Freebie HeliOps Calendar - That Time Again

[KiwiNedNZ]

Well its nearly December and just got the 2018 HeliOps calendars off the printers - probably our best one yet :ok:

So for the first 150 people who post on here a response to the following question you will receive a complimentary copy of our 2018 Calendar.

"Describe your MOST memorable moment in a helicopter and why it was so memorable".

Responses cant just be a one or two word response - please put a little thought into your replies. Once you have made your post then please send me a PM with name and postal address to send them to. You can use a bogus name for delivery if you wish to keep your identifies here secret, just make sure your postman is aware :ok:

Thanks everyone and hope you enjoy them.

Ned

[vaqueroaero]

I have had too many memorable times to list. However I vividly remember this last spray season pulling up on the third to last swath of a field and seeing a wire running through the treeline that I had already crossed a bunch of times.......

[attitudepowertrim]

At the beginning of my flying career, I was called once, early in the morning, to rescue the crew of an anchored vessel that hit the bottom in heavy seas and strong winds. That had developed fast during dawn, catching the crew with surprise. I´ll never forget their faces of relief getting inside the aircraft as the vessel started to roll over.

[aa777888]

Many thanks for your kind offer again this year, @KiwiNedNZ :)

It's still quite early in my helicopter flying career, and without anything too exciting to report, my memorable moments seem to all be related to more and more challenging landing spots. The most recent, and most challenging to date, was a very small, sloping gravel spot, not much larger than a dolly, that services a remote, off-grid transmitter site on top of a minor mountain. Unlike a dolly, this one is surrounded on all four sides by small pine trees, and on two sides by antenna guy wires, and requires a bit of vertical to get in and out of with no escape once you are below the top of the antennas. It's the sort of place you wish you brought a chainsaw to so that you can open it up a bit more before leaving :} At any rate, it was a nice feeling of accomplishment to get in and out of there safely and smoothly, and without sliding off of the sloping, loose gravel, either!

[Kirt Hood]

One of my latest memorable moments was just the other day in my R22. Depart from home with calm winds, climb to 500ft agl, 25 knot tail wind. Climb another 500 ft, 40 knot tail wind. Climbed to 2000 ft agl, 50 knots on the tail and silky smooth cruising at 140 knots. Dreaming I was in a Gazelle, but could of been a B-47 if I were heading the other direction.

[Old Farang]

I no longer fly, too old now to even get into one! I have several memorable events burnt in, but to restrict it to a magic moment event, I would have to say it was the last day of the Americas Cup event off Fremantle in 1987.

Although Australia lost to that pesky American, the spectacular sight of the huge fleet of boats escorting the competitors back into harbour in picture perfect conditions, and the fleet of helicopters following it all, still appears in my mind like it was just last week!

[helicrazi]

My most memorable was the very first time I decided to take a trial lesson. Went out to the R22, never been in a helicopter at all before. The instructor, picked us up into the hover, I couldn't believe the sensation, still as vivid in my head today. It was in these seconds and a 5 foot hover I realised my life was about to change dramatically! All those years on I'm still at it.

[Thracian]

My most memorable moment in flying occurred at one of my first initial training lessons: While flying from airport A to airport B, we crossed an industrial plant, and out of one of its chimneys, there was leaking out a huge smother, lying exactly on our route (calm wind conditions).
As beeing a complete newbie, I took the worst decision and kept flying the planned route, although being fully aware of the vapor.
Immediately, we went full IMC, my FI took controls without moving them, and a few seconds later, we returned to clear sunshine, not being harmed.

IMC to the max, and since then, I strictly keep myself flying VMC (as long, as I don't have the IFR and a properly equipped machine), no matter what the planned route is telling me.

Thracian

[G-AFMC]

Beautiful and cold morning sitting on the saturated floor of an RN SAR Whirlwind out of Culdrose, canvas 'seatbelt' very wet and loose, gazing out of the open cabin door opposite.
Insufficient sockets for all to plug into intercom so truely fat, dumb and happily unaware of the announced steep turn which sent me thru the 'seat belt' and feet out the door towards the freighter everyone else was watching now directly below.
Said safety belt did however grasp me securely around the chest and taught me so much so quickly.

[CYKFRotor]

I would say my most memorable moment in a helicopter would've been in the summer of 2016. I was doing my first ever solo cross country which was about a three hour flight.

It was a beautiful VFR day without a cloud in the sky and the tailwinds in my favour ;) I remember just appreciating the freedom and perfect flying conditions flying over the countryside and near a large lake, it was pure bliss!

