A place for lighter-hearted moments!
Where to put your used Hueys?
In the playground of course!
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A place for lighter-hearted moments!
Where to put your used Hueys?
In the playground of course!
Last edited by Savoia; 28th January 2014, 10:13. -
Would you like to be appended to the Apache's stores carrier?
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How to spend your 106th Birthday!
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/new...de_/?ref=var_6Bournemouth resident Hilda Baybutt celebrates her 106th birthday with a helicopter ride
AN ADVENTUROUS centenarian celebrated her 106th birthday yesterday with a trip around Dorset in a helicopter.
UP, UP AND AWAY: Hilda Baybutt celebrates her 106th birthday in style as she boards a helicopter with her son Nick at Spetisbury Manor (Photo: Sally Adams)
Hilda Baybutt from Glenhurst Manor, on West Cliff Road, described it as the ‘best birthday ever’ after she was treated to surprise flight, following a drive to Spetisbury Manor, near Blandford, with son, Nick.
The helicopter then flew over her home in Bournemouth, having lived in the area for 84 years, and landed at Chewton Glen for afternoon tea, before she was flown back to Spetisbury again.
Mrs Baybutt said that she felt like a movie star for the day and that her birthday should have been re-named ‘surprise day’ as the day was so full of unexpected events.
She added: “I couldn’t find enough words to describe how I was feeling. The whole day was one big surprise. I went in a helicopter when I was 102, which was wonderful, and now I have been in one this year.
“I have never had a birthday like this before. I don’t know if it is any different to being 100, but I don’t really feel 106. I feel that I am doing very well for it.”Comment
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This article on female flyers states that "US Army Aviation has come to realize what automobile insurance companies have known for a long time .." and it would seem that there are 'other' discoveries which many have also known for a long time!
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/hta.../20140303.aspxMarch 3, 2014: U.S. Army Aviation has come to realize what automobile insurance companies have known for a long time; women are safer drivers. While ten percent of army helicopter pilots are women, only three percent of helicopter accidents occur when a woman is the pilot. This not a new or unique situation. For thousands of years it was known that women were better than men for a lot of combat support tasks, like camp management and tending the wounded. There have been numerous situations where women ended up in command (usually because of noble birth and the death of available male nobles to command) and performed exceptionally well. As firearms replaced weapons that depended more on muscle (which men still have a lot more of) women began to show up as superior for combat tasks as well. During World War II Russia found that women made better snipers. This was a task that did not depend on a lot of muscle, but did require exceptional stealth, concentration and patience. By the end of the war over 2,000 women had served as snipers and the list of the best snipers during the war was full of females. Several of the female snipers got over 300 kills. The best male snipers had over 500 kills but there were only a handful of them. Most Russian snipers did not survive the war. Only 25 percent of the female snipers did. It was much harder for a woman to become a sniper in the first place because women were not allowed in the infantry. But early on it became common knowledge that many women were good at sniping and many commanders let their female support troops know that there was always a need for effective snipers for those who wanted to try out.
The Russians had a similar experience with female pilots, although there was a lot of resistance to having women fighter pilots. But those who did get into fighter units did so because they were exceptional pilots and had no problem pulling the trigger. Like the United States, Russia used women pilots for a lot of non-combat flying jobs. But the United States never even let the women wear a uniform, the female pilots were all contractors. As such they performed a lot of difficult tasks, like flying aircraft from factory to air bases despite frequent encounters with horrendous weather. In Russia female pilots wore a uniform and were treated as military pilots.
Eventually women got into military aviation and eventually served as combat pilots. As their numbers and flight hours increased there was enough data to show trends. One result is that the army now knows what the insurance industry has known for over half a century. The military also found that women excelled at intelligence work and many administrative tasks. As more women entered these fields the average effectiveness of people in those jobs increased and the military benefitted. These are lessons commercial firms learned decades ago and once more another military “innovation” is little more than adopting ideas that have already been discovered, tried and proven in commercial organizations.Comment
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Clarkson in Sydney
About to board the Ecureuil
The person who took the photo above
Sydney Helicopters Ecureuil
Hmm .. can't see that properly
That's better ..
About to fly
Photo sourceComment
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Mr Clarkson looking as happy as ever!Comment
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Los Angeles Firehawk Rescues Horse
http://www.horseandcountry.tv/news/2...yon-helicopterA Los Angeles County Fire Department Firehawk helicopter has rescued a horse after it fell more than 100ft into a canyon.
Dakota, a 16-year-old Tennessee Walking horse, was hacking along a trail in Angeles National Forest in Califorinia when he slipped down a cliff.
According to the New York Daily, his rider fell about 50ft and only suffered minor injuries, while Dakota fell more than 100ft and fractured his skull.
LA County Fire's S70A Firehawk
The County of Los Angeles Fire officials attended the scene, along with vet Racheal Sachar. They had to hike down as far as they could, before using ropes to repel down to the horse. Dakota was then tranquilised and put into a harness.
“When you’re in very tight quarters, hooking up a horse to a harness and there’s a helicopter flying over you — it’s basically a wind storm and you don’t know what to,” said Sachar.
