovered they were collecting discarded bras to be recycled and sent to Africa.) Now if they’d dressed the helicopter like that on the day they rescued my dad, I bet he’d have been well pleased and forgotten all about the smartie tube!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Qgy9IJDhs-E/TxZnHy7OUOI/AAAAAAAAHZQ/1BsvXUrL7BU/s576/Bag-a-Bra-Pink-800-pixcels.jpg
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance “Bag a Bra” Day 27th May 27th 2010

I discovered they were collecting discarded bras to be recycled and sent to Africa
Oh really!

Bra-vo!

[Savoia]

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uZDCJTGaqpc/TxqNm8eWJtI/AAAAAAAAHeQ/JnwxvD3AZps/s720/Lauberhorn%252520Switzerland%25252014Jan12%252520%252528Mark us%252520Herzig%252529.jpg
No, not a photoshop effort. Just the busy (and slightly squashed) snow-covered dispersal area used to receive aicraft attending the Lauberhorn downhill skiing event which took place a week ago today in Switzerland on 14th January 2012 (Photo: Markus Herzig)

[Savoia]

A German internet fraudster, Kim Schmitz (aka Kim Dotcom and Dr Evil) has been arrested at his mansion north west of Auckland, New Zealand. Schmitz is believed to be one of the world's biggest internet pirates.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/21/article-2089954-11634E2A000005DC-164_634x415.jpg
Kim Schmits' mansion in north west Auckand (EC130 to the right)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/21/article-2089954-11634F77000005DC-642_634x381.jpg
Lorrys come to remove 'Dr Evil's' assets

Full story here (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2089954/Internets-Dr-Evil-sprang-electronic-locks-Bond-villain-lair-retreated-safe-room-police-swooped.html)

[HueyDog]

I am sure that I would not have wanted to be one of the workers on top of that antenna waiting to guide it into place. That must have been nerve wracking:eek:.

[Savoia]

Nerve-wracking? I doubt it given that the tower is relatively wide and is not free-standing (ie. situated on top of a building).

The video below was showcased on PPRuNe (I can't remember when) but .. nerve-wracking .. yes. Take a look:

2A_h2AjJaMw

[HueyDog]

I have worked on towers on top of buildings and the the fact that it is on top of a building does not make it any better. You still look out and it is a long way down. For me, the feeling when I am on top of something is entirely different from being in a helicopter and looking down.

I also noticed in the photos the workers leaning out trying to gain a hold on the moving load suspended below the helicopter and it would not take much to be squashed between the load and a portion of the tower. When standing on top of a tower there is less maneuvering space to dodge a swinging load. Just not fun in my book. :ouch:

[Savoia]

Help from Above!


A three-year-old who died for six minutes after suffering a cardiac arrest has thanked medics who brought him back to life.

Kai Clark suffered the attack at his home in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, on October 17. He stopped breathing and his heart stopped beating.

His mother Kelly Clark was with him at the time and she said she feared for the worst until paramedics and the air ambulance arrived.

Without the expertise and team-work between the medical crews and the rapid transfer to a specialist hospital, doctors said Kai would almost certainly not have survived.

Mrs Clark said: "I was trying to resuscitate him myself but I feared it was too late. "It was the most frightening experience you can go through as a parent. "They arrived so quickly and it was an enormous relief.

"He still has some medical complications and it has been a hard process to get to this point, but to see him walking and smiling again is amazing."

The family visited Cambridge Airport, where the East Anglian Air Ambulance is based, in order to thank the helicopter crews and the East of England Ambulance Trust.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00648/UK_News_10-1_jpg_648309a.jpg
Helicopter Paramedic Jemma Varela, 31, with three-year-old Kai Clark, who died for six minutes after suffering a cardiac arrest

Back-from-dead boy thanks medics - UK, Local & National - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/backfromdead-boy-thanks-medics-16098167.html)

[Savoia]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JuRQRGgBm4E/TzzZGWt1hJI/AAAAAAAAH3M/QnFw3e2Z56o/s540/US%2520Army%2520Blackhawk%2520Pilot.jpg
US Army Blackhawk pilot

Just what exactly is it that one is not supposed to 'hand hold'?

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wCV45XOY20w/TzzZGKowm_I/AAAAAAAAH3I/w02alUwlAYs/s576/Hkp6A.jpg
Swedish soldier defends an Hkp-6 (aka Bell 206)

"Stay away from my helikopter!"

