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Old 19th Jul 2015, 20:30
  #7228 (permalink)  
ricardian
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 59°09N 002°38W (IATA: SOY, ICAO: EGER)
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I flew in a helicopter once in my 12 years RAF service (1961-73). It was an RAF helicopter tasked to retrieve some kit that we had had to leave on Bear Tor (Dartmoor) after the Ten Tors walk/march was cancelled due to inclement weather. The following day I got a telephone call to say that the helicopter could not find our kit on Bear Tor and would I go and assist. I met the helicopter in (I think) the Royal Marine barracks in Plymouth and off we zoomed. The loadie/winchman had a 1" = 1 mile OS map of Dartmoor with Bear Tor clearly marked so I crouched in the open doorway looking over his shoulder at the map & the terrain (and holding VERY tightly to a bit of the airframe). The helicopter hovered a few hundred feet above Dartmoor and the loadie/winchman pointed at a hilltop and then at Bear Tor on the map. I shook my head, pointed at the ground and then at Dinger Tor on the map. We moved a short distance, found Bear Tor and retrieved our kit. I made no comment as I left the helicopter at the RM barracks in Plymouth.
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