How High Have You Been (legally!)?
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Australia
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We had a pilot once, turned up over base at 5,000 feet plus, telling us all on the radio how fantastic it was way up there. You might say that he was reminded of the seriousness of a fan drive failure and that it would have meant a full down EOL. After a few curse words he descended.
Years later I happened across a remark he had authored either on a blog or thread such as this as to how he had thought is was great bein' way up there and also as high as a kite on dope. So yeah, how high was he?
I sincerely hope that he looks back on that particular incident with some serious misgivings of his own sanity, if not some well deserved shame.
Ascend Charlie has nailed it, he was right up there in the thick airspace.
Years later I happened across a remark he had authored either on a blog or thread such as this as to how he had thought is was great bein' way up there and also as high as a kite on dope. So yeah, how high was he?
I sincerely hope that he looks back on that particular incident with some serious misgivings of his own sanity, if not some well deserved shame.
Ascend Charlie has nailed it, he was right up there in the thick airspace.
AC - that makes perfect sense to me. That explains why I get out of puff when I'm exerting myself at high altitude; it's all that thick 'treacley' air slowing me down.
Maybe that's also why Ethiopian long-distance runners are so good? Suddenly they're down from the mountains and in the thin air: less resistance = faster speeds.
And, as if even more evidence was needed, that explains why asteroids burn up as they hit the thick air next to outer space. You hardly ever see an asteroid burning up in the lower atmosphere - there's no resistance as the air's too thin.
13,000' in an EC120 for me, no dramas and the 60kt tailwind was useful. The one that made me decide enough was enough was 10,000 in an R44 - although it was still climbing nicely and had power in reserve, it just didn't feel comfortable...
Maybe that's also why Ethiopian long-distance runners are so good? Suddenly they're down from the mountains and in the thin air: less resistance = faster speeds.
And, as if even more evidence was needed, that explains why asteroids burn up as they hit the thick air next to outer space. You hardly ever see an asteroid burning up in the lower atmosphere - there's no resistance as the air's too thin.
13,000' in an EC120 for me, no dramas and the 60kt tailwind was useful. The one that made me decide enough was enough was 10,000 in an R44 - although it was still climbing nicely and had power in reserve, it just didn't feel comfortable...
Working in Iran made for some high flying.....used to routinely cross a Pass at 14,300 during crew changes in an Alouette III. One of my Base Camps was at 7200' and the work was up hill from there.
Fastest rate of Climb ever experienced was "0".....flew off the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in very hazy conditions....went from 100' AGL to just shy of 6,000' in about 0.2 seconds....and that is FAST...faster than some rockets!! (Had the Map held up in front of me trying to figure out where the Canyon was....and did not see the Lip until it was passing behind me.)
Fastest rate of Climb ever experienced was "0".....flew off the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in very hazy conditions....went from 100' AGL to just shy of 6,000' in about 0.2 seconds....and that is FAST...faster than some rockets!! (Had the Map held up in front of me trying to figure out where the Canyon was....and did not see the Lip until it was passing behind me.)
Trying to do a power check in a Bell 206L3 in Dryden Ontario...
Kept going up and up and up. I started down again at 14.500' because the trees were small and the thing was STILL doing over 1000'/min UP.
Did not get a good number either.
Rutinely cruise at 9500 feet tho. The 214ST doesn't mind!
Kept going up and up and up. I started down again at 14.500' because the trees were small and the thing was STILL doing over 1000'/min UP.
Did not get a good number either.
Rutinely cruise at 9500 feet tho. The 214ST doesn't mind!
Highest I went was in Egypt in a 47 3b1 ..... No idea how high as the only instruments working were airspeed and rrpm !! Over the desert I still thought I was well over 1,000 ft agl looking down at trees and valleys .... Turned out they were tiny shrubs and ridges in the sand !!
Ps TC ..... 5' 9'' .... I knew you had to be a short arse
Ps TC ..... 5' 9'' .... I knew you had to be a short arse
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Cornwall
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G-SPEY
What TV series involved a 'runner', a very nice 'rear end' and state of the art live and mobile communications set-up that depended on an airborne relay station?
G.
G.
Join Date: Jun 1999
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so you were at Zagros too SAS?
Was the Allouette BF? Paul Berengier flew that one.
When I was there, we just had 206 AY and 204 AM
Was the Allouette BF? Paul Berengier flew that one.
When I was there, we just had 206 AY and 204 AM
Last edited by TipCap; 3rd Jan 2013 at 21:21. Reason: add pics
Passed by Zagros but never landed there. Worked on the Hi-Tension Power Line contract for BICC I think it was called. Also worked the Papa Charlie Contract, and a land based oil rig for a while. Spent some great time at the Saipeim Pipeline job.
Loved the Alouette III....a real honest helicopter...ugly as yer Mate's older sister....but a real workhorse.
Loved the Alouette III....a real honest helicopter...ugly as yer Mate's older sister....but a real workhorse.