A life on the ocean wave
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A life on the ocean wave
I was just reading a post about fixed wing float ops on one of the other forums, and it put me in mind of the (unfortunately not very many) float sorties I got to do in the UH-1H.
These were mainly training trips, I was the blind being led, and a little while later it was me leading the blind, but it was all in calm waters and outstandingly good fun.
Particular highlights were:
splashing down at the bottom of autos and having a big bow wave break in through the open cargo doors;
Shutting down, deploying the drogue and having a paddle round using the oars (!)
Starting up and spinning round to the right with full left pedal in until the tail rotor got up to speed;
water-taxiing round - just a bizarre feeling, in a nice way.
Anyone out there who does much helo float work and would like to share their stories?
By the way, it's been a few years now and I miss my Huey!
[This message has been edited by Arm out the window (edited 23 May 2001).]
These were mainly training trips, I was the blind being led, and a little while later it was me leading the blind, but it was all in calm waters and outstandingly good fun.
Particular highlights were:
splashing down at the bottom of autos and having a big bow wave break in through the open cargo doors;
Shutting down, deploying the drogue and having a paddle round using the oars (!)
Starting up and spinning round to the right with full left pedal in until the tail rotor got up to speed;
water-taxiing round - just a bizarre feeling, in a nice way.
Anyone out there who does much helo float work and would like to share their stories?
By the way, it's been a few years now and I miss my Huey!
[This message has been edited by Arm out the window (edited 23 May 2001).]
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The hueys are still going strong (been supporting the ops in Bougainville for yonks now), and are still God's own aircraft. Unfortunately, float ops sounds a little too much like fun to be an attractive option for the lords of the corps to contemplate. Oh well.
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clear in live
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clear in live
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Part of the check ride for captain in S61's in Oz used to be a water landing or three. Up around Exmouth, we had a great time, of which two features remain firmly in my mind.
The landing was incredibly smooth, understandable since the weight was spread over the whole of the hull, instead of three little sets of wheels, and how one automatically applied the brakes when taxiing. Even though they weren't too effective
Endorsement training on a float equipped AS350 in uNZud was another story.....
The landing was incredibly smooth, understandable since the weight was spread over the whole of the hull, instead of three little sets of wheels, and how one automatically applied the brakes when taxiing. Even though they weren't too effective
Endorsement training on a float equipped AS350 in uNZud was another story.....
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Never done them myself but I know a man who has..... A/C lost an engine in a 40' hover at night about 15 miles off the cornish coast, ended up on the water. The other engine didn't have enough grunt to get him back off the water. So he put on his 'running lights' & taxi'd into a small harbour, tied up alongside & left the recovery teams to it. They drove a crane down the jetty, to lift it onto a flatbed & promptly sunk the aircraft in 20' of water!
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Do go on, John - I've got a fair few AS350 hours as well, and would be keen to hear about your experiences.
Bushranger, good to hear the old girls are still going strong. As the saying goes, when the last Blackhawk goes to its final resting place, the crew will be ferried home in a Huey!
I'd like to think so, anyway.
Bushranger, good to hear the old girls are still going strong. As the saying goes, when the last Blackhawk goes to its final resting place, the crew will be ferried home in a Huey!
I'd like to think so, anyway.
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Used to teach waterbird at Shearwater Nova Scotia in the 80's. Chucking S61's at the water. Very friendly environment, considering. Of course for real you can forget it. Heavy a/c, sea state 3+, swell running would leave you helpless. But the training instilled confidence. Had a pilot go thru the front screen from the jump seat a few years before I got out there during a cocked up takeoff. They all survived too!!
Footage of a helo landing/taking off from water is enough to put you off flying, though!
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Thermal runaway.
Footage of a helo landing/taking off from water is enough to put you off flying, though!
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Thermal runaway.
