RAF VC-10 SAR mission
Just a few years ago an inflatable dinghy was dropped to 2 stricken sailors in the Bay of Biscay.
A bloody good shot as well taken into account the swell and the winds.
A bloody good shot as well taken into account the swell and the winds.
Shameful situation.
With regards to CGB's contribution, what are the chances we could/should cost share the Irish CN-235s? They are after all even more skint than we are. Half the time in an SAR vain we'd end up cruising their hood anyway.
With regards to CGB's contribution, what are the chances we could/should cost share the Irish CN-235s? They are after all even more skint than we are. Half the time in an SAR vain we'd end up cruising their hood anyway.
I thought the wonderful C-17 could open the ramp and drop stuff out the back,or is that not in the contract..?
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they can indeed - see
McChord C-17s To The Rescue! [Archive] - Airline Pilot Central Forums
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- An Air Force cargo plane and crew from McChord Air Force Base flew from New Zealand to Antarctica early Saturday to assist a stranded British fishing trawler.
The C-17 Globemaster III, along with its pilots and loadmasters from the 446th Airlift Wing and 62nd Airlift Wing, were already in New Zealand to deliver supplies to Antarctica as part of Operation Deep Freeze - a research program of the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program.
The New Zealand Rescue Coordination Center contacted the Operation Deep Freeze C-17 mission commander in Christchurch, New Zealand, to seek assistance in dropping supplies to a British fishing trawler, the Argos Georgia, that had lost all main power and was frozen in the ice flow off the Ross Ice Shelf.
The Air Force said other options to rescue the ship were either no longer available or would be more than 10 days away. The trawler crew had been without main power for six days.
The air crew dropped an engine piston and casing from approximately 400 feet above the surface at a speed of about 170 miles per hour.
From New Zealand Herald:
Air-drop in effort to free trawler from ice trap - National - NZ Herald News
photos are at the bottom of page
446th Airlift Wing - Media Gallery
McChord C-17s To The Rescue! [Archive] - Airline Pilot Central Forums
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- An Air Force cargo plane and crew from McChord Air Force Base flew from New Zealand to Antarctica early Saturday to assist a stranded British fishing trawler.
The C-17 Globemaster III, along with its pilots and loadmasters from the 446th Airlift Wing and 62nd Airlift Wing, were already in New Zealand to deliver supplies to Antarctica as part of Operation Deep Freeze - a research program of the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program.
The New Zealand Rescue Coordination Center contacted the Operation Deep Freeze C-17 mission commander in Christchurch, New Zealand, to seek assistance in dropping supplies to a British fishing trawler, the Argos Georgia, that had lost all main power and was frozen in the ice flow off the Ross Ice Shelf.
The Air Force said other options to rescue the ship were either no longer available or would be more than 10 days away. The trawler crew had been without main power for six days.
The air crew dropped an engine piston and casing from approximately 400 feet above the surface at a speed of about 170 miles per hour.
From New Zealand Herald:
Air-drop in effort to free trawler from ice trap - National - NZ Herald News
photos are at the bottom of page
446th Airlift Wing - Media Gallery
I thought the wonderful C-17 could open the ramp and drop stuff out the back,or is that not in the contract..?
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I recall changing the ASR kit from one Nimrod to another at O'dark hundred in 2000 as the SAR jet had gone U/S. Subsequent loaded jet was then used to drop survival gear in the atlantic to a boat in distress.
As Duncs said, not necessarily a "rescue" but I'm pretty confident the boat's crew were very happy.
As Duncs said, not necessarily a "rescue" but I'm pretty confident the boat's crew were very happy.
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According to DASA stats on 1 Apr 2011 we had 24x Herc C1/C3/C4/C5 and 6x C17 - we must be able to drum something up to do a "Lindholme Gear" drop? They can't all be out East or in maintenance?