[Savoia]

Police helicopter scrambled to catch foursome spotted engaging in sexual activity at seaside beauty spot (at least one was wearing handcuffs already)

A major manhunt was launched after police received reports of a foursome engaging in sexual activity near a seaside beauty spot.A local resident tipped off police and said that four people had been having sex in public, an act known as 'dogging'.One of the suspects was reportedly wearing handcuffs during the incident at the Byes, a park, in Sidmouth, Devon, which is a favourite for dog walkers and its peaceful riverside walk.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/24/article-0-124CB4CE000005DC-735_468x286.jpg
The four suspects managed to give police the slip but three were later caught after the police helicopter was launched

More (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2119698/Police-helicopter-manhunt-foursome-spotted-engaging-sexual-activity-seaside-beauty-spot.html)

[toptobottom]

Latest car/rotary hybrid (http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17592648) :eek:

[Savoia]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/19/article-2146463-132BE354000005DC-670_306x423.jpg
A member of the Metropolitan Police escorts the Olympic flame (in what appears to be a Davy Lamp) prior to boarding a RN Sea King from RNAS Culdrose to Land's End

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/19/article-2146463-132A6155000005DC-933_306x574.jpg
The caption reads: "David Beckham looked pleased as he carried the Olympic torch at RNAS Culdrose"

I think I could probably find alternative wording for "looked pleased" but there we are .. he is (apparently) one of your British 'heros'!

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/19/article-2146463-132BE363000005DC-754_306x423.jpg
The flame boards the Sea King

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/19/article-2146463-132BE341000005DC-291_634x579.jpg
The flame under escort

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/19/article-2146463-132C04E8000005DC-900_634x432.jpg
And safely delivered to Land's End

[Savoia]

http://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/attachments/hangar-flying/2176d1221234778-pilot-humor-speedenforcement1.jpg

[Savoia]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-30ojfiKqoo4/UCDYvklCdnI/AAAAAAAAJcA/yTEhvxtsNi0/s530/22-sensor+vertical+magnetic+gradient+array.jpg
In case one day you should see a blitterblat with this contraption fitted and someone ask you "what's that?" .. http://www.webstorehouse.com/photobucket/smileys/ThinkingScratchHead2-small.gif

.. you can turn around and tell them .. its a vertical magnetic gradient sensor array!

Or .. whatever else enters your head! http://www.webstorehouse.com/photobucket/smileys/Chuckle-small.gif

[Savoia]

http://www.rushmerehelicopters.co.uk/site/images/home_banner.jpg
Rushmere Helicopters Bell 206B G-OCFD

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/08/article-0-14E951F9000005DC-597_634x373.jpg
OCFD landing at Boughton House in Northamptonshire on 8th September 2012

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/08/article-0-14E951E6000005DC-791_634x429.jpg
OCFD on the ground at Boughton House

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/08/article-0-14E9525B000005DC-782_634x732.jpg
Dropping off pax Cheryl Cole

[toptobottom]

Wonder if anyone told her the machine is older than she is?! :}

[Anthony Supplebottom]

I think it was part of a vintage theme that was taking place at Boughton House yesterday! :E

[Flyting]

a vertical magnetic gradient sensor array

that can't be good for you nuts....being so close :sad:

[fijdor]

here's two more. Just remember to climb a little bit before catching the next line.

JD

http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv196/jacdor/JobTrenton200703019.jpg


http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv196/jacdor/JobTrenton200703018.jpg

[Savoia]

Eurocopter UK seem to have added a splash of Union colours to their EC135 G-PLAL - perhaps in support of the UK's sporting contestants a while back!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EzFzjAADrBw/UF7sx1asodI/AAAAAAAAJu8/g_evLMqNCG0/s842/PLAL+Fairoaks+7+Jul+Mark+Worsdell.png
Eurocopter UK's EC135T2 G-PLAL as seen at Fairoaks on 7th July 2012 (Photo: Mark Worsdell)

[skadi]

a vertical magnetic gradient sensor array
that can't be good for you nuts....being so close http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/puppy_dog_eyes.gif

Dont worry, just passive sensors!

skadi

[Savoia]

Does this happen often?

Naval cadet passes out during passing-out parade (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9605181/Naval-cadet-passes-out-during-passing-out-parade.html)

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02367/passout1_2367604b.jpg

[Coconutty]

Does this happen often?

NO - I think you'll find he only passed out once ! :p

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/coconut11/Coconutty.jpg

[HueyDog]

Yes, very often.

[Ascend Charlie]

They even have a name for the broken jaw that often results from it:

"The Guardsman's Fracture."

Fainting is also the only excuse for dropping a rifle on the parade ground. Our WOD would say to us "If you drop your rifle, you had better hit the ground before it does!"

[Savoia]

Evidently this Dauphin II arrived at Fairoaks yesterday as N886TW, was washed and subsequently departed as G-PDGK.

