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Old 21st Jun 2008, 10:44
  #20 (permalink)  
ShyTorque

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Join Date: Nov 2000
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We used to land "our" police 355N on a powered dolly. Horrible idea. The pilot couldn't actually see the dolly at all when the aircraft was correctly positioned over it and it was especially difficult at night. I used to dread the thought of dropping a skid off the side, like this poor pilot did.

We used to complain about it and they eventually bought a "chopper spotter" so the pilot could land on the ground, like he was always supposed to do. The lifting device could then be driven under the skids, on its electric motor.

One night, at the end of the shift the dolly's engine drive failed halfway into the hangar and the aircraft couldn't be secured so the police had to guard it all night. They thought about a replacement moving device much more seriously after that.

Proper helicopters have wheels, anyway.
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