The horse was then lifted 150ft into the air before being carried three miles to safety. Sachar said Dakota was a “remarkable horse” to remain calm throughout the rescue operation.
Dakota has since been treated for his injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
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Stop very quickly why don't you!
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First helicopter lesson at the age of 100
http://www.wptv.com/news/state/ervin...icopter-lessonA Southwest Florida man celebrated a milestone birthday while checking off a bucket list item.
Ervin Yoas took his first helicopter lesson at the age of 100 Tuesday at the Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda.
Ervin Yoas after his first helicopter lesson
NBC reports Yoas was an instructor pilot during World War II. He has purchased and sold aircraft all his life. At his century mark, however, he chose a new facet of the aviation industry: piloting a helicopter.
He says it feels different from flying an airplane.
"Yeah, you're in the air and you don't know it. In an airplane, you feel it as you're coming up and here you're...yeah, there's a difference," he said.
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Well .. Denissimo is a 'spring chicken' by comparison!Comment
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Have you got the hump?
Helicopter pilot Fred North recently took this this photo in Tunisia where he has been working with Helinet Aviation president Alan Purwin on an aerial shoot using the Shotover K1 camera mounted to an AS350B3.
You may read more about Shotover Camera Systems here.Comment
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Jim Wilson Retires
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/n...retirement/Helicopter industry doyen Jim Wilson has farewelled a job that gave him a lifetime of sunrise and sunsets and extraordinary visual beauty.
Friends and colleagues of HNZ Group, formerly Helicopters NZ, in Nelson bade him a tearful goodbye yesterday as he stepped aside from a 38-year career with the company and a 55-year career in aviation which has been recognised internationally.
The 72-year-old, who has been HNZ chief pilot for 36 years, was lauded for his ability to adapt to the huge changes in aviation over the last half century.
Helicopter pilot Jim Wilson
HNZ New Zealand managing director Denis Laird said Wilson had "mentored, trained, hired and fired" most of the helicopter pilots in the industry.
He was an "Antarctic legend" who had spent 17 seasons on the southern ice and had planned, trained and supervised Antarctic support programmes for German, Italian, Norwegian, Japanese and American clients since 1979.
In 2012 he was presented with the London-based Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators master's award for the New Zealand region, in recognition of his leadership and influence on international standards for helicopter operations in the most extreme conditions, and the credit that brought the New Zealand aviation industry.
Wilson's career began with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1959 when he started as an aircraft engine fitter. He learned to fly in a Tiger Moth and an Auster, and by 1965 had gained his instructor rating. He became hooked on helicopters after a career change in 1967 when he joined the former Alexander Helicopters in Whanganui.
Wilson joined the late John Reid at Helicopters New Zealand as a line pilot in 1975 and became chief pilot in 1978, after a six- month season in the Canadian Arctic. The backdrop to yesterday's farewell ceremony was a 1962 Bell 47J chopper Wilson flew earlier in his career, and which was now a museum exhibit. "I think that's a clear message for me," he joked.
Laird said there was no-one like Wilson capable of such diversity.
"He's gone from having a flight manual in the cockpit to fully integrated management systems." Laird said it was also commendable that Wilson had "never bent a chopper through his own fault", but he had not brought them all back.
Wilson said the most memorable of his "close calls" was the time he ditched his helicopter in Cook Strait. The engine on the Hughes 500 he was flying from Masterton to Blenheim failed above Cloudy Bay, and he went into the drink. "There was a Friendship [former NAC aircraft] behind me who heard my mayday call and relayed it, but I was in the water for 45 minutes before I was picked up."
Nelson-based HNZ Group executive vice-president international Keith Mullett described Wilson as a "very special man" whose legacy was the extent of his influence on the industry.
Laird added in his heartfelt speech that the pillars of Wilson's career were longevity, loyalty and love. He also credited Wilson's wife of 32 years, Lesley Wilson, for her understanding of a challenging job that one year had him away from home for 200 days.
"There have been some dark times in this company in the past, and it was only Jim who stood between the company surviving or failing.
"For him it has always been about the company and serving our customers."
Laird also said passion was not a strong enough word to describe Wilson's allegiance to the industry.
"Aviators have a passion for aviation, but the word is irrational. Love is about true understanding and Jim loved aviation."
He said that while no-one was indispensable, Wilson was irreplaceable.
Wilson said he was now looking forward to time at home, and he might even tackle the Otago Rail Trail on his bike.
"I always thought you retired when you got old, but it drops on you unannounced. It's very much an issue we all have to deal with."
He said the great thing about his job as chief pilot was giving young pilots the chance to get ahead, and they in turn had kept him young at heart.
He paid special tribute to his assistant of 29 years, Esther Dyson, who could "type up what he was thinking" without him saying a word.
"I will always cherish the great memories at HNZ and the people in it."Comment
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QEII To Use Rainbow 1 For Derby Day Dash!
SourceThe Queen will rush back from 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France next month so she does not miss Derby day, one of her favourite events of the year.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are scheduled to spend three days in France after a personal invitation from President Francois Hollande.