No doubt one of those quick-remove paint jobs so oft utilised for film industry assignments!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-n6Ld2hLmuu4/UIqoQWwijhI/AAAAAAAAKNI/xF2DgFM19yY/s800/SA365N+Dauphin+II+G-PDGK+%28N886TW%29+Fairoaks+25+Oct+12+%28David+Reeves%29.jpg
SA365N Dauphin II N886TW at Fairoaks on 25th October 2012 (Photo: David Reeves)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k3qg8X5-d9o/UIqoQB5va1I/AAAAAAAAKNE/Th0mPFlHUJs/s800/SA365N+Dauphin+II+G-PDGK+Fairoaks+25+Oct+12+%28David+Reeves%29.jpg
SA365N Dauphin II G-PDGK at Fairoaks on 25th October 2012 (Photo: David Reeves)

[Ian Corrigible]

Very cool. Looks like the sequel to The Jackal has a bigger budget. :E

I/C

[JulieAndrews]

Sitting having a cuppa in cafe @ Slumberside when eyes spot Danish EC155.
Wha's going on - touting for ad-hoc?
;)

[skastdk]

They were just having a good look arround:)

[Savoia]

iamtheroll wrote on the North Sea Heli-Ditching thread (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/498649-north-sea-heli-ditching-oct-2012-a-5.html) that he had seen a Dancopter 155.

FBav replied: It will fly for MOG and Dong/Hess in Denmark, (DanCopter has 4 EC225s not flying).

[Savoia]

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nBJtV7V-jzY/UJYvZCffD3I/AAAAAAAAKWw/jwFMzGP34pg/s650/057144-png-tour.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GFvN2bsfONQ/UJYvZdir5kI/AAAAAAAAKWw/q43-Yx7rXRc/s650/058638-png-tour.jpg

PC wearing a PNGDF uniform? With AAC wings?

Interesting to say the least as was his arrival via RAAF 'Ausjet' as opposed to a special charter. Austerity in action one presumes!

Looks like Mal 'Kela' Smith at 0:33 secs in the video below:

KPzeBA-LRtw

[Savoia]

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c4IqbJ2aUwc/UJyyTcBA2LI/AAAAAAAAKas/BHsPZ5p5wkc/s623/ht%25201b.png
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oB80AR2Qj28/UJys2eeDu2I/AAAAAAAAKZg/AIPXJtG3CKU/s621/ht%25202.png
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cdq0n5tO-oo/UJys21G4zMI/AAAAAAAAKZg/gGtP-cDVAeA/s617/ht%25203.png

[toptobottom]

To while away the hours on those bad weather days...

http://www.mousebreaker.com/games/airtransporter/playgame (http://www.mousebreaker.com/games/airtransporter/playgame)

[Savoia]

Taken today:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k-NqN9j_XSI/ULJ1txQPwgI/AAAAAAAAK7g/qNlE5c33XS0/s620/Cruisefilming_2409124b.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rABPjXQf_Hc/ULJ1s0x-LvI/AAAAAAAAK7g/hP5_Is2AjNE/s620/Cruise-filming3_2409132b.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DJDaEB8Shdk/ULJ1s0zmmTI/AAAAAAAAK7g/PT4Olh0zSFY/s620/Cruise_filming1_2409128b.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zNhEAe3CsK8/ULJ1s1I2i6I/AAAAAAAAK7g/tADiTuCBJCY/s620/Cruise_filming5_2409126b.jpg

Tom Cruise touches down in Trafalgar Square in RAF helicopter - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/9701565/Tom-Cruise-touches-down-in-Trafalgar-Square-in-RAF-helicopter.html)

[Savoia]

Plot by assassin and drugs baron to escape prison by HELICOPTER foiled by wardens

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/12/16/article-2248919-1689BD73000005DC-223_634x502.jpg

A sensational plot by an assassin and a drugs baron to escape jail by helicopter has been foiled by guards.Gang leader Mark Osborne and hitman Wayne Collins hatched a plan to break-out from Gartree prison in Leicester, which was the scene of Britain's only other helicopter prison escape in 1987.

Assassin's bid to escape jail by helicopter foiled by wardens | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2248919/Assassins-bid-escape-jail-helicopter-foiled-wardens.html)

[Savoia]

Aside from stupidity I suppose one might call it .. determination!

tTDn604ipYY

[Ian Corrigible]

"And for my next trick I shall hover-taxi this Agusta A109 (http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a92efb072-4b4e-4257-b06e-6459c9d5be25) into this here Antonov An-124..."

http://www.aviationweek.com/Portals/AWeek/Ares/Fiorenza/13.jpg

:E

I/C

[Brilliant Stuff]

Nice.:ok::ok:

[Ian Corrigible]

Looks like Elton John's ride is here...

http://i.imgur.com/JIHB4Oe.jpg (http://laughingsquid.com/lilicoptere-a-gilded-helicopter-fit-for-marie-antoinette/)

http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/copter2.jpg

:E

I/C

[Savoia]

Nice one IC: :ok:

The following was too pleasant not to post:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8495952374_9e3ef924d4_c.jpg
Netherlands Air Force Boeing CH-47D Chinook D-664 in flight over Belgium on 22nd June 2012 (Photo: Michael de Boer)

Captured en route to the Florennes Air Show in Belgium.

