Doing my S-58T conversion in Scotland....tower calls up...asks what was it that just fell off the helicopter. Much palavver in the cockpit but both sides pleaded ignorance of the issue. A former Guards Officer who was also doing the conversion training...down below in the cabin was finally roused to respond he also had no knowledge of any problem. Upon hovering around a bit....we discovered a large red and white cabin door lying in the grass with enough lettering on it to confirm it at one time had belonged to Alan Bristow.
Upon shutting down to retrieve Mr. Bristow's stray property....circumstantial evidence was located to suggest Major Tony Well Done...while looking for a place to eject his breakfeast (....probably several gallons of last nights malt beverage)...must have pulled the Jettison handle in lieu of the more standard method of opening the cabin door.
Always wondered how he kept from following the door on its way down!
The cowboy boot in the cornflakes story involving this fine example of a Guard's Officer at breakfast at the Monymusk Inn is best told over several pints of "Heavy"!
