Helicopter replaces Crane and Scaffolding in Lancashire

[Peter-RB]

I dont know who the Helicopter belongs to or even who the Jockey is, but it was commisioned by a local engineering company who run a very tidy Gazelle, the owner had this Dome made by his apprentices to replace one destroyd in a gale several years ago, the site is that of the Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee Tower built at the highest point on the Bolton Moors above the old textile town of Darwen, the local Council have no money to look after such monuments and either leave em to rot or leave it to individuals.

Jolly well done Steve, people like this man are very few.

Peter R-B

[206Fan]

Nice shot. Looks like PDGs Squirrel Peter!

[slingyerhook]

Yup PDG doing what they do best!. Check out youtube for the full vid, and many more like it.

[stringfellow]

A friend texted me this morning prompting me to watch this clip. A marvellous tribute to the can do attitude of a few daring individuals. Makes you feel proud to be a pilot, and marvel at the pilots skill. He must have a very sore neck!!!

[Peter-RB]

I forgot to write in the opening part the man at the head of the Engineering company is making (his apprentices)and giving to the town of Darwen a scale relpica Spitfire, made from stainless steel, it is going to occupy a prominent spot along side the A666 which runs from Bolton to Darwen and on into the Ribble valley.
The Spitfire is to commemorate the one paid for by public subscription during the WW2.
A good man who is spening his own funds to the benefit of the Town of Darwen,,.....

should not Polititians and Councellors act in this way, or am I being Old fashioned!

Peter R-B

[Nigd3]

Peter

Thanks for the photo and also the youtube info.

It's nice to see some positive news from a generous local businessman in the region I grew up in, especially these days.

The guy on top of the tower doesn't have many options for escape if things started going south quickly.

Nigd3 (ex local Colne boy, now across the pond)

[Peter-RB]

Good frosty morning from Gin clear skies in Wilpshire, near the lovely Ribble Valley,

Nigd3, sorry to try and make you home sick, but it is a nice morning,

The guys on the Tower are typical Lancashire Hard men, used to hanging in very difficult places to fix things, so it was just another calculated risk day, but then if the heli had gone bang there was a full clear perim at the base of the tower. The pictures were taken from the owners Gazelle that was absolutely stationary in the air some 150 yards towards Winter Hill, glad you enjoyed the nearly local news from Lanky.

Peter R-B

[connoisseur]

Darwen Tower Project 2012 - WEC Goup (Official Video) - YouTube

Great job

[Camp Freddie]

I thought that was a fantastic video, and puts a really positive light on the helicopter business and with a bit of emotion to it.

so much better than endless going on about accidents and rubbish employers and the lack of jobs etc etc

well done to the WEC group and PDG and all the people that made it happen!

[Peter-RB]

The man who owns the WEC Group, could never find good welders for his engineering undertakings , so he decided to set up his own Apprentice school and takes Boys and any girls from Darwen Schools to be apprentices, he tests them with practical and classroom exams on what they are doing and have done, , to stay in the fulll time course they boys/girls must continue to hit targets set by his own intructors, if they do , they stay on and eventually they are rewarded with a full time position in one of the groups engineering activities, when boys come out of school they are first taught to file metal and cut it with various cutters and then on into complicated things like drilling a hole, that is sadly what our UK Schools no longer teach. All funded from the companys own money!!

When I was 12 yrs old I was braising and beating copper sheets into everyday objects three times a week in the School Metalwork building, why in gods name did polititions get involved and try to give everyone a degree..!

Peter R-B
Lancashire

[davidja]

Well good to see you on that video Philip and Duncan. It's obvious that the A-Team of groundcrew would be sent on such a high profile job - mind you you were well trained! Is that a small increase around the middle Philip? Obviously not enough drum rolling for you in recent years and too much spare time.
Best wishes
David

[slingyerhook]

I agree with the GC training!!......(Spec heli's?!)

Cheers.

Gus.

[feelforit]

You might be doing that one day Stringfellow lad..Might even be lifting a BK one day..

[stringfellow]

Feel for it. Many thanks for the heads up il stick to lifting BKs in the conventional manner. Can any long in the tooth longliners suggest why the squirrell pilot seemed to change heading as he approached the target?? Is it a target visibility issue? I would have assumed he would have kept directly into wind, having landed there last year the wind can be very brisk indeed!!!!

[newfieboy]

Stringfellow,

Yep kicked it out of trim, better vis. Spend my days on the end of a 100ft line doing precision stuff and production on ASB2.....if ya can't perform, ya goes home....simples......kicking it out of trim on short final, an old trick, slows ya down and brings load into window.......

[spinwing]

Mmmm ...

Also allows you to move the load laterally without rolling (lateral cyclic) with long line you 'fly the load' rather than the aircraft (so to speak) ...

[stringfellow]

I guessed there would have been a reason!!! Looks seriously tricky mind big respect you guys!!

[oldbeefer]

'When I was 12 yrs old I was braising and beating copper sheets '

Was that in the cookery class then Peter?

[Peter-RB]

OB,
No that was the Domestic Science classes, I didnt manage that, the navy blue knickers were too itchy, .....unless they were in ya hand..

Peter R-B

[oldbeefer]

Peter - just a gentle nudge about spelling braising v brazing!