Larger version here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60690020@N03/8495952374/sizes/l/in/photostream/).

[Brilliant Stuff]

Simply one cool piece of kit!!

[tony 1969]

Now there is a PPrune desktop Calendar shot if ever I saw one:ok:

[Brilliant Stuff]

Well if Savoia can clear it I am happy to turn it into one.

[Savoia]

As part of their austerity measures for 2013, Naryan-Mar Airport in Russia have trained a handful of dogs to perform day-time 'follow me' duties for aircraft requesting this service.

Airport director Vladimir Volnikov said "Our canine comrades have shown themselves wery capable in showing the aircraft where to park and, as a result, this year we expect to save over 30,000 Rubles by using these animals."

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8247/8559469022_32cc3d960e_b.jpg
UT Air Boeing 737-524 VP-BXO at Naryan-Mar, Russia on 3rd March 2013 (Photo: Vladimir Korobkov)

Oh yes .. in order to 'validate' this post .. please note the Mi26 above the 73's starboard wing root! :E

[Brilliant Stuff]

Made me chcukle.

[icedriver]

Jeez, Eltons chopper would be a mother to track and balance.

[Savoia]

Russian bears who are so addicted to aviation fuel they sniff it until they pass out!


These brown bears are keen to play with discarded barrels - because they have developed a nose for aviation fuel.

They take deep breaths for minutes at a time before digging a shallow hole and lying in a 'nirvana' position.

The fuel is used to power generators and helicopters used by nature reserve workers.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/17/article-2294757-18BA4804000005DC-545_634x357.jpg

"I hope you've got plenty of fuel with you"

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/17/article-2294757-18BA4740000005DC-838_634x388.jpg

"I love the smell of Jet A1 in the morning"

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/17/article-2294757-18BA474C000005DC-222_634x373.jpg

"I think I'm flying!"

Bear-ly conscious! Russian creatures pass out after developing aviation fuel addiction from sniffing discarded gas barrels | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2294757/Bear-ly-conscious-Russian-creatures-pass-developing-aviation-fuel-addiction-sniffing-discarded-gas-barrels.html)

[HeliStudent]

Any real helicopter pilot should find this very easy. A full run straight through without crashing.

Test your helicopter flying skills (http://www.helicoptergame.net/)

When you're skills are sufficient you can progress to this (http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/games/RAF.swf).

[Savoia]

A wonderful contribution, taken just a couple of days ago by Anthony Osborne, of a Royal Danish Air Force Merlin flying in Wales:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8568319785_6848d7c958_b.jpg
AgustaWestland EH101 Mk512 Merlin M-516 of the Royal Danish Air Force (Flyvevåbnet) at Caernarfon in Wales in March 2013 (Photo: Anthony Osborne)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8569417698_02ce606e26_b.jpg
AgustaWestland EH101 Mk512 Merlin M-516 of the Royal Danish Air Force (Flyvevåbnet) engaged in low flying training in Wales en route to Snowdonia in March 2013 (Photo: Anthony Osborne)

I didn't ask Anthony which route the Merlin was following but .. if its the same as for the planks then I'm guessing its the Machynlleth 'Mach' Loop.

I can only imagine that the First Officer is helping his colleague to decipher British road signs?

[LOZZ]

But the co has got a union jack on his bone dome?!?

Great image though.

Interesting that for all the avionics, the hand held chart is still popular.

Should be posted under the caption thread.

"Nope, cant find anywhere called Pergyl"

[Savoia]

Anthony has just written saying that there was a British exchange officer on board although they seem to be wearing the same coveralls!

He's obviously showing the Dane a bit of Welsh countryside.

[Agaricus bisporus]

I thought the real give-away was the Flt. Lt. stripes on his shoulder.

[Savoia]

Indeed.

But why do they share the same style of jacket .. and helmet for that matter?

[John Eacott]

But why do they share the same style of jacket .. and helmet for that matter?

Because it is normal to use the flying clothing and helmet pertinent to the the operator of the aircraft. Whilst (in this case) they are both in Alpha Eagle helmets that will be the helmet that is compatible with the Danish 101. Fairly pointless wearing a helmet with the wrong impedance, mic jacks, etc :hmm:

[John R81]

Is this the same machine that spent time on the ground at Rochester 19/3/2013? I heard hydraulic problems, but that may not be true.

Rochester, UK. 19/3/2013. Merlin "turning & burning" with an EC120 in the background for scale.
http://i785.photobucket.com/albums/yy133/Nuthurst1/Merlin.png

[toptobottom]

Nice EC20 John :ok:

[John R81]

Yup! Just like my old one G-FEDA. I now have a "quieter" paint job.
http://i785.photobucket.com/albums/yy133/Nuthurst1/Arrival.jpg

[HeliHenri]

Very smart paint I must say :ok:
.

[toptobottom]

Even nicer - was that done in Thruxton?