[ROTORVATION]

Hi Ned

Thanks again for the offer.

My most memorable moment was just recently, after a 20 year career in helicopters in the UK doing Training, Charter and Pleasure Flying. I was lucky enough to be tasked to help on a filming job, flying two Twin Squirrels in close formation (less than 2d) at 50ft along the River Thames in London, Flying at high speed.

The visibility was crystal clear, blue skies, and it was by far the most exciting two hours I’ve had in a helicopter. We passed Parliament, Buckingham Palace, The Shard, The Gerkin, St Paul’s Cathedral,, but the best bit was the high speed pass over the North Tower of Tower Bridge at 50ft.

Brilliant.

[JBL99]

Hi Ned, thank you again for the kind offer.

I can still vividly remember the moment hovering a helicopter finally "clicked"!

I was with my FI waiting to cross Bristols runway to transit to the South side where we were allowed to train. I had been struggling for sometime to hold the helicopter in a stable hover for any length of time. On this day, the airport was quite busy and I was watching a passenger shuttle bus on the other side of the runway, that was ferrying people to the terminal building, and as it was "in the distance" I had my head up, and finally it all clicked together and I found myself relaxing into the hover!

Now I understand why I kept being told, look outside, look up and scan the distance, don't fixate on the 10 feet in front of you!

Fond memories!

JBL

[Georg1na]

Mid air collision with a Sea Harrier - in cloud at 2000 feet. Seems like yesterday..............:rolleyes:

[FLY 7]

Flying with Air Zermatt in the Alps, albeit as a pax. Stunning scenery and the helicopter in its element.
Thanks for the generous gesture, love these calendars.

[haihio]

For me one of my most memorable moments in aviation was my first time doing high altitude training with a bell 206.
I’m a part time mountaineer my self and I love mountains so It felt really good flying around high mountains with a helicopter.

[Otterotor]

Precert 214ST development flight. Attitude / Altitude Retention System flight. Pilot and FTE onboard. We were both watching instrument panel 'eyes inside' when I looked up and saw a red ball from a radio tower guy-line. Stated 'Holy Sh--' and the pilot quickly moved the cyclic to the left. All ended fine. Whew!
Otter.

[r22butters]

One night years ago, flying up the coast in the 22, I turned towards the golden gate bridge and noticed a full moon directly above it, shinning a brilliant beam of light over the water cutting the bridge in half,...it was pretty sweet!:cool:

[Flying Bull]

Most rememborale moment?
Just dangeling along with Vy with passengers over a lake in the hills, 2-300 feet above the water, killing time cause I could ´t drop them.
When I slammed down the collective and they started to cheer, thinking some fun flying would start.
When I said, negative fun, just saving our lives nobody understood.
So I flew a circuit and went to a hover at the same spot. Everybody looked out, including the Co-Pilot and nobody saw the danger.
After I pointed out three narrow lines on the left over may be three meters beachy shoreline and asked them, to follow the lines, they suddenly understood.
A nice non marked powerline hard to see against the waves in the sun...
Sure it was my fault in the first time decending below the horizonline- even with lots of feet over the water. Would ˋt do it again without proper recee....

[Rwy in Sight]

Georg1na, yet you lived to tell the tale. Maybe we should here it.

KiwiNedNZ, thanks for the offer once again. My second flight as pax on a helicopter is the most memorable. Arguably it was the most pointless flight I ever took yet I did enjoy it. The helicopter was to cover a car race, and it was not allowed to stay overnight at a local military which was used during the day. So they shuttled it out about 3 minutes flying time away. I was offered a seat on the transit and it was nice to fly out of an airport and land in a landing zone outside one. For some one only flying scheduled fix-wing flights it was memorable.

Happy 2018 to all.

[Georg1na]

Georg1na, yet you lived to tell the tale. Maybe we should here it.


Very luck day! SH going 250knts one way - me going 110knts t'other way.


SH fin to WX5 tailwheel/pylon. Lots of bits fell off. Too much for gaffer tape.


I land in pub car park he landed back at Yeovilton. Big cock up on ATC front but they could not have planned it even if they had tried to. They are not that accurate!!:}

[Decredenza]

Thanks for the offer Ned. Your photos are always top notch :ok:

Most memorable moment - hmm. There are so many.

The mistakes - hitting a tree, going IMC with no IFR capability or telling the customer to F off.

The beauty - cascading glaciers and towering mountains, pingos in the arctic or the sunrises.

