Retired and miss my helicopters.
Especially enjoyed fighting fire with a bellytank. Fun Daze! |
Same Olde, still getting up close with Atlanta Police helicopters hovering around where I work Downtown looking for bad boys and girls, no flying this year(plans in place to change that)
The closest I’ve actually got to a helicopter this year is in my friends warehouse which is home to 5 x135’s, mostly ex HEMS and one ex PNSI…… now that’s a long way from home. Ned, as always thank you once again for your generous offer, always look forward to finding your Calendar in the post! |
Started on Huey's and Chinooks in 1982 , 41 years later on S-92's still love it , helicopters have taken me all round the world , old days (pre 2000) probably a bit more fun.
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Helo Career
Started working with Bell as structural engineer July 1978. 31 years with Bell as Rotor Structural engineer, Flight Test Engineer on the 214ST, back to Rotor Stress working on LHX, M430, and AH-1Z - UH-1Y. Back to Flight Test with four years at PAX River and H-1 Upgrades. Retired in 2008. Loved it all. Ott.
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Currently flying offshore on two great machines: the AW139 and the AW189. The 139 is the industry workhorse that everyone likes. The 189 is a superb aircraft with the same handling characteristics but increased payload. Operating this two in south-west Africa, on a nice country and half a year at home for my own, is my dream job.
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Best thing about my job is the variety of work. Get to fly all around Canada flying fires, mining camps, geology work, pipeline and more!
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I enjoy helping other pilots with their medical issues. Like flying itself I am always learning from these interactions and realise what a privilege it is to be flying
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I have a job - which after some time we would be allowed to work from home. My place is under the path of most helicopters moving from Northeast of the town to the sea at a low attitude below airline traffic. Judging from the number of flights and type flown I try to make / think a story about where they go.
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What I like the most about my job is that I get to do what always wanted/dreamt to do when I was a little boy.
If ever I feel a bit fed up with something at work, what happens only once in a blue moon, I remind myself how privileged I am making my boyhood dream come true. Thank you for your generous offer KiwiNedNZ, as in previous years I'm looking forward to all the fantastic pictures for each month! |
Still plugging away in the safety world, writing programs, updating manuals, keeping the promotion of aviation and helicopters alive wherever I can... Lungs and heart won't let me fly anymore, but I turned 66 2 weeks ago and am still on the right side of the ground...
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Just like in any job, there are days I just don’t want to be at work. But there are a lot more days I say out loud: “I get PAID to do this?!”
I believe there was Devine intervention at work that ordered my steps and brought me into Aviation Maintenance almost 22 years ago as an Apprentice Mechanic. Now I’ve been in the Test Flight section as a crewman on various advanced helicopters for almost 17 of those 22 years(And close to 2500 flight hours). What an experience, one that most civilians won’t ever have! Truly blessed. Anyway, thank for sharing your awesome photography with us all! FltMech |
Currently flying heslo operations, mainy sawing, I like it a lot ! It’s demanding, so time flies litterally, also rewarding when you get things going your way. The rotation and pay is allright, I’m happy !
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I enjoyed 40+ years flying helicopters and claim to have not "worked" a single day in my life, but being paid for my hobby. What a privilege.
Now living on the boat is another great way of spending one's life. All active crews fly safe and enjoy, it's more than a job. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....dd3fef7ba.jpeg River cruising in Germany |
I enjoy the people I meet. Tours, photos, survey, whatever, flying in helicopters makes people happy and their happiness is infectious.
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Best office view.....money can't buy! Unless of course You can afford Your own :8 35yrs into this game & still humping that lever :ok:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....2b9de721de.jpg |
A while ago wings presentation cancelled no jobs. A few months later posted to an out of season holiday resort in winter. Wings presentation was a guy in uniform stores tossing the brevet across the counter from a stash in a cardboard box. Went out for my first trip strapped in and looked down at the pedals which said HUEY. I started grinning shamelessly.
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Ned, thanks for the invite.