Will call you - need a catch up :ok:

[Savoia]

Classical paint schemes (in my view) tend to possess an 'enduring' quality which some of the newfangled efforts lack. I remember when Bell first came out with a series of 'flashes and squiggles' among their factory options .. the looked 'trendy' at the time but .. a decade or so later appeared positively heathen!

As an example of the enduring appeal of classical schemes .. in 2008 when Air France celebrated their 75th Anniversary they painted-up an A320 in their 1940's livery and which (to me) looked just splendid! See here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/31357475@N08/3370240595/sizes/o/in/photostream/).

Its all down to personal preference (obviously) but .. I prefer John's latest scheme .. in particular the colour-coded pop-outs! :ok:

Re: the Merlin .. the Danish craft appears to have a yellow flash on the tailboom which is lacking in the Rochester photo so, I'm guessing she's a different craft.

[toptobottom]

Savoia - agree completely. That A320 is classically beautiful. Unlike this (http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/prooner/Misc%20Heli/EC120B_F-GJIR_H232_zps70044be2.jpg)...

[Savoia]

One sees that Britain's trash media is just as good as Italy's!

Daily Star: Simply The Best 7 Days A Week :: News :: Helicopter pilot saves pals in damaged chopper (http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/305190/Helicopter-pilot-saves-pals-in-damaged-chopper/)

Check out the photo of the 'heavily damaged chopper' in Afghanistan! :ok:

But your 'Mirror' does a better job of reporting British heroics .. in this case to help Les Français:

Sergeant Rachel Robinson: RAF helicopter crew's dramatic rescue of stranded fisherman - Mirror Online (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/sergeant-rachel-robinson-raf-helicopter-1779609)

[P6 Driver]

Check out the photo of the 'heavily damaged chopper' in Afghanistan!

Surely that could pass for a Chinook on a dark night, if you have a squint, have left your sunglasses on and don't know anything about helicopters!

[Savoia]

From the 2012 Military Photographer of the Year Competition.

First awarded in 1960, the Military Photographer of the Year honours (issued under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense [US] for Public Affairs) recognises excellence among military cameramen.

This photo (below) was placed second overall:

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02523/military-photograp_2523206k.jpg
Dust lights up the rotors of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter as paratroopers with 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment load for an air assault mission near Combat Outpost Ab Band May 23, 2012, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan (Photo: Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod, US Army)

[Savoia]

Biggles was for real!

The RAF Museum at Hendon has found evidence that the literary hero was in fact a real pilot.

For decades, Biggles has held children in thrall with his fictional exploits as a dashing Royal Air Force pilot.

But now it has emerged that his unlikely adventures may have been based on fact – in the shape of a real airman from the First World War.

A 1918 combat report by a pilot called Major James Bigglesworth has been found at the RAF Museum Hendon in a collection of papers that once belonged to Biggles author WE Johns.

Cripes! Biggles was real: Adventurer hero named after Great War airman | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2302020/Cripes-Biggles-real-Adventurer-hero-named-Great-War-airman.html)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ir1mqBwTNFs/UVlFMKVN2ZI/AAAAAAAAMfs/CzCxxGJnsQ4/s565/Biggles+enjoys+the+206.jpg

It was said that Biggles used to enjoy flying the 'A' model 206

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dKUCTveYj24/UVlGFSi9IlI/AAAAAAAAMf8/gmvFiUbqXRI/s654/Biggles+Takes+it+Rough.jpg

And that Bast0n's favourite Biggles book was the now non PC titled "Biggles Takes It Rough" !

[Savoia]

Too pleasant not to post!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7444/8724690181_4ddcd0b4a7_b.jpg
EC725 F-ZWBY destined for the Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy) on a pre-delivery test flight

[RVDT]

And onto the Catalunya track

More like Carrer de la Marina muelle in Port Olimpic but hey.

I wonder what the insurance cost was for that!

EC-LGU AS350B3 Sky Helicópteros Mallorca?

http://www.aviationcorner.net/public/photos/9/0/avc_00241190.jpg

[Savoia]

RV: Thanks for sorting-out the location.

Nice shot of "GU".

EC-LGU AS350B3 Sky Helicópteros Mallorca?

Sì. :ok:

[Savoia]

A JetRanger in China spraying pesticide .. is hijacked by 14 men !! :eek:

Helicopter drama over debt issue- China.org.cn (http://www.china.org.cn/china/2013-05/16/content_28838048.htm)

[Savoia]

BBC News - Jersey helicopter-loving swan has wings clipped (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-22571341)

A swan in Jersey has had its wings clipped for a second time after falling in love with a helicopter.

Whooper, who lives at a country club close to the island's airport, lost his partner two years ago.

Last year he took a shine to a blue helicopter and flew towards its whirring blades each time it came into land at Jersey airport.

Les Mielles staff are desperately searching for a female swan to curb his dangerous obsession.

In 2012 Whooper took a liking to an incoming EC155 Eurocopter and became completely besotted with the machine.

