Formula 1 Race Austin, Tx
 

I had a good time today. Had to go to the pilot and helo ops meeting for the Formula 1 Race here in Austin.
There will be a total of 35 helos. The people I work for will have 21. The cool thing is they brought in Henry Aviation that do all the NASCAR races and they are the ones doing the ATC at the track. Anyway here is a few that came in today:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/robin303/1-4.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/robin303/6.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/robin303/3-2.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/robin303/5-2.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/robin303/4-2.jpg

Very nice.

Thanks for the pictures. I was watching the practice this morning and the Squirrel doing the ariel shots was featured a few times - nice colour.

The track looks amazing - and qualifying should be interesting.

A lot of us here in Austin thought this whole F-1 race was just going to turn out to be a scam. I'm happy to report that the skeptics were wrong.

The track is terrific and the city has done a good job of handling the traffic flow to and from the track. The city is going all out to show our visitors a good time.

The race hasn't been bad for Jet-A sales.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8...c111476f_c.jpg

Day 2 & 3.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0530.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0531.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0532.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0534.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0536.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0537.jpg

Here is my boss :ok:

Helicopter Charters Over F1 | www.austin360.com

Lot of news crews.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0527.jpg

According to all the people in the waiting area this is a Lear Jet.:rolleyes:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0526.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0540.jpg

Great track, great race :). Thanks for pics. Hopefully F1 is in the US to stay this time.

And some pretty impressive flying from the camera ship too.

Nice pictures robin :ok:

That was the kingdom of the 407 !

and about the jet, a Cessna Sovereign is much better than a Learjet ! ;)
.

Surely a Citation X is even better :bored:

Great circuit BTW, although you'd need to be in a helicopter or that tower to get a decent view of the whole race - which is why ovals are so poular in the US.

The fact that racing on ovals are just plain ridiculous doesn't bother you? ;)

It's one of my personal goals for next year to learn to appreciate NASCAR. :)

spare
 

Indeed it was delivering interesting shots by doing things not seen at other circuits, like flying lower down the main straight. Some nice low choregraphed moves into the infield as well.

Very rare to see the chopper in vision from the trackside cameras:ok:

Probably the circuit is blessed with more open space to land in an emergency than other circuits?

Chopper at very top of the frame in picture number 12.

http://media.kvue.com/images/600*400/156659214_10.jpg

2012 U.S. Grand Prix | kvue.com Austin


Scope to improve low flying permissions at other events? It is the kind of environment where some (not all) shots will be taken over by remote models.



Mickjoebill

I agree about the video ship - good to see such beneficial use and pretty high profile too. (one of the few operating areas where you aren't likely to get helicopter noise complaints!)

As a spectator, I like circuits that are laid out in a bowl or at least NOT on the flat. In the UK, it makes Brands and Donington better circuits than Silverstone, for example (IMO).

Silverstone is hopeless for spectators. Rockingham (a bowl with an in-field is the best IMO). Jonathan Palmer's circuits are mainly good though.

These 2 helos and the camera ship are these guys at: Helicopter Flights, Tours, & Charters | Fly with Paradigm Helicopters They were based at KHYI at night.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/robin303/1-4.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0547.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...in303/6b-1.jpg

What was also kewl this was Harrison Fords private acft. Didn't meet the pilot.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3/DSCN0532.jpg

It was a great race and the slippy track made for great racing!! Watching the camera ship was very cool too!

Oh Harrison, you're such a legend but you just took a nosedive in my book....how can you justify that start-up/boarding process?!?! :ugh:

More pics please, heard some bad news
 

Heard a JetRanger hovered into a parked AS-350 at the races.

Any details or pics of that?

Thanks.

Looks like Harrison left the GPU plug door open too. I know, I'm just jealous.....

Helodriver Never heard anything of that. I'm sure if it happend it would be big news.

Well crap I put the photos in a new album and screwed everything up.
Maybe you can find them here: robin303's Library | Photobucket