The jobs - longlining a $3 million robot submarine, herding reindeer or replacing insulators on 500 kv energized transmission lines.

The locations - the arctic, Kuwait and Iraq and then for something completely different, the mountains of BC.

The people - highly professional coworkers who mentored me, customers who educated me and most of all my wife who loved me ( she got airsick but still went flying with me on occasion - made me a much smoother pilot ;)).

[Bell_ringer]

For me it's taking people for their first helicopter experience, sometimes their first experience in an aircraft.
The smile they just can't get rid of is priceless.

[[email protected]]

My first student passing wings checkride:ok: I still get a buzz when any of those I have taught pass their checkrides.

[nomorehelosforme]

As a PAX with Air Mauritius for Heli Lunch(no not lunch in the helicopter!) heading back to the airport a few days later with same company, encounter cloud over the mountains and the pilot took 1 second to say we are turning around and avoiding this! Have had similar experiences with the great team at St Lucia helicopters avoiding cloud in the mountains.

[gmrwiz]

My most memorable day with helicopters was October 6th 1983. At that time I was a flight test engineer and that day I flew for the first time on a brand new prototype. The total time accumulated by the helicopter in the previous 3 flights was 1hr and 20 min. The flight with me on board was the 4th. It last 30 min and was mainly dedicated to track the MR (with the strobo light and the Chadwick vibrometer) and to expand the flight envelope up to 120 kts. All the minutes of that flight are stamped in my mind for ever.

[helipixman]

My first helicopter flight way back in 1974 was in the first civilian Gazelle in the UK G-BAGJ from Battersea Heliport to Leavesden. Such a wonderful day and got me hooked on helis.

[EddieHeli]

Flying an R44 with an instructor to a distant airfield to meet an examiner for my annual re-validation when the warning lights started coming on and the gauges on the panel started going crazy. I thought the FI was pulling circuit breakers to test me, as my examiner on my initial test had done.
I asked him to stop messing with the breakers, and he said he wasn't doing anything.
A quick Oh Heck moment was followed by an immediate precautionary landing in a field next to a road to aid recovery.
After rapid shutdown we discovered the regulator completely burnt out. Being in the middle of nowhere with no mobile phone signal, we walked across the fields to the nearest farmhouse to call the maint org and await the engineers arrival by road.
The engineers came out and performed a temporary fix so we could fly it to the maintenance base, about half an hour away.
With a train ride home, I was glad I had dressed in my usual outdoors gear, and sensible shoes despite the summer heat, whereas my FI had shorts, vest and flipflops on, not good for walking across fields or travelling on public transport.

[Gustosomerset]

Thanks for the offer again this year. One recent memorable moment, taking my neighbour - a Somerset farmer - for a ride. As he buckled in I asked him if he'd been in a helicopter before.
"Nope, never".
"But you enjoy flying?"
"Never tried it before."
"You've never been in an aeroplane?"
"Nope. I went on a train once though."
"Where to?"
"London. Too many people. Came home again."
He was a brilliant passenger and has enjoyed many local flights since.

[GS-Alpha]

My most memorable moment was on a Los Angeles layover, flying an R44 with two of my mates in the back. We’d already done low level along the beach from Redondo to Santa Monica, over Beverly Hills, Universal studios, the Hollywood sign and downtown LA, and now we were transiting LAX international airport just as the BA283 was making its final approach to land. Why was it so memorable? All three of us did our integrated ATPL(A) course together as BA cadets, and now 15 years later, had flown a 747 into LAX the day before. It was perfect timing, purely by chance, at the end of an amazing sightseeing flight around LA.

[offhandblackhand]

My most memorable moment was my first flight. Between the uncertainty and nerves my adrenaline was flowing. Unfortunately I haven’t done a lot of flying, but it’s something I will never forget.

[Lude-og]

Returning to the airport from a doors off scenic tour and suddenly, in the middle of my well rehearsed patter, the cabin is filled with plumes of white feathers. I prepare for the worst thinking I have just hit one or many birds but I felt no strike and have no indicators of a problem.....I look back in the cabin and see the female pax with quite a bemused look on her face and her once ample goose down jacket has been diminished substantially, and the contents thereof scattered over the beautiful island of Kauai.

Still pinch myself that I got paid to do that!

[The late XV105]

Me as a Combined Cadet Force (RAF) Corporal attending an armed forces recruitment fair in 1979 and being granted a nap of the earth experience flight in a Aérospatiale Gazelle. Beyond jaw dropping. Never mind my most memorable of countless memorable moments in a helicopter; it's right up there with the most memorable experiences in my life.