Fatal attraction
He would chase it down the runway without fear of rejection or close encounters with the chopper's rotor blades.

Whooper's owners are trying to find a new mate for him in the home of keeping him grounded
Fearing a bird strike, the airport fire service ordered Whooper's owners to clip his wings.

But when his feathers grew back, the potentially fatal attraction grew stronger, and Whooper had to be clipped again.

Staff at Les Mielles Country Club are now searching for a female swan to keep their amorous bachelor company.

Danielle Le Brun, from the club, said: "He has taken a liking to the helicopter. He would chase it and try to get as close to it as possible which is not safe for him or the helicopter.

"I would love to find him a partner as it would help him out and stop him flying around the area.

"I have never seen anything like this with other swans, it is just him."

She said Whooper was very happy, despite his pining for a helicopter, but as swans tend to mate for life finding him a partner would help keep him safe.

United Patriots - Ultimate News Detail Page - Lonely swan is grounded after he fell in love with a helicopter when his mate died (http://www.unitedpatriotsworldwide.com/ultimate-news/107577/lonely-swan-is-grounded-after-he)

[Anthony Supplebottom]

Not sure if this is the right thread to use but hopefully.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have apparently been flown to Denham from North Wales in an MD500 by a friend of theirs.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/25/article-0-1A7F1D76000005DC-168_638x418.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/25/article-0-1A7F3B22000005DC-233_640x441.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/25/article-0-1A7F1D81000005DC-434_638x437.jpg

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge catch a ride back to London in their friend's helicopter | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2348445/Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-catch-ride-London-friends-helicopter.html)

[nigelh]

Wow !!! really !!!!! Not the right thread .... Are we really going to turn into the Daily mirror:ugh:

[Savoia]

A supermoon is the coincidence of a full moon with the closest approach to Earth on its elliptical orbit resulting in the largest apparent size of the lunar disk. The technical name is the "Perigee-Syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system".

The most recent occurrence was on 23rd June 2013 and the next is anticipated on 10th August 2014. Supermoons occur approximately once every 14 full moon cycles.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/9529387260_8873cd8821_b.jpg
A Bell 47 over East Rutherford in the state of New Jersey, North America as seen on 22nd June 2013 (Photo: Julio Cortez)

[Savoia]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xNRReonu-FQ/Ug86F565hiI/AAAAAAAAOAY/JFUXzCO4J28/w319-h135-no/Topnotop+ms+logo.png

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/9526982573_43cf341c0b_b.jpg
Royal Navy Westland Sea King HC4 ZA295 as seen over Salisbury Plain Training Area on 10th July 2013 (Photo: Rick Ingham)

A wee reminder: The Sea King is soon to be a thing of the past so .. appreciate her while you can!

My especial thanks to Rick Ingam, who not only takes some fabulous photographs but who consistently and unhesitatingly gives his permission for his work to be posted on PPRuNe. Rick, our thanks! :ok:

[Bravo73]

^^^^^^^^^^ Rotorheads calendar shots?

[Savoia]

B73: Have contacted 'Riccardo' (Rick Ingham) and he has given his permission (on condition that no commercial transactions are involved and which I have assured him is the case). As mentioned above .. Rick is a star!

It is therefore up to Brilliant Stuff whether he wishes to use the shot.

[Bravo73]

The B47 shot above the Seaking is also a very worthy candidate. :ok:

[Savoia]

Will advise.

[John Eacott]

Hmmm :cool: Forward to about 6:30 for a novel solution to lifting the donk in the field!

FSzg656UcqY

[toptobottom]

Amazing :bored:

[Brilliant Stuff]

Send them over chap. They look the cats whiskers.

[Brilliant Stuff]

Those engineers are not paid enough!!

[Anthony Supplebottom]

I was trying to determine whether this was a Wessex or an S58 but, as you can see, the photo is ruined because somebody is standing directly in front of it.

I really find this so annoying!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0BOfskhWMYg/UhobVzG3HOI/AAAAAAAAOE4/g9w1-JG6Gno/w280-h435-no/Wessex+or+S58+..+that+is+the+question.png

[Savoia]

More than one million Japanese take part in a national disaster drill as country assesses its emergency readiness

http://sin.stb.s-msn.com/i/D9/5E47B913C9F3072E2A29AC36EA5_h414_w622_m2_q80_cgbFPBetA.jpg
Rescue workers rappel from a fire department SA365 Dauphin during a joint disaster prevention drill in Chiba on September 1, 2013

This year's drill saw the government simulate its response to a powerful earthquake in central to western Japan, a major natural disaster that researchers say may occur within 30 years or so.

In central Shizuoka Prefecture, people participated in a drill based on a scenario that Mount Fuji, an active volcano, erupts following a massive quake, Jiji Press said.

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude quake struck seismically-active Japan, triggering a massive tsunami that left over 18,000 dead or missing and sending reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant into meltdown.