Flew Helicopters in the Navy, currently working in the maintenance aspect of rotary wing aviation. What do I like about it? It keeps helicopters flying! That's a good thing all by itself. There are a some new materials and processes which reduce the environmental impact of helicopter maintenance - new sealants and coatings that dispense with hexavalent chrome, and of course the lower VOC paints - so it's nice to see a slightly more "earth friendly" flavor to the maintenance effort. The mailing address is the same as in the PM I sent you a few years ago for a previous calendar, which decorated the office for a year and got a lot of nice compliments. |
Ned, thank you for this offer. It is so generous, and the pictures are always breathtaking! Looking forward to working with you in the new year!
What do I enjoy about my current job? I am blessed to lead a fantastic team of people who are passionate about building and supporting an iconic helicopter brand. The people we are able to meet and work with in this unique industry amazes me every day. There is never a dull moment! |
Anyone else before this batch gets sent off on friday.
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Currently teaching fixed wing trained people to fly choppers. The looks on their face when they realise the world is their playground and runways are for models cracks me up every time.
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Thanks Ned .. currently deskflying..missing clying a lot actually.. and a great part of my day is looking at the calender i recieved from you last year :)
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Thank you also Ned. An amazing calendar this time round.
Still working on the production of major sub assemblies for Mil & Civ helicopters. (Always trying to remind people they DON'T want to be mentioned on Nat Geo's Mayday). . |
Fantastic as always Ned!
Another year full of fantastic flying around this magical country in the venerable EC135. Clocked over 1000hrs on the type this year on my way to the next hour milestone of 4000! safe and happy flying to all! RP |
Ned, I flew helos for 16 yrs,from 1964, in the RAF,on Support,SAR,and as a TP,and MTP,,from the smallest,`Skeeter` to a French `Super-Frelon`.Later,after retirement,flew freelance for a number of years until `our age` limits stepped in.So about 4250 hrs in about 26 types.Flew a further 4250 hrs on the C-130 during my later RAF career.However,I always have a soft-spot for the `Gazelle`(see `655 Sdn Retirement thread,p1,#12`),in it`s early development phase,and hope all those who flew it later,felt the same.I had 3 forced-landings in Whirlwinds( 1 t/rotor departure,2 engine-failures),no injuries,a/c repaired)..There is a book by an ex-AAC Pilot`Think like a Bird `,although he flew Beavers and Austers,and later `Lynx`,that is how I think of my helo flying,from a `comfortable` chair...(are there any comfortable helo seats...?) Nowadays I get to fly a C-172 occasionally,but it`s not the `same`..!!
I think the pic of Earl Watters firefighting should be `Picture of the Year`,,a real `cracker`...! Fly safe out there,guys and gals.... |
Thanks Ned, great pics as always. I'm out of the industry now, doing Engineering for a few years before retirement, but I can't resist having a crack at getting next year's calendar, please!
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Most satisfying is taking people for their first flight in a helicopter, especially nervous fliers.
And the enjoyment virtually everyone gets from the purest form of flight. Only had one person ask me to go back and land, and that was because the high frequency of the turbine was affecting his tinnitus, quite painfully. |
Received today Ned, big thank You...bloody awesome calendar :ok:
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Received mine today as well Ned, thanks for calendar full of awesome pictures :ok::ok::ok:
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Received this morning, Thanks again. :D
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Received with grateful thanks!
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Arrived in the Fatherland; thanks a lot for the fantastic shots.
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Got mine! Many Thanks.
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Ned, you are the best!
Great calendar, and all the way from New Zealand. Thank you! It's up at my desk at work, and I let the rest be envious. :ok::) |
Thanks Ned, arrived today will be up in the office in the morning! Can’t wait until April and look at that picture for a month!
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Got mine late last week, Ned... awesome as usual and many thanks!!! :ok::cool:
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I started wrenching on US Army Cobras in 1983, still at it as a helo mech 40 years later. Currently working on H225, great aircraft.
Ned, great service you are offering. Have gotten these calendars for a few years now. |
2024 Calendar
Thanks Ned,
Received my calendar yesterday. Looks fantastic with several Bell commercial models being represented! Merry Christmas to you and your family! |
Interservice transfer from USAF Buff Gunner (eliminated the position) to USA Warrant.
next 31 yrs mil and civilian flying HAA line pilot up to ACP until retiring. Miss the colleagues not the BS so much. Season greetings |
Received Ned, thank you!
RP |
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