First SAR AW139 On Line
Joined: Apr 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 1,814
From: EGDC
Oh dear, I'm mortally wounded by that piercing wit
But it's not a very nice way to talk about your future king!!
Double oh dear - I see the 139 at Portland is actually off state for the rest of the day, it's all going terribly well
But it's not a very nice way to talk about your future king!!Double oh dear - I see the 139 at Portland is actually off state for the rest of the day, it's all going terribly well
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
From: Lost and Legless somewhere in LaLaLand
There's still been no answer as to the range of this machine compared with the S61. It's obviously got good performance and is a good looker, but if it's like any of the other Agusta twins, it's also probably got lousy range. Is it really an improvement over what it's replaced? Newer is not always better.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: UK
Range/Endurance and cabin space is less than S61
Wheel loading higher and groundclearance is much reduced.
External Lighting poor. Nightsun does not help as on left hand side with aircraft structure in way.
Pilot references difficult due to nose up, aircraft structure and Pilot seat set quite away inboard of side window.
Power good, Autohover is fitted and is very good.(However awaiting Full SAR modes)
No flying in cloud/rain at 0 degrees and below
After Portland goes home, one very small corporate seriously blinged up nice looking 139 covering all busy Portland/Lee patch
Should the S..T hit the fan, if more than 3 people need lifting(no joke!) lets just hope the Military from the East and West are in a position to assist.
If a spare 139 is available then it will be of no use as CG do not pay for and are unlikely to get a second crew. (Queue Crab)
Wheel loading higher and groundclearance is much reduced.
External Lighting poor. Nightsun does not help as on left hand side with aircraft structure in way.
Pilot references difficult due to nose up, aircraft structure and Pilot seat set quite away inboard of side window.
Power good, Autohover is fitted and is very good.(However awaiting Full SAR modes)
No flying in cloud/rain at 0 degrees and below
After Portland goes home, one very small corporate seriously blinged up nice looking 139 covering all busy Portland/Lee patch
Should the S..T hit the fan, if more than 3 people need lifting(no joke!) lets just hope the Military from the East and West are in a position to assist.
If a spare 139 is available then it will be of no use as CG do not pay for and are unlikely to get a second crew. (Queue Crab)
Last edited by 4candals; 9th April 2008 at 14:27. Reason: Addition
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 313
Likes: 2
From: PLANET ZOG
Crab.
All,rpt, all 139's grounded.
The Portland duty machine is actually the Lee aircraft G-CGIJ. Lee is still covered by the 61 until the 139 auto hover SAR modes are sorted out and Portland crews and engineers return from their respective courses and G-CGWB arrives. Confused?? I definitely am!
The one you saw yesterday is G-SARD, the Lee standby machine training the other Lee crews. (It wouldn't have run out of fuel to South Wales, it's the one with the overload tank!
)
Got to agree though, not a good start! Things can only get better!
Dust off your Wey Bay maps, I can reccomend the Jet A1 at Portland if you need it.
3D
All,rpt, all 139's grounded.
The Portland duty machine is actually the Lee aircraft G-CGIJ. Lee is still covered by the 61 until the 139 auto hover SAR modes are sorted out and Portland crews and engineers return from their respective courses and G-CGWB arrives. Confused?? I definitely am!
The one you saw yesterday is G-SARD, the Lee standby machine training the other Lee crews. (It wouldn't have run out of fuel to South Wales, it's the one with the overload tank!
)Got to agree though, not a good start! Things can only get better!
Dust off your Wey Bay maps, I can reccomend the Jet A1 at Portland if you need it.3D
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Monde
Should the S..T hit the fan, if more than 3 people need lifting(no joke!) lets just hope the Military from the East and West are in a position to assist.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Sofa, P1 side
Off topic, I know, but if the Lee cab is scheduled to venture up to South Wales again and would like a realistic landing site set up, do drop me a PM. It's been ages since we exercised with a SAR aircraft (no "training need" to work with a Coastguard rescue team, apparently, only lifeboats).
57A
57A
Joined: Apr 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 1,814
From: EGDC
57A - but they probably won't do flypasts for you
3D - this partial grounding of the 139s is odd and the information flow about the aircraft's capabilities is sketchy - you say one 139 has the overload tank, did the CG press release not say that all the 139s would have the same range capability? The SAR autohover according to one poster is very good but not actually available yet - glad to see this aircraft hasn't been rushed to the front line too quickly
And no icing clearance!!!!!!!!What sort of SAR helicopter is that??
Vie - just shut Portland and move Wattisham to Manston - hang on haven't we been there before???
3D - this partial grounding of the 139s is odd and the information flow about the aircraft's capabilities is sketchy - you say one 139 has the overload tank, did the CG press release not say that all the 139s would have the same range capability? The SAR autohover according to one poster is very good but not actually available yet - glad to see this aircraft hasn't been rushed to the front line too quickly
And no icing clearance!!!!!!!!What sort of SAR helicopter is that??
Vie - just shut Portland and move Wattisham to Manston - hang on haven't we been there before???
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 1
From: UK
........moving to Manston and going H24
Why hasn't that been thought of before?
Last edited by Bertie Thruster; 10th April 2008 at 08:28. Reason: crab beat me to it!
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 1
From: UK
Leaving Manston
When we left Manston for Wattisham in '94, during the final beach bimble around the area, thousands of wellwishers, encouraged by the local radio station, lined the Kent coast to wave goodbye.
Many were waving bras or knickers!
Possibly something to do with the calibre of the crews?
Many were waving bras or knickers!
Possibly something to do with the calibre of the crews?
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 313
Likes: 2
From: PLANET ZOG
Crab.
What the MCA say and what it, the aircraft, can actually do are two entirely differant things! Believe the posters on this forum, they are more in tune than the MCA press office will ever be. All they are interested in is Seaside Rescue! Of the 2 aircraft so far delivered, SARD is the only one with an overload tank!! We shall just have to see what the third one arrives with. When it arrives!
Bertie.
I didnt' realise you had female aircrew then!
ON second thoughts, it was the RAF.
If any of the contractors, whoever wins, tries to close any current unit, then the local population will go bananas. When the beloved MCA tried to close Portland five or six years ago, you would not believe the amount of public feeling that evoked! Petitions in the local rag, shops pubs etc. Even a public protest march through Weymouth! As a very interested onlooker, I had nothing to do with the protests, it was very moving to see the amount of support we had. The local MP was even elected on the strength of the unit staying! I think that would happen again and it would take a very brave, or stupid, company to try any closure after what will be a very contentious contract award anyway.
(My money is still on Culdrose and Chivenor to St. Mawgan and one of those flights moving to Manston.)
3D
you say one 139 has the overload tank, did the CG press release not say that all the 139s would have the same range capability? The SAR autohover according to one poster is very good but not actually available yet - glad to see this aircraft hasn't been rushed to the front line too quickly
Bertie.
Many were waving bras or knickers
ON second thoughts, it was the RAF.If any of the contractors, whoever wins, tries to close any current unit, then the local population will go bananas. When the beloved MCA tried to close Portland five or six years ago, you would not believe the amount of public feeling that evoked! Petitions in the local rag, shops pubs etc. Even a public protest march through Weymouth! As a very interested onlooker, I had nothing to do with the protests, it was very moving to see the amount of support we had. The local MP was even elected on the strength of the unit staying! I think that would happen again and it would take a very brave, or stupid, company to try any closure after what will be a very contentious contract award anyway.
(My money is still on Culdrose and Chivenor to St. Mawgan and one of those flights moving to Manston.
)3D