[Jetscream 32]

Lifting off from Shoreham in a B206 with John Cranfield as PIC in 1984 aged 14 and doing my first departure with him no-where near the controls... he was cool as cucumber but it was very vivid moment for me - im 47 next month and still flying :)

[ScottyJ]

Couple of ones for me: (pre-licence) taking off from a remote lodge as pax in the Rockies and hearing the pilot say "**** we've too much weight in the back, don't know if we can make it" and waiting puckered up as he coaxed her through translation with the trees just below us.
Highlight - taking my mum and dad flying in the R44 shortly after getting my CPL and her commenting, never ever thought I'd have a son who'd take me up in a helicopter and my dad just grinning!

[FC80]

Getting airborne from an airfield somewhere in Norway in 10M vis before an engine failure just after TDP :{ Oh wait, that was the sim...

Most memorable moment in an acutal helicopter - probably nearly getting speared by a pair of F-15s while flying a Jet Ranger up Glencoe...

There we were, bimbling along at 100 knots, soaking in the scenery. What a lovely day it was to be airborne over the glorious Scottish countryside instead of indulging in some mundane ground-bound pursuit.

Half a second later, two of Uncle Sam's finest death machines appear from nowhere - one flashes above, one below, followed by the aroma of jet exhaust wafting into the cockpit. There wasn't really time to do anything apart from hope there wasn't a third one lurking round the corner.

Fortunately I was wearing my bicycle clips that day :8


Honourable mentions to flying with friends and family, seeing an EC225 getting towed along by an offshore supply boat, watching the Northern lights and landing in places where you are the sole indicator of any human existence all the way to the horizon.

Got to love it.

[jdwky]

I've had so many memorable moments, mostly sharing the joy of flight with friends and family.. One moment that stands out was during training. My CFI and I took off on a hot summer day from a taxiway less than 1000' from airport perimeter. Golf course is adjacent to the airport. As we're sluggishly climbing out, I see a golf bar cruise by right in front of us, not 10' ahead and at our altitude. I'm certain we ruined someones fairway drive with our downwash and we made sure to gain more altitude before leaving airport property ever since.

[PPRuNeUser0211]

First time I tried landing an AS350 on sloping ground after my crossover to helicopters. I remember thinking 'ooh this is a bit different'. Then working my nuts off for the next 6 months trying to crack sloping ground!

[XA290]

My company had a requirement to move an S61 from Aberdeen to Dhaka in Bangladesh for a new contract starting in the January. The ferry flight was due to depart on 1st December and the ferry crew would return to Aberdeen towards the end of January. It is probably for this reason, that I and a very good friend got the trip as all the senior pilots didn't want to be away over Christmas. I had only been a captain for 2 months at this point, so i was stunned to be offered this trip of a life time.

So, on 1st December 1997, we departed Aberdeen in S61 G-BBHM with $20,000 in cash, two ferry tanks and the instruction "be in Bangladesh by Christmas".

After leaving a very cold Aberdeen for Humberside and then Great Yarmouth to pick up our engineer we spent the night at Orleans just south of Paris. The next two weeks took us through Briare, St. Yan, Nice, Naples, Corfu, Heraklion, Alexandra, Cairo, Luxor, Medina, Riyadh, Dhahran and Dubai where we went u/s. We could have gone u/s in Dhahran but we all felt that Dubai would be somewhat more refreshing. We spent three nights in Dubai while an engineer from Redhill flew out with an engine front-frame assembly to cure our oil leak.

After a couple of ground runs, it was off to Pasni (that's another story), Karachi, Ahmadabad, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar and Calcutta where we spent a couple of nights waiting for final diplomatic clearance into Bangladesh.

On the 15th of December, G-BBHM finally touched down in Dhaka after 63h 20m flying time and the best part of 5,000 miles.

Apart from a few administrative issues on the ground from time to time, it was, without doubt, the best flying experience of my life. Even looking back at the administrative issues; they were the source of many a story to tell on our return.

A truly memorable experience and in a couple of days time it will be 20 years ago. Where did all that time go.............

