Gamekeeper 'drove Land Rover' at Army helicopter
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After being arrested, Hughes told police he had never driven under the helicopter and the closest he had been was 300 metres (984ft) away.
He said he had driven towards the helicopter because he wanted to get close enough to take the aircraft's serial number and report it to the authorities for low flying - just as his employer had told him to do.
He said he had driven towards the helicopter because he wanted to get close enough to take the aircraft's serial number and report it to the authorities for low flying - just as his employer had told him to do.
He said he had driven towards the helicopter because he wanted to get close enough to take the aircraft's serial number and report it to the authorities for low flying - just as his employer had told him to do.
After being arrested, Hughes told police he had never driven under the helicopter and the closest he had been was 300 metres (984ft) away.
After being arrested, Hughes told police he had never driven under the helicopter and the closest he had been was 300 metres (984ft) away.
He seems to be contradicting himself... no wonder he was convicted.
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Looks like the silly old buffoon got what he deserved. Anger and aircraft don't mix well.
Some folk just don't realise what huge forces are involved in a running helicopter's blades.
One of our (230) Sqn Pumas was once attacked in similar circumstances by an angry German farmer. He was outraged by the Puma landing at the edge of one of his fields during an exercise and he tried to drive the raised hydraulic shovel of his tractor into the turning rotor disc. Thankfully the pilot lifted off out of reach or goodness knows what would have happened to all of them. The Polizei arrested the farmer shortly afterwards but I don't know what happened in that case.
Some folk just don't realise what huge forces are involved in a running helicopter's blades.
One of our (230) Sqn Pumas was once attacked in similar circumstances by an angry German farmer. He was outraged by the Puma landing at the edge of one of his fields during an exercise and he tried to drive the raised hydraulic shovel of his tractor into the turning rotor disc. Thankfully the pilot lifted off out of reach or goodness knows what would have happened to all of them. The Polizei arrested the farmer shortly afterwards but I don't know what happened in that case.
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So who should 'know better' the farmer or the helicopter pilot? The pilot knows the dynamics of his machine. Why should the farmer know?
The airspace above the field may be free for all but just how low is safe? Is Trabant or Landrover height safe?
In my days as a helicopter pilot you flew low where you had properly recced the area. No one should drive at a helicopter. That is just daft. But the pilot has to take responsibilty for where he flies his aircraft.
The airspace above the field may be free for all but just how low is safe? Is Trabant or Landrover height safe?
In my days as a helicopter pilot you flew low where you had properly recced the area. No one should drive at a helicopter. That is just daft. But the pilot has to take responsibilty for where he flies his aircraft.
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What a stupid post! Perhaps he recce'd the field as he approached it (as he is taught to do), he then recce'd the precise 'landing' area during the latter stages of his approach (as he is taught to do) and then recce'd the precise 'landing' point from the hover (as he is taught to do)?
Perhaps the LR had wheels and an engine and could therefore move - and despite our banter, perhaps it was able to move quite quickly? Worse, perhaps it could move towards the aircraft, quite quickly, from its 6 o'clock - as was clearly reported?
I assume from your post, that you believe, that at no time during your helicopter flying career, could a vehicle have got near your aircraft without you being aware of it? If that's the case, you could have never spent more than around 5 seconds in the hover, or near obstacles such as trees, hedge lines or buildings? Either that, or you had one of those special helicopters that afford you 360 degree vision from the pilots seat?
Perhaps the LR had wheels and an engine and could therefore move - and despite our banter, perhaps it was able to move quite quickly? Worse, perhaps it could move towards the aircraft, quite quickly, from its 6 o'clock - as was clearly reported?
I assume from your post, that you believe, that at no time during your helicopter flying career, could a vehicle have got near your aircraft without you being aware of it? If that's the case, you could have never spent more than around 5 seconds in the hover, or near obstacles such as trees, hedge lines or buildings? Either that, or you had one of those special helicopters that afford you 360 degree vision from the pilots seat?
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Flap 5, the court has sorted out who was in the wrong. No need to troll now.
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You can't just go round flying over peoples land at 10 foot! or even worse landing on it.
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Jayland - I suspect that is "just your opinion" rather than based in anything you know to be law - please correct me if I am wrong.
The actual answer is ...... Yes you can. There is specific law (the Air Navigation Order) with which a civilian pilot must comply, and it does not prevent me flying at 5ft over a field. Military pilots are less constrained than a civilian pilot. (Note: I do not fly like that as I have no need to do so, nor training to enable me to do so safely - but I would break no law if I did).
Landing - as a civilian pilot I should have the landowner's permission to land. That is not always possible - as a colleague demonstrated when he landed a helicopter on a playing field in central London because he became concerned at the continued airworthyness of the aircraft.
The actual answer is ...... Yes you can. There is specific law (the Air Navigation Order) with which a civilian pilot must comply, and it does not prevent me flying at 5ft over a field. Military pilots are less constrained than a civilian pilot. (Note: I do not fly like that as I have no need to do so, nor training to enable me to do so safely - but I would break no law if I did).
Landing - as a civilian pilot I should have the landowner's permission to land. That is not always possible - as a colleague demonstrated when he landed a helicopter on a playing field in central London because he became concerned at the continued airworthyness of the aircraft.