Over 1mn Japanese take part in disaster drill - Latest news around the world and developments close to home - MSN Malaysia News (http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/over-1mn-japanese-take-part-in-disaster-drill-2)

[Savoia]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3792/9653295458_f8fb43e073_b.jpg
AW101 Mk641 ZR339 landing at Ramenskoye Airport (aka Zhukovsky Airport) located approx. 40 km southeast of Moscow on 28th August 2013 in attendance of the 'Mezhdunarodnyj Aviatsionno-Kosmicheskij Salon' (International Aviation and Space Show) aka MAKS (Photo: Vala)

[Savoia]

Who needs a winch?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1233438_10152209324378378_921547893_n.jpg

A BK117-B2, D-HNWL, from the North Rhine-Westphalia Police Helicopter Unit practicing water-rescue training on the Rhine-River.

Seen here participating in "Kufenrettung" which involves lowing the craft into the water in order to recover the 'rescuee'.

[John R81]

And do we think that manouver is a "good idea"?

[John Eacott]

This evolution was the calendar subject in July 2010 (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/419802-rotorheads-calendar-july-2010-a.html#post5784460):

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/4162-1/July+2010+wide+thumb.jpg

[Flying Bull]

@JohnR81
One thing is beeing there and seeing someone drown - and may be trying a rescue without knowing what you doing
or
do a training and define do´s and don´ts of the manouvere.
The picture was surely taken with a very long lens and looks more dramatic, as it actually is - even so - it´s still a challenge.

The squadron evaluated its way how to do this over the last ten years, starting of on a lake and by now practicing it ones a year on the river rhine with every pilot.

Due to the training a couple of people could be rescued by now.
Oct 2010, Apr 2009, Feb 2009 (Spektakuläre Rettung: Hubschrauber zieht Frau aus Fluten des Rheins - SPIEGEL ONLINE (http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/spektakulaere-rettung-hubschrauber-zieht-frau-aus-fluten-des-rheins-a-610301.html#ref=rss))

Greetings Flying Bull

[Torque and temp]

http://www.nordicrotors.com/images_2/display_2/SE-JBC2012-01-19_11:41:41_display_7525.jpg
Photo by: Nacka Fire Dept./Seth Olofsson, Nordic Rotors


This method is performed by the HEMS unit in Stockholm, Sweden, as well. Above is an image from a training sortie in the late-90s. To this date, the manoeuvre is used for critical life-saving rescues, where no SAR helos or other adequate ground units are nearby. The method is mainly used to pick up people that have broken through thin ice, and its not that common.

There are some more images available at this link (http://www.nordicrotors.com/articles/Ice+rescue+with+the+BK+117).

[Thomas coupling]

Flying Bull - please tell me that D-HNWL wasn't really partially immersed at such an obscure angle....and that it was some weird camera nagle we are looking at????????

[Flying Bull]

Hi Thomas Coupling,
first it isn´t the L it is the P ;-)
As I wrote, this is due to waves from bypassing ships and the zoom-lens used.
If you look close, you see the whole belly - except where there is a littlte wave in front.
One thing which might "helped" the photo, is that you create even waves with the downwash
Helionline.de (http://www.helionline.net/009-325457-213993/photogallery///39265//7.html)
That picture looks less dramatic.

[HeliStudent]

AIRPORT ZORG EN HOOP SURINAME 2013 - (HI-JET ) RASTA Helicopter - - YouTube

Hi-Jet's Rasta chopper lands firmly in Suriname.

http://dwtonline.com/media/3292574/dsc_7525_Detailfoto.jpg

Hi-Jet helicopter breekt staart bij noodlanding - DWTonline.com (http://dtwonline.com/laatse-nieuws/2013/09/10/hi-jet-helicopter-breekt-staart-bij-noodlanding/)

[skadi]

Flying Bull - please tell me that D-HNWL wasn't really partially immersed at such an obscure angle....and that it was some weird camera nagle we are looking at????????

Heres another pic of that excercise, which shows the BK from the side:

Foto Germany - Police Eurocopter BK-117 C1 D-HNWP (http://www.flugzeugbilder.de/show.php?id=1248114)

skadi

[Flying Bull]

Hi skadi,

if you zoom in you still see, that the belly isn´t in the water, just splashes from the skidstruts moving through the water.
So the approachspeed, immersing the skids into the water, was just a little higher than perfect.
What you can see is the great clearance of the tail rotor.

[[email protected]]

Were all the drain holes and pipes taped up to prevent pollution of the water?

[skadi]

Hi skadi,

if you zoom in you still see, that the belly isn´t in the water, just splashes from the skidstruts moving through the water.
So the approachspeed, immersing the skids into the water, was just a little higher than perfect.
What you can see is the great clearance of the tail rotor.