CPL Clott
CPL Clott
24 May 12
A new C-17 transport aircraft has been unveiled today by the Defence Secretary at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Philip Hammond welcomed the £200M aircraft which arrived in the UK this week from Boeing’s production plant in California.
This aircraft is the eighth C-17 in the RAF’s fleet. Known as “the workhorse of the RAF”, they play a vital role in sustaining the UK’s ‘air bridge’ with Afghanistan – carrying supplies and passengers into and out of the country.
C-17s can fly for more than 4,500 nautical miles meaning it can fly directly from Helmand Province to the UK.
As well as transporting troops and equipment, C-17s can also be converted rapidly to offer Intensive Care provision in support of the Aeromedical Airbridge.
A new C-17 transport aircraft has been unveiled today by the Defence Secretary at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Philip Hammond welcomed the £200M aircraft which arrived in the UK this week from Boeing’s production plant in California.
This aircraft is the eighth C-17 in the RAF’s fleet. Known as “the workhorse of the RAF”, they play a vital role in sustaining the UK’s ‘air bridge’ with Afghanistan – carrying supplies and passengers into and out of the country.
C-17s can fly for more than 4,500 nautical miles meaning it can fly directly from Helmand Province to the UK.
As well as transporting troops and equipment, C-17s can also be converted rapidly to offer Intensive Care provision in support of the Aeromedical Airbridge.
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^^^^ Yes, and how many of the kipper fleet were always on standby at KIS for SAR when they were off doing Op Chob, protecting the IND, doing trg and trying to a job that the US were doing with an armed unmanned aircraft powered by a converted snow-mobil engine!?
IIRC MR2 was a fleet of 14 from around 2004, and that would not be enough for all these vital roles that keep getting mentioned. At a guess you would have 3 on Ops in the ME, 2 doing ASW/ASuW, 2 doing trg and then the occasional trail/exercise/ranger on top. Let's say 60% of the Forward Available Fleet is available most days and that would be every aircraft used up on a lot of days and none available for the SAR cover?
IIRC MR2 was a fleet of 14 from around 2004, and that would not be enough for all these vital roles that keep getting mentioned. At a guess you would have 3 on Ops in the ME, 2 doing ASW/ASuW, 2 doing trg and then the occasional trail/exercise/ranger on top. Let's say 60% of the Forward Available Fleet is available most days and that would be every aircraft used up on a lot of days and none available for the SAR cover?
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Mr B,
Classic story that doesn't surprise me at all. Mind you, better than the Army watch keeper that though the VC-10 was some artillery piece for the first few weeks in post....
Classic story that doesn't surprise me at all. Mind you, better than the Army watch keeper that though the VC-10 was some artillery piece for the first few weeks in post....
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Jetstream 41 data:
Radius of Action : 500 nautical miles (with 55 min on scene time)
300 nautical miles (with 2 hr 30 min on scene time)
Radius of Action : 500 nautical miles (with 55 min on scene time)
300 nautical miles (with 2 hr 30 min on scene time)
What about this then?
Under certain conditions, granted. Looks good too. 
The Challenger 605 aircraft offers a maximum range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 km)
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The UK Government will take 3 aircraft, send the bill to a 'G Osbourne, c/o HMG' please.
Delivery to Newquay International asap. I apply wef for the post of Chief Pilot. Any other volunteers, previous experience preferred?
It's not that difficult when you know how....!
Delivery to Newquay International asap. I apply wef for the post of Chief Pilot. Any other volunteers, previous experience preferred?
It's not that difficult when you know how....!
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Can we not just buy some of these, or sell them to Scotland
Ministry of Defence | Defence For... | Business | DSA | Air Equipment Sales
Ministry of Defence | Defence For... | Business | DSA | Air Equipment Sales
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I believe the incident happened about 4 or 5 weeks ago and the VC 10 was offered to the ARCC as no other ships or aircraft were on scene. I'm fairly sure that the VC10 didn't even get to the scene before the crew in difficulty were rescued by a ship that had been asked to assist by the Coastguard.