Off to Afghanistan
 

Well guys am off tonight on what I would say is my best adventure so far. :ok:

Leave here in the morning for flight to Dubai, then next day into Kabul where we join up with the INL Air Wing guys and their Huey IIs. Do a couple of flights out of there and then its down to Khandahar for the next four days where we go flying with them on a variety of tasks.

I should have some awesome images to post on Rotorheads when we get back. The Dept of State guys have been awesome to work with, and welcome the exposure of their operation in Afghanistan. So watch this thread for updates from that trip.

Cheers

Ned :ok:

Take care Ned. Look forward to the piccies.

Sounds awesome =) All the best to you man.

god bless mate

look forward to seeing the pics! ;)

Keep your eye out for Skippy in the Pacific 212.
...and al queda.
both are equally as hazardous to your health :)

Have fun, Ned! I envy your life style!!

Don't forget to get all the mobile phone numbers or emails of all the hot chicks you meet, tell them a little about me, you know stuff like I'm a nice guy and stuff like that. ;)

Good Luck take care, I am really looking forward 2 your images!!!

Most of your photos are just going to be of mountains, snow, goats, mud building full of bullet holes and blue ghosts.

Dont forget to sit on your Chickenplate.

Also there is a big Difference between, IUDs and IEDs

Wow Ned, is this where your fan club meets??

Theres plenty of guys in Afganistan doing it all day with no fanfare.
You dont see posts from guys saying, hey im off to my 3rd tour in Iraq.

get over yourself

Hey Fuk Fuk Wank Wank - Screw yourself. I made a post saying I was going over there to do a story, nothing more nothing less. Show me where I big noted myself. All I said was I should get some great photos to post here.

Your post just shows what an asshole you are.

Well said, Ned!!

Take care and all the best to ALL the guys out there!

bondu :ok:

Tuk and Boom
So much for your Ned Fan Club Membership..........

Im certainly looking forward to some great photos, and if anyone can get them Ned will.

Once again for the self confessed fan club....

Lots of guys out there doing it without the "...my best adventure so far " crap.

Do you guys get a free "i love ned" shirt as well??

What's up, Tuk?

There's almost always someone who has been there before and already has the tee shirt, from first trial lesson onwards to flying round the world.

Why not just chill out and leave the guy alone?

If you've got a camera and know how to use it why don't you post a few pics yourself?

Safe Trip and Enjoy
 

Well Ned now some have their knickers in a twist arn't you glad you posted!!
Have a safe trip.
Skippy in Afganistan,oh lordy its no wonder the tide is turning. How many past PNGers are helping in the war effort!!!!!
TTBB, hey mate ease up, we all do appreciate what sacrafices are made in the name of freedom and that includes all country particpants, and we will not forget but you went just a bit over the top. Deep breath have another SP beer (man that stuffs vile):yuk:

One more note, remember Mark Burdorf who died in Afganistan helping others, he was to my knowledge the first civillian helicopter pilot killed there, a great guy.

Again be safe Ned.

Y'know Ned, I hate people who flower things up and don't say what they mean! :)

There's a cold one waiting at the bar here - make sure you live to drink it!

phil

Nice one Ned
 

Ned,

Nice one, enjoy yourself down there and be safe. :ok:

Looking forward to the awesome standard of photography that is associated with your pictures. :D

There will definately be a cold one waiting for you when you get home. :ok:

TTBB

From whichever rock you crawled out from, please crawl back. Ned is a legend here and his fan club is a big one. Grow up. :=

Regards

MD :ok:

Ned,

Say HI to Chuck when you see him at the Airport! Ask to see his kiddy's photo if he doesn't have it in hand (somewhat proud Dad he is...).

Phil - Certainly will catch up for a brewski.

SASLess - Chuck is meeting us at the airport and will be having a drink with him there.

ShyTorque - Not sure whats eating TTBB aka FFWW and dont really care. If I was a pilot going back there again for another tour saying look at me look at me, then yeah I could understand his comments. But for christ sake I am a publisher going somewhere unique for the first time (for me) to do a story that promotes what the guys there are doing and to give them some credit and recognition.

But I suppose it takes all sorts to make the world run doesnt it. His type included. :D :D

I am reminded that one of my personal heroes, Andy Rooney of "60 Minutes" was a correspondant in WWII, and flew 10 missions in a B-17 over Germany armed with a pencil and a notebook. The guts it takes to step into some mess and just report it is a different kind of guts that if you step up to it and actually get to shoot back. Both are very very commendable, and both are different from each other.

