Nepal
Generally in humanitarian disasters the local authorities are screaming out for helicopters, and I imagine the assumption is that anything that is sent is of use, particularly heavy lift helicopters. I don't think anyone expected the Nepalese to turn down the help, given the state things are in out there. I do think that worrying about roofs being blown off is like being concerned that you've just spilt a pint of milk when the house is already flooded.
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Seems a bit odd that it's fine for US Ospreys to fly there, which must have as much, if not more downwash than a Chinook, and they must be about the same size, yet the Chinook is actually narrower?
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Saw a flash of newsreel TV a day or so ago, in which a relief worker was complaining about the difficulties of getting supplies forward by road, because of surface damage and rock falls.
She was in a wide valley, unpopulated as far as I could see. Struck me (as one absolutely ignorant of helicopter operations), that a Chinook could prove very handy indeed for the job (without needing to blow any roofs off).
D.
She was in a wide valley, unpopulated as far as I could see. Struck me (as one absolutely ignorant of helicopter operations), that a Chinook could prove very handy indeed for the job (without needing to blow any roofs off).
D.
I'm just an old Airframe fitter, and undoubtably no expert in Helicopter operations, but, with the amount of damage done by the now two earthquakes how much more can a few roof tiles blown off make to the devastation that Nepal seems to have suffered. I read an analysis today in a national daily, that insinuated that our Chinook offer was held back because of both Indian and Chinese concerns of western military operations in "their own" back yard. It's a damn shame IMHO, these aircraft and crews could have brought some serious experience and expertise to bear in this unfolding disaster.
Smudge
Smudge
I have spent a few months in Nepal.
I can't think of any village I visited that a Chinook could not find a suitable landing spot close by.
Nepal denies entry to three British Chinook helicopters - Channel NewsAsia
I wonder if the Nepali Government was listening to this Bokan bloke.
He should know better. I feel very sorry for the villagers in dire straits waiting for aid after this.
I can't think of any village I visited that a Chinook could not find a suitable landing spot close by.
Nepal denies entry to three British Chinook helicopters - Channel NewsAsia
I wonder if the Nepali Government was listening to this Bokan bloke.
He should know better. I feel very sorry for the villagers in dire straits waiting for aid after this.
Steven Bruce Bokan, chief flying instructor for Nepalese helicopter company Manang Air, said the British Chinooks and US Ospreys were "basically useless" in the Himalayas.
"They may work in deserts and other places which have huge areas for landing and take-off, but they are too big to land in the Himalayas," Bokan told AFP.
"They may work in deserts and other places which have huge areas for landing and take-off, but they are too big to land in the Himalayas," Bokan told AFP.
Danny, you and I have both admitted we are both ignorant of helicopter operations, so we should wind our necks in. The fact that we both appear to have a certain amount of common sense, along with others on here, has got nothing to do with it!
I pity the poor DA and ADA who have probably been working this issue for a week with the HOM - waiting for meetings with ministers, constant phone calls, delays at the Foreign Ministry, Note verbales to the Prime Ministry, reams of unecessary paperwork faxed (yes, probably faxed) to the Customs Ministry...massive pressure from PJHQ and DfID to 'get a move on'...and the losers are the people of Nepal.
Diplomatic relations with China started in 1955, with the UK in 1816.
This was the year after the Gurkhas joined the army. They certainly put politics above saving lives.
mmitch.
This was the year after the Gurkhas joined the army. They certainly put politics above saving lives.
mmitch.
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Somebody has obviously put the Nepalese authrotites noses wayyyyy out of joint - did we actually ask them if they wanted the RAF????
no doubt it wil all seep out here eventually
no doubt it wil all seep out here eventually
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I did hear that the return of the CH-47's was due to a dire shortage of hotel accommodation for the 300 strong "detachment" (which included a PTI) and suitable aircrew rations.
Puma boys job all the way….shame they are in Kabul!
Or, you could have tried those pumpers Teeny Weeny Airways, Gash gits..
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/a...he-philippines
Puma boys job all the way….shame they are in Kabul!
Or, you could have tried those pumpers Teeny Weeny Airways, Gash gits..
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/a...he-philippines
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This Bokan chap also seems to have missed to point you do not actually have to land, you can shove it off the ramp, If you can deliver aid from the air from a Herc, you can do the same from a Chinook.
The sad thing is the people that are in the most need are those that do not get a say.
To not try it first before saying this won't work is just barking mad.
The sad thing is the people that are in the most need are those that do not get a say.
To not try it first before saying this won't work is just barking mad.
Steve Bokan is 'Vertical Freedom' over on Rotorheads. He seems to think that Chinooks would be more useful than Ospreys too.
http://www.pprune.org/8981651-post26.html
mmitch.
http://www.pprune.org/8981651-post26.html
mmitch.
Steve Bokan is 'Vertical Freedom' over on Rotorheads. He seems to think that Chinooks would be more useful than Ospreys too.
http://www.pprune.org/8981651-post26.html
mmitch.
http://www.pprune.org/8981651-post26.html
mmitch.
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As expected Steve was grossly misquoted, read the rotorheads forum. He was referring to the osprey and not the chinook, seems like someone will go to any extreme to stop chinooks providing the aid that is desperately required
