Tornado locates downed pilot
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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Tornado locates downed pilot
Well done the boys.
Surprised he didn´t carry a beacon or handheld radio, can´t rely on a phone mast in that part of the country. But then, I didn´t know gliders had windows.....
The Times: Glider pilot found after 24 hours in wreckage
A PILOT whose glider crashed into a remote Scottish mountain has been found alive after spending 24 hours trapped in the cockpit of his mangled aircraft. John Russell, 64, from York, was spotted waving from a smashed window by one of three RAF Tornado jets that had been searching for him since first light yesterday.
Mr Russell was cut free from the wreckage by rescuers. He was suffering from an ankle injury, dehydration, cuts, bruises and shock. He was airlifted by Sea King helicopter to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary from the 1,157ft summit of Beinn A Bhuird, approximately six miles north of Braemar. His fiancée and family travelled from England and were at the hospital when he arrived shortly after 8pm.
Mr Russell, who is an experienced flying instructor, was reported missing on Monday night after failing to return from a cross-country competition, organised by Deeside Gliding Club, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. Fears grew for his safety after two mountain rescue teams, four Sea King search and rescue helicopters and three Tornado jets with thermal imaging equipment initially failed to find any trace of his aircraft in more than 1,000sq miles of rugged mountain terrain. Staff at the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) at RAF Kinloss had been on the verge of calling off the search yesterday when he was found at about 5.30pm.
It is believed that Mr Russell, who has 1,000 hours of flying gliders and has won major accolades with the British Gliding Association, had been planning to fly around the Loch Moy and Boat of Garten regions in Strathspey as well as the Inverness area. He was flying a one-seater Ventus 2 glider, which is capable of reaching altitudes of up to 18,000ft and can stay airborne for up to eight hours. Paul Boath, of Deeside Gliding Club, said that Mr Russell was a visiting member from a Yorkshire gliding club and was an instructor in the sport. “He is an experienced pilot who has gained more than 1,000 hours flying gliders,” he said. “He has gained the major accolades that are given by the British Gliding Association and is experienced in gliding competitions.”
The T-shaped glider did not contain any medical or tracking equipment and Mr Russell’s only means of communication with the competition’s organisers was by mobile phone, which was either drained of power or had no signal. He had set off at about 10.30am and staff at the gliding club became concerned when he had not returned by 9.20pm on Monday.
But last night Grampian Police said: “We can confirm that the glider pilot has been found on Beinn A Bhuird, a hill approximately six miles north of Braemar. He was found within the wreckage of his glider. “Grampian Fire and Rescue assisted to cut the male from the wreckage and he is being transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment for his injuries.”
Surprised he didn´t carry a beacon or handheld radio, can´t rely on a phone mast in that part of the country. But then, I didn´t know gliders had windows.....
The Times: Glider pilot found after 24 hours in wreckage
A PILOT whose glider crashed into a remote Scottish mountain has been found alive after spending 24 hours trapped in the cockpit of his mangled aircraft. John Russell, 64, from York, was spotted waving from a smashed window by one of three RAF Tornado jets that had been searching for him since first light yesterday.
Mr Russell was cut free from the wreckage by rescuers. He was suffering from an ankle injury, dehydration, cuts, bruises and shock. He was airlifted by Sea King helicopter to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary from the 1,157ft summit of Beinn A Bhuird, approximately six miles north of Braemar. His fiancée and family travelled from England and were at the hospital when he arrived shortly after 8pm.
Mr Russell, who is an experienced flying instructor, was reported missing on Monday night after failing to return from a cross-country competition, organised by Deeside Gliding Club, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. Fears grew for his safety after two mountain rescue teams, four Sea King search and rescue helicopters and three Tornado jets with thermal imaging equipment initially failed to find any trace of his aircraft in more than 1,000sq miles of rugged mountain terrain. Staff at the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) at RAF Kinloss had been on the verge of calling off the search yesterday when he was found at about 5.30pm.
It is believed that Mr Russell, who has 1,000 hours of flying gliders and has won major accolades with the British Gliding Association, had been planning to fly around the Loch Moy and Boat of Garten regions in Strathspey as well as the Inverness area. He was flying a one-seater Ventus 2 glider, which is capable of reaching altitudes of up to 18,000ft and can stay airborne for up to eight hours. Paul Boath, of Deeside Gliding Club, said that Mr Russell was a visiting member from a Yorkshire gliding club and was an instructor in the sport. “He is an experienced pilot who has gained more than 1,000 hours flying gliders,” he said. “He has gained the major accolades that are given by the British Gliding Association and is experienced in gliding competitions.”
