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Old 25th Aug 2003, 02:20
  #218 (permalink)  
PANews
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
Age: 77
Posts: 1,174
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The Isle of Man has no air support but they have a fair background of using helicopters - mainly to support EMS requirements relating to the TT racing.

The Optica [it was pretty crap really] jigs are still unused and lying at North Weald after yet another potential manufacturer baulked at the task. Its inability to carry a sensor turret effectively halts any ideas of it serving as a modern police aircraft, but there is an Australian pretender to the crown [similar all round but with hard-points] just entering the market.

TC you have to be a little careful in your enthusiasm for your helicopter - you will have EVERYONE in them and giving up their plank wings or lesser rotaries! Mixed fleet economics aside there remains a place for planks [that nominally could be flown 'STOL' by a gyro] - and 'other' makes of helicopter! Remember the UK air industry used to have choice as well!
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