Helicopter flying through Tower Bridge
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,184
Likes: 541
From: Lost again...
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 1,083
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
The second aircraft would need to be stepped up in that manner to avoid the 139's rotor wash.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: UK
The Express actually says;
Quote:
One eye witness said: “A crowd started to gather as the helicopters swirled. People seemed to think they were filming for a James Bond film.”
The Port of London Authority said the choppers were filming footage for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Express.co.uk
Quote:
One eye witness said: “A crowd started to gather as the helicopters swirled. People seemed to think they were filming for a James Bond film.”
The Port of London Authority said the choppers were filming footage for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Express.co.uk
Chief Bottle Washer
Joined: Sep 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,253
Likes: 1,437
From: PPRuNe
It may 'only' be a Daily Mail report, but there could be both Bond and the Olympics involved 
Daily Mail
Two helicopters performed dramatic low flights through Tower Bridge as amazed bystanders looked on in awe.
The choppers are believed to have been filming an sequence for the London 2012 Olympic games opening ceremony on July 27.
After a fly by over the top of the bridge last night the helicopters returned, performing the daring move three times.
The spectacular event was believed to be for the film The Arrival, a short film being directed by Danny Boyle.
It is believed the piece will be shown will be shown during the opening ceremony at Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London.
Mr Boyle, whose previous directing credits include Trainspotting, 28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire, is in charge of the Olympic opening ceremony.
It is rumoured that the film will see actor Daniel Craig as James Bond being given his next mission of 'launching' the Olympic Games.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Bond film and Boyle with his crew have reportedly already been filming inside Buckingham Palace.
In the film Bond is ordered on his mission at Buckingham Palace and then flys by helicopter to Stratford, where he parachutes into the arena.
Crowds thronged both sides of the River Thames around iconic Tower Bridge as road traffic was stopped to allow the two helicopters to fly through.
The only time an aircraft has previously flown through Tower Bridge was in 1968.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock flew an RAF Hawker Hunter plane through the bridge as a protest against the Government.
Road traffic on Tower Bridge and river traffic on the Thames was halted while the two helicopters made two passes through the middle of the famous bridge.
In 2009 a helicopter flew close to the bridge to film scenes for a Sherlock Holmes film, but did not actually fly through the bridge.
Boyle's Olympic opening ceremony is reportedly going to be a £27m four-hour spectacular that will feature a tribute to the NHS, a torch lighting sequence and a cast and crew of 12,000.
The choppers are believed to have been filming an sequence for the London 2012 Olympic games opening ceremony on July 27.
After a fly by over the top of the bridge last night the helicopters returned, performing the daring move three times.
The spectacular event was believed to be for the film The Arrival, a short film being directed by Danny Boyle.
It is believed the piece will be shown will be shown during the opening ceremony at Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London.
Mr Boyle, whose previous directing credits include Trainspotting, 28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire, is in charge of the Olympic opening ceremony.
It is rumoured that the film will see actor Daniel Craig as James Bond being given his next mission of 'launching' the Olympic Games.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Bond film and Boyle with his crew have reportedly already been filming inside Buckingham Palace.
In the film Bond is ordered on his mission at Buckingham Palace and then flys by helicopter to Stratford, where he parachutes into the arena.
Crowds thronged both sides of the River Thames around iconic Tower Bridge as road traffic was stopped to allow the two helicopters to fly through.
The only time an aircraft has previously flown through Tower Bridge was in 1968.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock flew an RAF Hawker Hunter plane through the bridge as a protest against the Government.
Road traffic on Tower Bridge and river traffic on the Thames was halted while the two helicopters made two passes through the middle of the famous bridge.
In 2009 a helicopter flew close to the bridge to film scenes for a Sherlock Holmes film, but did not actually fly through the bridge.
Boyle's Olympic opening ceremony is reportedly going to be a £27m four-hour spectacular that will feature a tribute to the NHS, a torch lighting sequence and a cast and crew of 12,000.
Daily Mail
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
From: Royal Leamington Spa
I think the Daily Mail ought to read PPRuNe - specifically the beginning of this thread - in order to get the full details of who has actually flown through the bridge.
As well as Alan Pollock there would seem to be John Crewdson and Al Davis (post #5).
As well as Alan Pollock there would seem to be John Crewdson and Al Davis (post #5).
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Wiltshire, UK
The Daily Mail
I think the Daily Mail ought to read PPRuNe - specifically the beginning of this thread - in order to get the full details...
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 1
From: England
Can someone comment on the attitudes of the two helicopters.
The one in front looks like its going pretty slowly and the one behind looks like its going as fast as it can.
Do helis change attitude with speed like aeroplanes do or do they just hang the way they are built?
The one in front looks like its going pretty slowly and the one behind looks like its going as fast as it can.
Do helis change attitude with speed like aeroplanes do or do they just hang the way they are built?
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Wiltshire, UK
Can someone comment on the attitudes of the two helicopters
Last edited by TRC; 11th June 2012 at 15:51. Reason: To clarify wot I rote the first time - I knew what I meant
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Wiltshire, UK
Big Bridge, small helicoters, what's the fuss?
Place the 'Big Bridge' in the middle of a capital city, at 18.30 on a summer Saturday with hundreds of pedestrian sight-seers and almost solid traffic crossing it which has to be stopped and cleared off the bridge and its approaches for 5 -10 minutes at a time.
Not to mention the busy river traffic that has to be stopped clear of the bridge, and two scheduled bridge openings for oversize river traffic during the approved timings window.
Oh, and get the CAA and every other organisation involved to say yes.
No fuss at all really.
Last edited by TRC; 17th June 2012 at 12:50.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,536
Likes: 294
From: The Alps
Olympics opening G-OLYM for Queen and Country
Am watching the opening ceremony and quite impressed especially with instrumental music though best is Daniel Craig in his role of 007 escorting the Queen to one of AWs own AW139 (think its G-OLYM) and 'parachuting' into the event.
Though if it was meant to be totally British then maybe use Wildcat?
Nonetheless bloody brilliant display
Cheers and have a great weekend!
Though if it was meant to be totally British then maybe use Wildcat?
Nonetheless bloody brilliant display
Cheers and have a great weekend!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 3
From: Milano, Italia
Such prominent use of a helicopter during the opening of the Olympics is of course wonderful for any rotary-wing enthusiast; although from the 'puritans' perspective I suspect there may have been just a little too much CGI/digital-manipulation of the craft for their liking.
Regarding the ceremony .. brilliant (overall) even if the 'bit in the middle' didn't have quite the same impact as the beginning and ending.
Great job!
Regarding the ceremony .. brilliant (overall) even if the 'bit in the middle' didn't have quite the same impact as the beginning and ending.
Great job!