The T-shaped glider did not contain any medical or tracking equipment and Mr Russell’s only means of communication with the competition’s organisers was by mobile phone, which was either drained of power or had no signal. He had set off at about 10.30am and staff at the gliding club became concerned when he had not returned by 9.20pm on Monday.
But last night Grampian Police said: “We can confirm that the glider pilot has been found on Beinn A Bhuird, a hill approximately six miles north of Braemar. He was found within the wreckage of his glider. “Grampian Fire and Rescue assisted to cut the male from the wreckage and he is being transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment for his injuries.”
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Any news on when the Tonkas officially become part of the SAR Force and hence get offerred to Bristows?
Seriously though, sounds like another top job by the ARCC and all involved in the search and recovery.
Seriously though, sounds like another top job by the ARCC and all involved in the search and recovery.
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I'd also note that I've (almost) never flown/seen a glider that doesn't have a radio fitted - and that was only missing because it was being repaired. Not that it'd be much use if in the bottom of a valley / crashed..
Wasn't aware that the ventus fell appart over 18000ft either.. but it sounds like the usual accurate reporting
Still, a lucky man, and well done to those who found him
Wasn't aware that the ventus fell appart over 18000ft either.. but it sounds like the usual accurate reporting
Still, a lucky man, and well done to those who found him
Thought police antagonist
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Always wondered about the "what if" when flying out of Aboyne---anyway, one lucky man here and a testament to those involved in the search and rescue
A slightly more factual link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/s...st/5167612.stm
That said, am still curious as to the media's apparent fascination with er, "T"tails on gliders
A slightly more factual link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/s...st/5167612.stm
That said, am still curious as to the media's apparent fascination with er, "T"tails on gliders
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The radio would still be good at the bottom of a valley. You can see a lot of sky, line of sight gets you a long way on 121.5. Couple of hundred quid these days gets you a pocket GPS and a second-hand VHF radio - don't leave home without 'em.
R
R
and to think, they stopped funding TIRRS ages ago - yet another good decision
I'm impressed by the endurance.............
after spending 24 hours trapped in the cockpit of his mangled aircraft. John Russell, 64, from York, was spotted waving from a smashed window by one of three RAF Tornado jets that had been searching for him since first light yesterday.
I forgot to say well done..................... well done
Last edited by insty66; 13th Jul 2006 at 18:01.
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Originally Posted by insty66
TIRRS has been defunct for quite some time...........because there is better equipment around
I'm impressed by the endurance.............
I'm impressed by the endurance.............
Still, it was the only combat ready, under the weather/night manned recce/attack platform in the world...
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Indeed, one that goes somewhat further, faster carrying significantly more iron and/or recce sensors as we both know LJR!
Hats off nevertheless to the Tonka blokes - always a bugger of a task flying around large hills looking for 1 lost bloke/lass usually in ****e Wx. Nice to see them get a result...Top work!!
Hats off nevertheless to the Tonka blokes - always a bugger of a task flying around large hills looking for 1 lost bloke/lass usually in ****e Wx. Nice to see them get a result...Top work!!
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Mr Mulford is the spokesman (PRO or CRO) for the RAF in Scotland, mostly hear him on the various media channels BBC, Sky etc. Normally ARCC related things but is a pleasant bloke.
However, come the revolution RAF Scotland, well who knows.
However, come the revolution RAF Scotland, well who knows.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Well, since we still have an Air Officer Scotland (and Northern Ireland), one presumes we must still have have an RAF Scotland (and Northern Ireland).
I presume the Staish at LU is still dual-hatted as the AO with a Gp Capt OC Ops to actually run the Station while he entertains visitors to St Andrews and attends Garden Parties in Edinburgh?
(Always remember Tim Elworthy meeting all the executive jets arriving on weekends with VIPs coming to play golf. We refused a booking once because we had a lot of military movements. Took about 2 hours for the phone call and it certainly never happened again... )
I presume the Staish at LU is still dual-hatted as the AO with a Gp Capt OC Ops to actually run the Station while he entertains visitors to St Andrews and attends Garden Parties in Edinburgh?
(Always remember Tim Elworthy meeting all the executive jets arriving on weekends with VIPs coming to play golf. We refused a booking once because we had a lot of military movements. Took about 2 hours for the phone call and it certainly never happened again... )
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Originally Posted by L J R
Viffer, there IS STILL one (another type of platform) floating around.
Originally Posted by Vifferpilot
Still, it was the only combat ready, under the weather/night manned recce/attack platform in the world...
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RAF Scotland after the revolution?? Wouldn't it be People's Liberation Air Force Scotland given the usual tendencies of the Nats?