That was the reason for my link! I did same excercises with BO105 some moons ago....

skadi

[Savoia]

E-Types & Sea Kings (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufacturers/jaguar/10319066/Jaguar-E-type-versus-Sea-King-helicopter.html)

[John Eacott]

Fifty-two years ago, two giants of the engineering world were born: the Jaguar E-type and the Sea King helicopter.

Maths, anyone? 52 years ago was 1961, the first Westland Sea King flew in May 1969 which I make to be 44 years ago. Even the first Sikorsky SH3 Sea King flew in 1959 which was 54 years ago, and the Sikorsky built prototypes for Westland were made in 1966!

Has the Telegraph overtaken the Grauniad for proof reading errors?

[Savoia]

Boy, 17, flies 2,000 miles around coast in helicopter (http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=1343507)

Hugh Barklem: Flying High for Hospital Helipads (http://www.helihugh.com/)

[skadi]

if you zoom in you still see, that the belly isn´t in the water, just splashes from the skidstruts moving through the water.Looks different on this pic:

Helionline.de (http://www.helionline.net/031-113088-066709/photogallery///39733.html)

In this case it could be possible to ingest water into the fueltank through the ventholes

skadi

[Flying Bull]

Unfortunately photographers like to post pictures, where the helicopter is momentarily a little bit lower than planed - problem with training - and with serial shots of cameras....
Doing this kind of training for a decade, hadn´t had problems so far and a technican is checking every bird afterwards.
More concern is to the electronic departement - but even there - no water.
Procedure is beeing finetuned from year to year to reduce risks involved - and due to this training a couple of people were rescued and are still alive!

[Savoia]

Anyway, the Rhine has a long tradition of helicopters which like swimming!

Zz-zbPCWVOg

;)

[Ian Corrigible]

Lynx HMA.8 DAS test off Cyprus; HMS Dragon in the background.

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwfuture/960_540/images/live/p0/1j/md/p01jmdkf.jpg (https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/9075)

I/C

[fijdor]

Nice, really nice.

Jacques

[Savoia]

IC: That is a fantastic shot! :ok:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/10622502534_ffd7676435_b.jpg
Macedonian Air Force Mi-8T 305 flying near the town of Štip in Macedonia on 18th October 2013 (Photo: Filip Vidinovski)

Not something you see every day. Indeed, the Macedonian Air Force only came into existence in 1992. The Mi-8 seen here trailing the flag of the Macedonian Republic.

Many thanks to Filip for permission to use his photo.

[Bravo73]

IC: That is a fantastic shot! :ok:


Macedonian Air Force Mi-8T 305 flying near the town of Štip in Macedonia on 18th October 2013 (Photo: Filip Vidinovski)


Those would both make brilliant calendar shots. Can you not send them onto Brilliant Stuff for inclusion?

[Brilliant Stuff]

Wing it across if you can.:ok:

[Savoia]

Wilco guys. (At least Filip's photo).

[Savoia]

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/10821338096_65aef8b9bf_b.jpg
Swedish Air Force AS332M1 (Hkp10) Super Puma 10410-90 as seen at Linköping's Malmen Airport in Sweden on 3rd June 2012 (Photo: Magnus Fridsell)

Our special thanks to Magnus Fridsell for this photo. :ok:

[nomorehelosforme]

That is a fantastic picture!

[John Eacott]

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/5942-2/Nice+pair+of+Bristols.jpg

[Savoia]

Nice one John! :ok: Heli1 'at work'? :p

NMH: Magnus did indeed come up with a pleasing shot and, though the sunlight seems to be coming from off the larboard bow, the image exposure still allows us to see all the detail. Btw, it looks as though the skin at the very bottom of the tail has become slightly wrinkled .. or is it perhaps just a trick of the light?

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gwPUbBg2xew/UoNC4zoAr-I/AAAAAAAAPXs/S3E8Mwvx7fE/w530-h422-no/HeliSanta.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/10834381115_f70ba3763f_b.jpg

I do so hate it when they spoil a perfectly good helicopter image with so called 'models' - its just so frustrating!

For instance, in this photo I had wanted to highlight the existence of the two cables which seem to be attached to the skid cross-tubes? Does anyone know what they are for?

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Tff5fkbEr_c/UZdY4dMYPYI/AAAAAAAANpg/Y9n6t8-okns/w52-h48-no/super+smiley+smiley.png

[John Eacott]

For instance, in this photo I had wanted to highlight the existence of the two cables which seem to be attached to the skid cross-tubes? Does anyone know what they are for?

If that's a real question; the fwd pair of cables for the sling load system:

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/5498-2/GP+car+lift+4.JPG

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/5495-2/GP+car+lift+3.jpg

[Savoia]

Okay got it!

Similar to the 105 then .. the whole arrangement is 'suspended' like the Ecureuil?

Wonder why a SARbird (with winch) would be fitted with hook.

The hook arrangement on the BK, it is easily installed/removed?