[The late XV105]

What a fantastic story about a fantastic adventure, XA290! Thanks for sharing.
It's therefore a shame to have just read how G-BBHM ended her days back in the UK (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422ee8d40f0b613420001d9/2-2004_G-BBHM.pdf). :(

[EESDL]

Getting dragged in early hours one Bank Holiday Saturday for a Standby call-out.
HF fire across the Irish Sea, radio set now somewhere on seabed. Refuel at Valley SARTU where thoughtful land rovers formed a landing spot -but it would have been easier without the headlights as Goggles closed down.
Through Snowdonia to Heathrow from Aldergrove.
Moonlit evening then flashes of lightning again glaring the goggles out - it was the early 90s ;-)
Circling over Shrewsbury - which was just a glow through the low cloud cover below - whilst the ‘co’ changed the DECCA chain.......South toward Lyneham then direct to 09L mid-point to repatriate our ‘compassionate’ with his dying father. Lift direct to Odiuos for a well-earned cuppa and return via the Welsh coast on BH Monday pebble-dashing nude sunbathers - Happy Days ;)

[Floppy Link]

Thanks for the offer Ned, much appreciated as always.

Like my old friend EESDL (...hope you’re well, D), mine involves a Wessex and RAF Valley.
After 72 and Sixty I was on 22Sqn for a while. Was crap at SAR and eventually got chopped but before then while doing the work up at Valley we did some night IF. Despite having an AI the size of a bin lid, Wessex IF was always hard work for me... (all OK now, thanks for asking).
Will W was the duty pilot and he sat LHS while I did some general handling to the NW of the field before a couple of approaches to finish off.
We were at maybe 4000’ in slightly hazy conditions when Will told me to come out from under the hood and “Look at that!”
We were approaching the South Stack lighthouse and the beams were illuminating the haze. From above it looked like a giant six spoked wagon wheel silently rotating in the dark. Slightly disorientating and not good for my IF in the next few minutes but the sight itself was eerie, mesmerising and for some reason even a little scary. I’ll never forget it.

[How Nice]

For me it was going up in a Gazelle for a test flight over the Adriatic.
First time sitting up up front as young sprog technician.
After a successful test flight I was encouraged to try a bit of 'hands on'. Although being scared senseless I was able to bring the aircraft back to base (with a lot of expert guidance) whereby the Captain toook over.

[nyker]

For me, it was landing a jetranger at NYC heliport between an S76 and an AW139 both spinning, full pucker affect, backing out I think the 76 spooled up just to help me out, ;-(

[XA290]

XV105

Yes indeed it was a very sad day that I learned of G-BBHMs demise. We took very great care of the old girl all the way out to Bangladesh and back again. I flew it back to Aberdeen in July 98 as well.

It's a sad fact of the AAIB report that "HM" was significantly abused during multiple engine starts at Portland and this lead directly to her demise. Probably by someone with no "mechanical sympathy"

XA

[nomorehelosforme]

FC80

Getting airborne from an airfield somewhere in Norway in 10M vis before an engine failure just after TDP Oh wait, that was the sim...

Most memorable moment in an acutal helicopter - probably nearly getting speared by a pair of F-15s while flying a Jet Ranger up Glencoe...

There we were, bimbling along at 100 knots, soaking in the scenery. What a lovely day it was to be airborne over the glorious Scottish countryside instead of indulging in some mundane ground-bound pursuit.

Half a second later, two of Uncle Sam's finest death machines appear from nowhere - one flashes above, one below, followed by the aroma of jet exhaust wafting into the cockpit. There wasn't really time to do anything apart from hope there wasn't a third one lurking round the corner.

Fortunately I was wearing my bicycle clips that day


That is a great story!!!!

[mln]

My best memories for flying was when I took my brother with me as an ground crew to a small airfield where I had to do some pleasure flights for about 15 pax in total. on a summerday.
I had been flying flying for about two years at that time but never had my brother with me in the helicopter before, that meant a lot to me :O

[Andy Brandt]

Best moment in recent times- doing a flight in NZ out of Wanaka exploring Milford Haven and the Fiordland with an experienced local pointing out the landmarks- absolutely stunning locations!

[Syrinx]

Taking my first trip offshore (in the back as passenger) in a Westland 30 and wondering if that sliding door would fall off with all that vibration

[twinstar_ca]

Latest was doing the grand canyon in the front seat of an EC130 with my wife on her birthday in 2016.... 4 others behind us did not enjoy the ride... sik saks deployed and used... but not by us!!!! :)

[Ascend Charlie]

Early 80s in a B-model Huey, called out in a storm under low cloud to a yacht which had sunk 30nm off the coast. Found it by being guided in by a circling Herc, so we dropped a smoke float upwind of the wallowing dinghy, set up a pattern and sent the "teabag" down the wire, over the heaving seas. We managed to make 5 pickups off 5 circuits before we ran out of smoke floats, so on the 6th my hover was a bit ragged, and the teabag got his feet wet for the first time - all the others we had popped him into the open door of the dinghy.

