Sheep and helos
Sheeps is such stoopid people...
Flying power lines around Corowa, a flock ran ahead of me, split around a large clump of trees, and met each other head-on at the other side, several left lying on the ground, feet in the air.
A week later, another flock flocked off ahead of me, most peeled around a big steel pole, one ran smack into it, d- e- a- d, pronounced dead.
Cows never seemed to mind unless I was too low.
Horses are brainless critters that will run at the sight of a piece of paper fluttering in the breeze, and other times I could land 100m away and they barely looked at me. Totally unpredictable.
Flying power lines around Corowa, a flock ran ahead of me, split around a large clump of trees, and met each other head-on at the other side, several left lying on the ground, feet in the air.
A week later, another flock flocked off ahead of me, most peeled around a big steel pole, one ran smack into it, d- e- a- d, pronounced dead.
Cows never seemed to mind unless I was too low.
Horses are brainless critters that will run at the sight of a piece of paper fluttering in the breeze, and other times I could land 100m away and they barely looked at me. Totally unpredictable.
Not necessarily run away.
Many moons ago I landed in a wheat paddock west of Wyalong at 2am because I scared myself using a Nightsun to do a search for an escapee. Told the ground crew I wouldn't fly till the sun was up, crawled into the back of the B206, with my (male) observer, rugged up as best as we could against the mid-winter chill, and tried to sleep.
About 5am, woken by the feeling that the machine was moving - a flock of sheep was rubbing and bumping into the aircraft. They obviously knew my observer was a Kiwi and were clamouring for some action - the Aussies wouldn't give it to them...
Many moons ago I landed in a wheat paddock west of Wyalong at 2am because I scared myself using a Nightsun to do a search for an escapee. Told the ground crew I wouldn't fly till the sun was up, crawled into the back of the B206, with my (male) observer, rugged up as best as we could against the mid-winter chill, and tried to sleep.
About 5am, woken by the feeling that the machine was moving - a flock of sheep was rubbing and bumping into the aircraft. They obviously knew my observer was a Kiwi and were clamouring for some action - the Aussies wouldn't give it to them...
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Down to the Kiwi/sheep jokes?
I have been watching this thread and wondering how long it would take to get to the kiwi sheep discussions. Well, here goes.
I guess there is no problem with horses and helicopters in En Zud. The horses have seen what happens to the sheep.
Ok, can I get my coat first?
Blakmax
I guess there is no problem with horses and helicopters in En Zud. The horses have seen what happens to the sheep.
Ok, can I get my coat first?
Blakmax
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The reason that sheep run away whenever they see or hear helicopters is because they are only too aware of the reputation of helicopter pilots!
And to be fair also of the ground crew. With whom its a toss up if they get eaten or shagged. Or sometimes to add insult to injury both.
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I posted this in 2009, the theory still holds I think......
Something that we discovered from balloon flying and low-level helicopter aerial work is, as I think was mentioned earlier horses, cattle, pigs are relatively happy if they can SEE what's making the noise.
Trouble is, these animals are not wired to look UP for danger having never had an airborne enemy.
If you surprise these animals, say by flying low over a field bounded by high trees, they go bonkers - usually trying to go straight through the fence or up the nearest tree.
We conducted several experiments so that we could operate with the least disturbance to these animals. The first was a herd of young cattle, the helicopter, with G/A radio contact approached the field from some distance fairly flat and I stood in the herd "talking to" the girls (well, not IN the herd but near enough to get away if it went pear-shaped). They were fine, couldn't care less.
The second time was with a group of Highland cattle. They were lying down doing what cows do. We did the same flat bomber command approach and landed 50 yards from them. They didn't even get up. Horses seem to act in a similar way if they can see what's going on. I can't guarantee that this will work all the time, but it was interesting.
As I say, if you surprise them and they can't see what's going on - all hell can break loose.
Trouble is, these animals are not wired to look UP for danger having never had an airborne enemy.
If you surprise these animals, say by flying low over a field bounded by high trees, they go bonkers - usually trying to go straight through the fence or up the nearest tree.
We conducted several experiments so that we could operate with the least disturbance to these animals. The first was a herd of young cattle, the helicopter, with G/A radio contact approached the field from some distance fairly flat and I stood in the herd "talking to" the girls (well, not IN the herd but near enough to get away if it went pear-shaped). They were fine, couldn't care less.
