Heads up, new series "Helicopter Warfare" Channel 5 8PM tonight
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Privileged to have known all the aircrew involved. Not sure if the programme made clear that two junglie squadron Wessex Vs were twin-engined versions and very well powered for their role, whereas the single engined Wessex 3 which carried a shedload of extra hardware makes it much less suitable for handling the flying conditions they were in (apart from having the doppler, and a well-knit crew to share the burden). Also, the junglie role training takes them into this very scenario - notably their Clockwork winter training in Norway. Ian Stanley and his team will not have experienced this scenario in the normal course of their job. Ian was awarded the DSO, not sure what the other aircrew received.
A thoroughly good watch. I thought the team came across very well.
PS. Looks like visuals of the SK sim at Culdrose has had quite an update inthe last few years.
A thoroughly good watch. I thought the team came across very well.
PS. Looks like visuals of the SK sim at Culdrose has had quite an update inthe last few years.
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Knew the crewman (JL) in one of the Wx 5's who told me that only one person was injured. The only snag was, he was injured twice. Once in the first Wx and then again in the second, when he was struck (on impact) with an ammo box.
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Heads up for tonight's episode 
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http://demand.five.tv/Series.aspx?se...icopterWarfare
for those who missed it & may ant to watch it on demand.
for those who missed it & may ant to watch it on demand.
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It really is developing into a superb series, noted on 5 it is series 1 episode 2 which infers another series may being produced after this one is finished.
That took some serious b*lls to do that rescue and as for the Viet soldier, when you find you are in a defence perimeter on your own, surrounded and watching your ride departing it must be a tad worrying
Looking fwd to the next one and for those that missed it do not forget as well as online it repeats on Sunday AM on the box.
That took some serious b*lls to do that rescue and as for the Viet soldier, when you find you are in a defence perimeter on your own, surrounded and watching your ride departing it must be a tad worrying
Looking fwd to the next one and for those that missed it do not forget as well as online it repeats on Sunday AM on the box.
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Not to detract from the great work 847 did during Telic ( I recently worked with them elsewhere and found them a very agreeable bunch), the style of the show is a bit sensationalist.
'They could have crashed before they even left the ground' - In a deep melodramatic tone, before explaining how a helicopter departs a dust cloud (pretty much an everyday occurence)
Followed by the bigging up of the massive threat from IFF misident and Yank search radars.
They did a great job, worthy of such a documentary but I think C5 were almost in danger of overegging the pud.
'They could have crashed before they even left the ground' - In a deep melodramatic tone, before explaining how a helicopter departs a dust cloud (pretty much an everyday occurence)
Followed by the bigging up of the massive threat from IFF misident and Yank search radars.
They did a great job, worthy of such a documentary but I think C5 were almost in danger of overegging the pud.
Followed by the bigging up of the massive threat from IFF misident and Yank search radars.
Not sure you can criticise this aspect when that very week (23rd March 2003) a Patriot Battery shot down a Tornado. The crews would surely have been aware of this?
As the BoI recommended - IFF failure warnings should be integrated.
(And as CDP said 4 years earlier when warned of this precise risk - No they shouldn't).
Not sure you can criticise this aspect when that very week (23rd March 2003) a Patriot Battery shot down a Tornado. The crews would surely have been aware of this?
As the BoI recommended - IFF failure warnings should be integrated.
(And as CDP said 4 years earlier when warned of this precise risk - No they shouldn't).
As the BoI recommended - IFF failure warnings should be integrated.
(And as CDP said 4 years earlier when warned of this precise risk - No they shouldn't).
We are in agreement, I just think their was too much emphasis on certain factors, when the story stands up perfectly well without such emphasis.
Excellent series and required viewing alone for those, like me, who are ignorant of all aspects of helo operation. So while making allowance for the "shock horror probe" delivery, I appreciate the spelling out of the problems involved in what to MGD is "pretty much an everyday occurrence".
As to:
The "incident" in question cost two men's lives and a Tornado aircraft. I suppose the RAF could look at every such accident and treat them all as just:
Oh wait, of course, that is what they do isn't it? A separate MAA and MAAIB ASAP please.
As to:
1 incident in how many thousand air missions?
1 incident in how many thousand air missions?
Agreed, but 1 incident in how many thousand air missions?
Before the aircraft or system enters service the regulations require you to ensure it is physically and functionally safe. If the IFF failure warnings are not integrated (i.e. not presented to the aircrew, either visually or aurally) then the system is not functionally safe. Unwittingly, the crew had less chance of surviving such an event.
Good series of programmes though.
At least he admitted how he got his nick name. He came across very well, I thought, although I am not sure how easy it is for T55 to engage an air target with its main gun; I would have like the "Tank expert" to have explained that.