We took the 6 yachties back to base, just made it with fuel, and the mongrels didn't even say "Thank you"!

[Animal Mother]

Late Jan 2001, having spent many nights on a VERY cold (must have been below -5) Salisbury Plain, having broken the ice off our kit, racked with the flu (proper flu, none of your heavy cold rubbish), and waiting for extraction by HC2. At first light we watched them flying in from the South, like some sort of Guardian Angel, slowly at first, it seemed like an age, lying there, soaked and freezing. In an intricate synchronised ballet like movement, they each touched their wheels down onto the frost laden grass and mud, the cacophony of their engines and blades filling the air. The noise increased, the down wash was biting to our skin as they lifted off without us, returning South to a more pressing engagement, leaving us to tab out of the Plain.

Did I mention it was VERY cold? lol

That was my most memorable helicopter experience, sadly without being in a helicopter. All my other experiences in helicopters feel much more pedestrian to me in my memory.

[evil7]

One of my memories.

Taking a blind person on a sight-"seeing" trip over the Canaries.
He wanted to experience the feelings and noises. I talked him through the scenery and also did some "sporty" flying. He loved every minute and came back later for more. It was a great experience for me as well.:ok:

[RotorBunny]

Unfortunately my most memorable was flying into a live Danger Area.
We initially heard the immortal lat and long being dictated over Guard, and at first chuckled amongst ourselves about the poor sod who had 'bonged' a NOTAMd Live GunEx...
Then by slowly checking off each digit narrated by ATC on our Mission Display, we eventually realised IT WAS US!
Lesson very much learnt...

[Tweedles]

Thanks, Ned! Love your pics:ok:

Many memories, most good. Here are three that stand out:

1. First helicopter flight: Passenger in a Huey while a cadet in ROTC. I had dreamt about this for years, and the sensation did not disappoint.

2. First time at the controls: Eight-ish years later I'm acting as FTE for the first time. Test pilot states that the engineer always gets to fly home. Got to fly us back and try my hand at hovering. The sensation did not disappoint!

3. Eight-ish years on again: Flying with same test pilot as above (whom I had not seen since). By this time I have earned my CPL. We both fly, and he shares more of his wisdom. Post-flight my test pilot, friend, and mentor offers a very complimentary assessment of my flying. That sensation certainly did not disappoint!!

[BGE777]

Thanks Ned!


I worked on helicopter engines for several years before I actually had my first ride - so there was plenty of anticipation - and it did not disappoint. The 'first time' is never one's best but I doubt that many ever forget it. (I'm still talking about helicopters)


Flying with a Bell test pilot in a 407 we did what is to every pilot very standard stuff but to a newbie and one who had spent way too many years staring up into the skies, it sealed my love for flying.


Now I'm early into training on Gyro and loving every minute behind the controls. I had reasons why this wasn't pursued earlier but very grateful that it is possible now.

[Helisweet]

My last landing.

[swisshelipilot]

Thanks Ned and happy holidays.

Ferry flight R22 from Jacksonville,FL to Salinas,CA November 2000. Just me with about 300h TT.
Spend the night in AL due to Thunderstorms, land in a field to wait that the fog burns off, night stop in TX, fly trough snow storm to Pecos,TX fighting headwinds (just fly really low) through NM, AZ in to Apple Valley,CA with the last 2h at night 🤤 it gets really dark out there. Next day arrival in Salinas.
Lots of learning by doing..... experience priceless!

[Matvey]

Sadly, have never been off the ground in a helicopter, though I'm hoping my first ride will be on my own volition! Still appreciate all the great work done in a great industry.

[Goe4]

Hello Ned, here's my contribution. My twin sister invited me, as a special birthday treat, on a trip to New York. We flew to the USA and spent a week visiting the sights. The big treat on top of all that was a helicopter trip over New York. It was absolutely incredible! I have always been a big fan of helicopters and this really got me hooked! If I were younger I would have liked to learn to fly one! My husband used to fly gliders and my sister and I did too, now one of my sons flies a bus and the other is studying aerospace engineering so something has passed on, but I know, after a short trip to NZ a few years ago, that in my next life I would like to grow up in New Zealand and fly helicopters! Take care.