The second time was with a group of Highland cattle. They were lying down doing what cows do. We did the same flat bomber command approach and landed 50 yards from them. They didn't even get up. Horses seem to act in a similar way if they can see what's going on. I can't guarantee that this will work all the time, but it was interesting.
As I say, if you surprise them and they can't see what's going on - all hell can break loose.
Went to retrieve a Huey that had been left overnight in a field after an unexpected control diversion.
The nose-mounted pitot tube was bent at a funny angle and the cows nearby had a satisfied smile on their faces.
See, not a Kiwi joke after all.
The nose-mounted pitot tube was bent at a funny angle and the cows nearby had a satisfied smile on their faces.
See, not a Kiwi joke after all.
It's a lamb chopper!
It's a lamb chopper! (From The Westmorland Gazette)
The Westmorland Gazette, Friday 29th November 2013
An air ambulance pilot was forced to employ down-to-earth shepherding skills after his helicopter was mobbed by sheep on Kirkstone Pass.
The Great North Air Ambulance landed on pastureland after being called to an injured cyclist who had fallen off his bike while descending The Struggle, near Ambleside.
Gazette reader Simon Whitfield, who photographed the incident, said: “The helicopter was quickly surrounded and mobbed by a flock of curious sheep, which encircled the chopper and its pilot. He had to use some shepherding skills in order to shoo them away so he could attend to the injured man.”
An air ambulance pilot was forced to employ down-to-earth shepherding skills after his helicopter was mobbed by sheep on Kirkstone Pass.
The Great North Air Ambulance landed on pastureland after being called to an injured cyclist who had fallen off his bike while descending The Struggle, near Ambleside.
Gazette reader Simon Whitfield, who photographed the incident, said: “The helicopter was quickly surrounded and mobbed by a flock of curious sheep, which encircled the chopper and its pilot. He had to use some shepherding skills in order to shoo them away so he could attend to the injured man.”
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You could always carry a sheepdog with you, winch it out, let it herd the sheep into a corner and you would then have a nice, clear landing area.
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Like a lot of other animals a lot can depend on "conditioning" , I used to land in field next to my house , and after a few visits the sheep didnt even use to react at all 
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Sheep are not all the same
Not a pilot, but I have spent a fair amount of time driving through mobs of sheep in Australia and NZ, and the behaviour is different.
I got used to merinos in Aust. suddenly throwing themselves under the front wheels of the car as you slowly pushed through the flock. I was therefore startled in my first NZ mob, when they actually ran away like sensible creatures--these were various wool/meat breeds. I am pretty sure the difference is solely down to the breed; merinos are regarded with disdain by the farmers I've talked to, and seem to have solid bone where most creatures (including other breeds of sheep) have brains.
So I think you need to know what sheep they are: if merinos, assume they will do whatever is most harmful to themselves and all others around them.
I got used to merinos in Aust. suddenly throwing themselves under the front wheels of the car as you slowly pushed through the flock. I was therefore startled in my first NZ mob, when they actually ran away like sensible creatures--these were various wool/meat breeds. I am pretty sure the difference is solely down to the breed; merinos are regarded with disdain by the farmers I've talked to, and seem to have solid bone where most creatures (including other breeds of sheep) have brains.
So I think you need to know what sheep they are: if merinos, assume they will do whatever is most harmful to themselves and all others around them.
Here in rural Shropshire, DHFS Squirrels and Griffins use one of our fields for confined-area work. Three adjacent large fields have been frequently used for cattle by local farmers. This year we have had the pleasure of sheep for the first time. I can't imagine how farmers cope with the stink of a flock of sheep on a hot day.
I have never seen cattle take the slightest notice of helicopters. The sheep initially seemed to flock and panic as described by others but after the first few occasions stopped taking much notice. Yesterday they were lying down and did not even get up when a Griffin flew a couple of orbits, landed and took off almost directly over their field. It appears that they get used to helicopters quite quickly.
I have never seen cattle take the slightest notice of helicopters. The sheep initially seemed to flock and panic as described by others but after the first few occasions stopped taking much notice. Yesterday they were lying down and did not even get up when a Griffin flew a couple of orbits, landed and took off almost directly over their field. It appears that they get used to helicopters quite quickly.
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Hmmm!
So, ACW599 appears to confirm Ascend Charlies assertion about why the sheep in ENZID run away when approached by helicopter pilots.
And just to be fair, I am certain it is not just helicopter pilots who engender that response.
Regards
Blakmax
And just to be fair, I am certain it is not just helicopter pilots who engender that response.
Regards
Blakmax
