There I Was, Nothing on The Clock...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sydney
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scrotes with missiles
Thanks gem! Not a bad idea this forum providing, as it does, an opportunity for chopper pilots from across the globe to see how the other half lives.
Had a mate travel over to Manchester in the '90s &, as I remember, some discontented locals (IRA I think) were lobbing RPGs into the airport when his plane from Sydney got in?
Never had anything launched at me here in Oz, although some buddies were talkin' about a flying trip to PNG a while back where the locals have apparently been known to discharge 12 gauge shotguns in the general direction of helicopters?
Had a mate travel over to Manchester in the '90s &, as I remember, some discontented locals (IRA I think) were lobbing RPGs into the airport when his plane from Sydney got in?
Never had anything launched at me here in Oz, although some buddies were talkin' about a flying trip to PNG a while back where the locals have apparently been known to discharge 12 gauge shotguns in the general direction of helicopters?
Join Date: Mar 2006
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I had a mate in the Army Reserve in Oz on an ex once. He was ground troop 'protecting' a mil airport in the red centre. They were getting annoyed by the mil jets taking off and decided to have some fun. As one of the jets (F/A18) took off, my mate aimed a hand held flare pointed at the Hornet. The Hornet registered the 'inbound' and the computer took over the launch. And launch they did, straight up with the dash screaming warnings and the pilot pushed through the back of his seat. 
Needless to say, the pilot later came looking for my mate, who couldn't be found! Easily spotted by the grin 'though.
Needless to say, the pilot later came looking for my mate, who couldn't be found! Easily spotted by the grin 'though.
22clipper,
Yes. I learnt to fly planks at Blackbushe in the mid-eighties and every now and then the waste land off the end of 25 (which was 26 back then, ain't variation great?) would get filled with caravans containing travellers. I remember one approach when the tower cautioned us they'd had reports of kids throwing stones at aircraft on finals. My instructor said "Kids throwing stones I can put up with, it's when they get their shotguns out I get worried".
Some time afterwards there was a picture in Pilot magazine of a light aircraft, with a panel covered with hundreds of dents. Given the position of the panel, close grouping and regular size of the dents, the conclusion was a hit from a shotgun. That aircraft was in the States.
Yes. I learnt to fly planks at Blackbushe in the mid-eighties and every now and then the waste land off the end of 25 (which was 26 back then, ain't variation great?) would get filled with caravans containing travellers. I remember one approach when the tower cautioned us they'd had reports of kids throwing stones at aircraft on finals. My instructor said "Kids throwing stones I can put up with, it's when they get their shotguns out I get worried".
Some time afterwards there was a picture in Pilot magazine of a light aircraft, with a panel covered with hundreds of dents. Given the position of the panel, close grouping and regular size of the dents, the conclusion was a hit from a shotgun. That aircraft was in the States.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Black Cat Story
This seems as good a time as any:
Anyway, there I was at 50'agl - just low enough to stay out of line of sight, not too low that the downwash created a sandstorm. Large bangs heard 'what the f### was that?' from both of us, quick check of T's + P's - on the edge of 5 minute take off limit for T6 (turbine temperature) - situation normal, carry on. More loud bangs, this time with what feels like severe turbulence 'Contact - wait out!'. Pull power to max, (honest we never over temp'd or over torqued it
) - get the hell out of dodge.
2 minutes later, breathing again, new fire position. This is more like it - the only bangs are the ones that we are making, can only assume it's louder at the other end
. Approaching bingo fuel now, more noise, more 'turbulence' - this time somebody has thrown a large bucket of sand against the windscreen. All of a sudden the need to return for fuel (and change of underwear) has become urgent!
Just a very brief account of one memorable flight a few years ago.
All very different now of course - just landed (At a very nicely lit airfield with 24hr ILS) after having a bright torch shone at the aircraft. No evasive action required - just come to the hover at 500' above his house in Blackpool and put the big light on - My torch is MUCH brighter than yours! (And my cat is probably blacker than yours too)
Anyway, there I was at 50'agl - just low enough to stay out of line of sight, not too low that the downwash created a sandstorm. Large bangs heard 'what the f### was that?' from both of us, quick check of T's + P's - on the edge of 5 minute take off limit for T6 (turbine temperature) - situation normal, carry on. More loud bangs, this time with what feels like severe turbulence 'Contact - wait out!'. Pull power to max, (honest we never over temp'd or over torqued it
) - get the hell out of dodge.2 minutes later, breathing again, new fire position. This is more like it - the only bangs are the ones that we are making, can only assume it's louder at the other end
. Approaching bingo fuel now, more noise, more 'turbulence' - this time somebody has thrown a large bucket of sand against the windscreen. All of a sudden the need to return for fuel (and change of underwear) has become urgent! Just a very brief account of one memorable flight a few years ago.
All very different now of course - just landed (At a very nicely lit airfield with 24hr ILS) after having a bright torch shone at the aircraft. No evasive action required - just come to the hover at 500' above his house in Blackpool and put the big light on - My torch is MUCH brighter than yours! (And my cat is probably blacker than yours too)