[sudden twang]

Thanks Ned,
I was going to say crossing the centreline of KSAN at 800' in a 44 and seeing 2 reds 2 whites on the PAPIs and thinking 23.5 hours earlier I saw the same picture in something a lot bigger but that's been done re KLAX 😎
I remember creeping up a snow covered valley below Byron Heights in the Falklands looking for 3 guys walking down to meet us. There'd been a recent incident where people had nearly died of exposure trying the same thing. Our loady spotted them so we put one wheel on and opened the cargo door. There was little visual reference with patches of hill fog around in fact I was using a black rock to maintain a hover. Just as the last guy was dragged through the door the rock spread its wings and flew off. !*#+ .

[John Eacott]

"Describe your MOST memorable moment in a helicopter and why it was so memorable".

It couldn't possibly be flying with that world renowned Kiwi photographer? :p:cool:

First solo in a helicopter
A few rescues here and there
Throwing water at the ground during the NSW fires, 2000-02
Taking Dad for a flight
First flight in Antarctica
Finding out the hard way the difference in relative wind calls from the USN: while drifting into a fire truck at night on the Forrestal flight deck
First flight in my first helicopter with my rego :ok:
The only landing on the Ansett building in Melbourne
The first landing in the MCG
First fog approach and landing for real to Ark Royal; nothing like the trials and theory!

Sorry, more than one: do I get more than one calendar ;)

[Ascend Charlie]

Throwing water at the ground during the NSW fires, 2000-02

Ah, you old Victorian, you probably missed the ground anyway!

[Jetscream 32]

Thanks so much KiwiNed - posted my ditty on 27th November and just back from flying today and there it was on the door mat - Awesome calendar and thanks so much - incredibly kind of you..god bless / blue skies and merry xmas :)

JS

[why_not1]

HI.. i remember best the first time i initiated an autorotation myself with a instructor.... i rolled off throttle before i lowered the collective.. , at the time it did not stand out as i was very green.. but a year later as a green CFI.. a student did the same.. this really scarred me.. and my own error have been stuck since..

[JBL99]

Hi Ned, just wanted to say thanks for the calendar - absolutely amazing pics in it! Very much appreciated! Thank you:ok:

[The late XV105]

And thank you from me too, Ned. Fantastic photography - written as a photographer - and thanks to air mail the calendar is already gracing my office wall a month early. :)

[aa777888]

The calendar arrived today! Thank you!

[Old Farang]

Mine has arrived also. Thank you very much, Ned!

[Billch]

It would have to be during my CPL(h) checkride. Cruising along at 2000ft during part of the nav section. A Cessna appeared out of no where at the same altitude crossing from right to left, uncomfortably close ahead of us. I had to act as if I had known about it and was happy with it. I hadn't and wasn't!

[vaqueroaero]

Thanks for the calendar - arrived in Texas this morning. Great photos as always.

[Thracian]

Ned, my calendar arrived today in Germany.
Same procedure as every year: Great pictures, many thanks to downunder

Thracian

[ice_burg]

Has to be the one that took my father from a rural hospital to much more well known and leagues above hospital. His service connected disabilities made his treatments very tricky however the pilot had to try taking off 3 times to get the the thing airborne..My father was ok but the rest of the family watching was not during those few moments! The winds were very bad but so was my dads condition.. the Veteran pilot assured me at no time where they in trouble..as he had flown in much worse in the Vietnam conflict.

Email Sent with address

[KiwiNedNZ]

ATTN: EVERYONE

Last batch of calendars for this year is being airmailed off on Wed next week so we are closing this thread as of 10pm New Zealand time on Tuesday the 12th of December. So if you want a 2018 Calendar make your post and send me your info.

Cheers and have a good Xmas.

Ned

[Self loading bear]

My most memorable helicopter flight will most probably be the next time I will be flying again as passenger in the back with one of you Offshore pilots.
It has now been more than 2 years that I have been offshore.

Luckily the company I am working for has found some non offshore work.
But I am really looking forward for the next offshore job.
I would really be saddened if my last memorable flight would show to be in the ditching simulator last year.

But hey, activity is up, oil price is somewhat steady at 60 and they are talking about $80 for a barrel end of next year. We will just hang in some more.
Just as you (pilots and engineers) have to do.

Keep up the spirit and I hope to actually meet some if you at work next year.
Best wishes,

Cheers SLB

[why_not]

Hi
My most memorable experience was a cross crountry from LAX to the dominical republic..
It was a delivery of a new R44 .. what a trip as a new pilot.
The high point was a can-refuling in a tiny island, as we could not fly diretly to the airport :)
Merry xmas
/SP

[Animal Mother]

ATTN: EVERYONE

Last batch of calendars for this year is being airmailed off on Wed next week so we are closing this thread as of 10pm New Zealand time on Tuesday the 12th of December. So if you want a 2018 Calendar make your post and send me your info.

