Ogsplash
I have to agree with your sentiments about
"As far as National Parks go though...I reckon they need a kick in the pants for their tendency to lock up the parks so people can't enjoy them. "
I have tried on a couple of occasions to get permission to land in national parks in the same areas being discussed here and have been knocked back, or given ambiguous answers that don't say "No" but that say "If you do we will chase after you and we have enough money and lawyers to crucify you even if you end up being right." Generally they just make it too difficult. But I guess "too difficult" is an amount that varies for different folks.
But I was free to drive there and trash the beach front for miles or dig my way through unmaintained roads and generally create long lasting havoc. Very frustrating I can tell you!
And our subject is not the only one who has run foul of the Nat. Park people here. A well known helo pilot here has a "record" because even though he had permission etc, on the day he had to take an alternative machine, (smaller, quieter, less deep skid imprints, same crew and passengers maybe BUT not the same machine as the permission was granted for. Sprung - now has a "record".
Another friend got an official warning cos he went into a national park when the park was "closed". He pointed out to the ranger that park was NOT closed - the roads were closed due to boggy conditions. The park was open and he had permission to be there. But they tried it on, anyway!
Rotaryman & Vetskone
I notice that what hasn't been said (and may have been missed by those not in the know) but these incidents have had a mix of different pilots NOT the same individual pilot each time. A couple with the pilot alluded to but the others with different pilots.
Sure he owns the company - but ....
The debate has gone from reasonable questions of an engine failure to a personalized attack.
Rotaryman
"doesnt include the R22 into the Daintree River"
It was the Normanby River if I recall. The Daintree was where the power line strike occurred.
Stink finger
As I recall the war story wasn't pitched as "how good am I" but as part of a scheduled lecture about the dangers of wirestrike and was one of two people who gave their experience of a wire strike.
Tim (do you mean ?Tim Tucker) did have a wire strike and told about it at the safety course. So I guess our subject is in good company.
So far I am not that good :-) thankfully.
Pretty reasonable on the part of the covenors to have someone who has actually "been there, done that."
Not wanting to sound defensive for someone else but the vitriol has obscured the detail a bit.
RR