Talk about biting the hand ...
 

TTBB, I hope that you have figured out who Ned (Nev) is? He's the guy who's going to tell everyone else what a great job that you are doing. Okay he's press and get's it all for free. Yeah right!
Remember magazines are a great recruiter for aviation, military and civil. He sells a dream that you are now living. Make some peace brother.

Throw in the fact it is a darn good magazine with probably the best photography around involving helicopters makes it all the more appropriate.

Also consider the fact he is going to a tuff neighborhood to take the photos.

Go well Ned. Eagerly awaiting more helicopter photos.

BTW this is also my first post on PPrune.

Maybe you have to realize where TTBB is coming from. His "Location" is listed as Vietnam.
So hes probably commenting from some dive with a fan in the corner blowing more hot air at this computer with humidity running about 100%. Some fine looking chick with Beetle Nut Teeth is smiling back at him and would no doubt scare the hell out of a normal person if the lights were up to 100 watts.
I think hes just jealous of Ned....

Remove the computer and I think it is De Ja Vu all over again for some of us, eh Bert?:E

"Throw in the fact it is a darn good magazine with probably the best photography around involving helicopters makes it all the more appropriate"

Which magazine is it ?

Good luck Ned, look forward to seeing some pics reading how you get on.

pprune decorum prevvents any commercial activity in the forum, I have pm'd you the mag web site, 007helicopter!

Well made it as far as Dubai so far. Catching up with Hank from the Royal Flight for a drink later on and hopefully will make it for the flight to Kabul in the morning.

With regards to TTBB, let him have his little bitching session. If it makes him feel that much better then let him go for it.

Me, I am looking forward to this trip. We have been working on it for a long time and its awesome that its all come together. As much as helicopter pilots have their place in the helo industry so do people like myself and my writers and photographers. We give the industry a way to show everyone what they do and where they do it. How else would anyone know about Hurricane Katrina, the Tsunami Relief ops or the Pakistan Earthquake relief operations. Publications as well as websites like pprune give the helo industry an opportunity to showcase itself.

Anyway thats just my two cents worth. Once I get some photos processed I will try and post a few here in the thread.

Regards

Ned

If you can, try to sneak in a little interview with some of the guys flying Hips out there. For the sake of comparison it will be interesting to read their experiences as well. Good luck on your trip and safe landings

what sort of flying in Afghanistan
 

Interesting thread ... for us who are not that familiar with helis in Afghanistan, could someone more informed write a few lines what the civilian operators do there ? Is it just those "blackwater security" type companies flying "advisors" or more normal work aswell ?

best regards

RotorSwede

Nick,

Clean out yer post box....PM's getting bounced.

Off on the next leg today, about to leave the hotel to catch the Kam Air flight to Kabul.

SASLess - Chuck is meeting us at the airport so I will pass on your regards in person. Hopefully he will still talk to me :ok:

If I get internet access there might try and post some pics in next day or so before we go down to Helmand region.

Cheers

Ned

Ned,

Remember to stand behind things hard and solid...if things go "Bang!" don't be curious...focus on the shot....like the Pro you are. Don't look important...and don't run around with someone braver than you are.

Looking forward to some of the photos!

Ned, If your in Kabul and have a chance to meet some of the Opium Grunts, Say Howdy to Barries Barnard . Hes from Pretoria. Would be good security for you based on his prior jobs in SA. He can hit a target and smile while doing it....

I know there is always a love hate relationship with the press, but this man is not one of "them" he is one of "us".

Fly safe Ned, looking forward to seeing the old girls (albeit with the new plastic boobs of the Huey II) in all their glory in Afghanistan.

G'day Ned,
Good luck and all the best over there ! If you also happen to run into Wilson or Skippy flying the Pacific machine,have a beer or twenty with them.
Cheers,
Plugga.
:ok: :ok: :ok: :ok: :ok: :ok: :ok:

Good luck Ned
 

Hope you get some good pics on your travels.
Make sure you get up North over the Hindu Kush towards Faisabad for the 1A departure down the river. This time of year it will be spectacular!!
Not sure if the metal plank runway is still there but it sure used to rattle your teeth getting airborne.

Fly safe

First you have to survive Kam Air.

Dam right rick1128, Ned's got the most dangerous leg of his journey even before he gets there, Kam-a-kazee Air! good luck Ned, and try and steer clear of Scary-ana also, and that comes from working a few years out there.