Cheers and have a good Xmas.

Ned

Did you get my details?

[R22 HEAVY]

My most memorable flight was shuttling a Robinson from San Francisco to the factory at Torrance, Los Angeles. Started of flying over the beautiful Bay Area following by the stunning mountains and coast line of Northern California, terminating in a truly memorable LOW level flight over Santa Monica beach as instructed by LAX Approach. Brilliant, will never forget it.


Merry Christmas everyone.

[John Eacott]

Ned, many thanks for the calendar: I think I recognise the Aircrane shot in December? :ok: :cool:

[Animal Mother]

Not got mine yet. :{

[valais]

My most memorable experience probably happened while doing turbine transition on the beautiful island of Kaua'i with Airborne Aviation. After flying across the Nã Pali Coast in the Hughes 369D, we did a rather low-level approach along the valley to the Jurassic Parc landing pad. Never had a bigger smile on my face :-)

[Goe4]

Hello Ned,

Thank you very much for the calendar. Arrived here in south Germany today. Super shots, even one from New York! Memorable. Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy 2018.

Take care everybody

[patatas]

My most memorable moment in a helicopter was when I did my first HEMS flight back a couple of years. It was such a great feeling to be able to use my knowledge and my experience to help someone. That alone changed my career path.

Thank you as always for this gift!!

Merry christmas everyone!!

[Floppy Link]

Thanks Ned,
Mine arrived safe and sound in Scotland.
Russell

[md 600 driver]

My most memorable flight was flying from the Uk to Moscow and back with my late departed friend NIGEL Feetham

Ned Thanks for all the calendars in the past they have always sparked a lot of interest from visitors , a couple of visitors in the new year I think only come to look at your calendars.. Well done and thanks again

[BGE777]

Thanks very much for the calendar Ned! I love the photos and am looking forward to posting it here in the office in Ottawa, Canada; it's sure to prompt lots of great conversation.

[Animal Mother]

Received mine today. Lovely calendar which now has pride of place on my work desk. Thank you Ned.

[Kirt Hood]

Thanks Ned, should call you Nick, as in Saint Nick. Lovely Xmas present again this year. All he best to you over the holiday season.
Cheers

[HowlingMad Murdock]

KiwiNedNZ
Many thanks for the fabulous calendar - awesome pictures of some amazing helis indeed!

[helipixman]

Many thanks

Calendar arrived safely in Scotland this week.. wonderful images, much appreciated

Helipixman

[heliturbo]

when I test flighted my newly overhauled EC120b, I was excited, and then a month latter went upnorth, in James Bay for a fishing trip, 6 hours of beautiful scenery and abondant fishes....this made me feel 10 years younger

[Collern]

Most memorable moment was first solo flight. The instructor left the Helicopter, and there i was flying in that r22 :)

[KiwiNedNZ]

Thread closed previously so please don't add any more posts. Thanks.

[whoknows idont]

Oh man, I missed it this year... :ugh:

Will have to flip the 2017 one back to January. :sad:

[KiwiNedNZ]

I have found 20 more calendars left over. If you haven't posted then do so quickly.

[whoknows idont]

Thanks, Ned, you are the best!

My most memorable moment somehow still is the first solo. Even though I've lived through so many impressive, fun, exciting and scary moments after that.
Nothing beats that feeling of looking down through the little RHS sliding window in that little 269c while turning departure to cross wind and realizing that I'm really doing this.

I think as long as I don't get involved in an accident (knock on wood), that will probably be my most memorable moment.

[TripleC]

One memorable incident on 8yrs SAR was picking up a dog from the Goodwin Sands. We got an award from The National Canine Defence League presented by the late Yootha Joyce.

[whoknows idont]

Hi Ned, Thanks a lot for this awsome calendar! I love it! :ok:

[heliturbo]

thank you, well received and appreciated.....

[MannyB206]

Back in 2009 my first time in a helicopter was in an EC130 touring the grand canyon with my brother. In 2017 one of our suppliers brought us for a ride in his Bell 407.... months later, we bought a 206B! I think every time we fire up the turbine is a memorable moment!

[KiwiNedNZ]

MannyB206 - this thread closed months ago, its now middle of Feb.