Chinook crew ask for directions after emergency landing
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Chinook crew ask for directions after emergency landing
Just saw this from the Daily Mail:-
RAF pilots operating a Chinook helicopter were forced to make an emergency
landing in a village playing field - before asking stunned locals for
directions.
The three relieved airmen had to land the 12-tonne chopper after hitting a
bird, military chiefs admitted.
Then, to add to their embarrassment, they had to take out a road map to try
and figure out where they were.
Grandmother Pat Taylor, 70, saw the incident while ironing in her kitchen 50
yards away and thought the helicopter was about to crash into her house in
Stoke by Clare, Suffolk.
She said today: ‘It was quite terrifying when it came down. I heard this
terrific noise and thought “It is going to crash.” It was such a relief when
they were able to make a controlled landing.
‘These three gorgeous young men emerged looking quite concerned so I asked
if they wanted a cup of tea or to use the toilet.
‘It was very amusing when they went and got a road map and asked where they
were.’
The three confused airmen said they had hit a bird, which is quite common
when flying below fifty feet, which caused the engine to catch fire.
Excitement in the village reached fever pitch when a second Chinook landed
nearby to drop off a mechanic, before both helicopters set off back to base
at RAF Wattisham.
Pupils outside on their lunch break at nearby independent school Stoke
College were also thrilled to see the unexpected visitors drop in.
Head teacher John Gibson said: ‘They did see it and the younger ones were
quite excited because it is something different.’
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Chinook made a
precautionary landing following a bird strike.
RAF pilots operating a Chinook helicopter were forced to make an emergency
landing in a village playing field - before asking stunned locals for
directions.
The three relieved airmen had to land the 12-tonne chopper after hitting a
bird, military chiefs admitted.
Then, to add to their embarrassment, they had to take out a road map to try
and figure out where they were.
Grandmother Pat Taylor, 70, saw the incident while ironing in her kitchen 50
yards away and thought the helicopter was about to crash into her house in
Stoke by Clare, Suffolk.
She said today: ‘It was quite terrifying when it came down. I heard this
terrific noise and thought “It is going to crash.” It was such a relief when
they were able to make a controlled landing.
‘These three gorgeous young men emerged looking quite concerned so I asked
if they wanted a cup of tea or to use the toilet.
‘It was very amusing when they went and got a road map and asked where they
were.’
The three confused airmen said they had hit a bird, which is quite common
when flying below fifty feet, which caused the engine to catch fire.
Excitement in the village reached fever pitch when a second Chinook landed
nearby to drop off a mechanic, before both helicopters set off back to base
at RAF Wattisham.
Pupils outside on their lunch break at nearby independent school Stoke
College were also thrilled to see the unexpected visitors drop in.
Head teacher John Gibson said: ‘They did see it and the younger ones were
quite excited because it is something different.’
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Chinook made a
precautionary landing following a bird strike.
Excellent use of the phrase 'RAF Wattisham'. Personally, I've never discouraged the media when they make this small mistake, if for no other reason than it seems to wind up the current residents!
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I am so glad the Mail have not disappointed their readers and stuck to tradition when dealing with a story involving the military and..."never let the truth get in the way of a good story!!" 
Bravo!
Bravo!
Last edited by Tracer Bullet; 11th Jul 2008 at 14:37. Reason: Wrong paper...they're all the same!!
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These three gorgeous young men emerged looking quite concerned so I asked
if they wanted a cup of tea or to use the toilet.
if they wanted a cup of tea or to use the toilet.
I wonder what the crew thought when they saw her
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RAF is a small error; I am more concerned that the media now know the Army is taking over the Chinook fleet, them being based at Wattisham and all - about time sense prevailed. 
Avoid imitations
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I think the Chinook can carry its own AA box, never mind the key!
I was once sent to find a Belgian Allouette crew who had got lost (in fairness it was a bit foggy). Found them drinking coffee in a local cafe.
They followed our landrover back to Manston so they wouldn't get lost again.
They followed our landrover back to Manston so they wouldn't get lost again.
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When 275 Sqn had a Sycamore SAR flight at Chivenor in the mid fifties they carried an AA box key in the cockpit !
Last edited by FJJP; 12th Jul 2008 at 16:41.
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Why on earth do the papers have to twist the truth behind the events, is it simply to try and make the crew of the aircraft look like fools?
<Inferred Snigger>The crew of a high-tech military aircraft have to ask for directions <Inferred...."surely they have some whizzo gadget to tell them where they are">
I guess what actually happened was that the in-flight emergency occured and the crew, in looking for somewehre to put the aircraft down safely, lost precise track of where they were. Doesn't look quite so humiliating though I suppose.
<Inferred Snigger>The crew of a high-tech military aircraft have to ask for directions <Inferred...."surely they have some whizzo gadget to tell them where they are">
I guess what actually happened was that the in-flight emergency occured and the crew, in looking for somewehre to put the aircraft down safely, lost precise track of where they were. Doesn't look quite so humiliating though I suppose.
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Exscribbler
Actually, I nearly was. One time there was a shortage of Canberra door keys, so I went to my local key-cutting shop to get a couple of copies. The chap disappeared round the back and a few minutes later appeared with a couple of blanks. As he was cutting them, an hofficer of the law felt my collar and wanted to know what I was doing with a confidential key and why I was getting copies??? The number stamped on the key indicated to the locksmith that it was military confidential. He had called the police when he went in the back of the shop.
F1250 sorted it...
FJJP: And you were never done for going equipped?
F1250 sorted it...
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Here are the facts from the horses mouths:
We hit a bird,
We landed on a football pitch to avoid damaging farmers crops,
We knew exactly where we were down to a 10 figure grid,
We landed in a village so small and insignificant that it was just a nameless blip on the 1/4 mill, so we asked a local the name to give the sqn along with the grid.
A passing Chinook herd our radio calls and landed on to see if we were ok,
We were,
We had no evidence of a bird strike,
We continued with our sortie,
We were above 100feet,
We had no engine fire,
We are not based at Wattisham
We are gorgeous.
We hit a bird,
We landed on a football pitch to avoid damaging farmers crops,
We knew exactly where we were down to a 10 figure grid,
We landed in a village so small and insignificant that it was just a nameless blip on the 1/4 mill, so we asked a local the name to give the sqn along with the grid.
A passing Chinook herd our radio calls and landed on to see if we were ok,
We were,
We had no evidence of a bird strike,
We continued with our sortie,
We were above 100feet,
We had no engine fire,
We are not based at Wattisham
We are gorgeous.
We hit a bird,
We landed on a football pitch to avoid damaging farmers crops,
We knew exactly where we were down to a 10 figure grid,
We landed in a village so small and insignificant that it was just a nameless blip on the 1/4 mill, so we asked a local the name to give the sqn along with the grid.
A passing Chinook herd our radio calls and landed on to see if we were ok,
We were,
We had no evidence of a bird strike,
We continued with our sortie,
We were above 100feet,
We had no engine fire,
We are not based at Wattisham
We are gorgeous.
We landed on a football pitch to avoid damaging farmers crops,
We knew exactly where we were down to a 10 figure grid,
We landed in a village so small and insignificant that it was just a nameless blip on the 1/4 mill, so we asked a local the name to give the sqn along with the grid.
A passing Chinook herd our radio calls and landed on to see if we were ok,
We were,
We had no evidence of a bird strike,
We continued with our sortie,
We were above 100feet,
We had no engine fire,
We are not based at Wattisham
We are gorgeous.
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We are gorgeous.
On a serious note though, I am glad all was ok.