The Queen's Helicopter Flight will fly Queen Elizabeth from Paris to Windsor Castle on 7th June in order that the monarch may attend the Royal Derby at Epsom by 4pm. When carrying the monarch the aircraft, a Sikorsky S-76C++, uses the callsign Rainbow 1 Romeo
Although the trip includes a visit to the Elysee Palace on the morning of Saturday June 7, plans are in place to make sure the Queen can get to Epsom for the most important race of the Flat calendar.
It is understood a helicopter will fly the monarch back to Windsor before she travels on to the Surrey racecourse.
QEII known for her passion for horses
She will not return in time for the traditional royal car procession which travels up the Epsom home straight but is expected to arrive by early afternoon, in plenty of time for the £1.3million Derby which is due off at 4pm.
A source said: ‘The fact she is taking so much effort to be at Epsom shows the Queen’s passion for the race.’Comment
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Dyson Drops into Downing College
http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/7214A mystery white 'H' painted on the grass appeared in Downing College on Thursday the purpose of which became clear today when Sir James Dyson visited the college by helicopter. The registration of the helicopter, G-DCOI, is thought to be a nod toward the standard Dyson DC-01 cleaner that initially made the company a success.
James Dyson's AW139 G-DCOI landing at Downing College earlier today
After landing at Downing Sir James went to the Department of Engineering where he discussed the opening of the James Dyson laboratory. His visit follows the recent announcement by the James Dyson Foundation to invest £8 million in the Department. It is the largest single donation ever received by the department and will go towards the 'James Dyson Building for Engineering' initiative and the Dyson Engineering Design Centre.
Later Dyson he headed over to the West Cambridge Site to visit the Whittle Laboratory (which specializes in fluid dynamics and thermodynamics of turbo machinery) and the Institute of Manufacturing, after which he was picked up by his helicopter at Churchill College.
The flying visit was a welcome study break for students. Downing College PhD student Krit Sitathani said: "There were a large amount of students somehow casually 'working' around the paddock today to witness Sir James's arrival. I was somehow magically reading a paper on the grass today at 9:40am."Comment
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Those with affections for the Hughes 300 may wish to pay homage to the remains of such a craft which now forms part of the 'frontage' of a small restaurant in Odense, Denmark!
The Air Pub OdenseComment
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It seems (and this is doubtless old news for those domiciled in the UK) that Britain's schools now host 'Prom' parties! They never used to.
Arriving at the prom by helicopter is, apparently, increasingly popular:
Olivia Anderson (centre) with fellow English Martyrs Year 11 students Molly Pickett (left) and Naomi Boddy who arrived at Hardwick Hall for their prom by helicopter (Photo: Frank Reid)Comment
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Louis Vuitton Photo Shoot with HeliLausanne and Xenia Tchoumitcheva
Xenia is fairly well known it Italy so it seemed 'rude' not to put up her photos!
Xenia Tchoumitcheva with HeliLausanne's EC120 HB-ZCA near Lake Zürich (Photo: Fred China)
Xenia aboard HB-ZCA (Photo: Fred China)
More?
Okay .. check out addition images here.
http://www.heli-lausanne.ch/Comment
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Hairrendous !!
The above photos depicts hair (human hair) which has been caught-up on the tail-rotor driveshaft of a US Army helicopter. The incident occurred at Holloman AFB in New Mexico on 27th March when a long-haired civilian US Army contract maintenance technician was literally 'scalped' when he accidentally allowed his flowing locks to get too close to the rotating driveshaft.
So, to all rock n' roll long-haired helicopter mechanics my advice is .. buy a hair net!Comment
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Obama Offers Half-Hearted Salute
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/23/po...ee-cup-salute/With a coffee cup in hand, President Barack Obama offered a less-than-formal salute Tuesday September 23rd to Marines standing at the steps of Marine One.
President Obama arrives at New York to attend a United Nations meeting on September 23rd and offered US Marines a 'half-hearted salute' with coffee cup in hand
Critics quickly pounced on the President's coffee cup salute. "Did President Obama just salute the Marines with a LATTE in his hand?!" the National Republican Congressional Committee tweeted.
It's become tradition for presidents to salute the military officers he encounters when boarding the official helicopter, a tradition that is widely understood as begun by President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
A US Navy manual on customs and courtesies, cited by the Daily Caller, says saluting in general is "the most important of all military courtesies." "The salute formally recognizes the officer as a military superior, and returning the salute expresses the officer's thanks for the junior's support," the manual reads.
It recommends not saluting when one is "carrying articles with both hands or being otherwise so occupied as to make saluting impractical."
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Half-Hearted Salute.
We should not be surprised.
Here's Obama aboard Marine One:
President Barack Obama being briefed by Matt Flavin, Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, aboard Marine One enroute to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, June 1, 2009
.. with counsellors in the Oval Office
.. talking with advisers in 2010
.. and on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2009
All of these photos were released either directly by the White House press office or with their explicit approval. In the case of the last photo Obama not only consented to the photograph being taken (along with many others over the years where he 'seems' to be engaged in open gestures of disrespect) but the White House press office made a point of issuing the photo with the information that Obama was on the phone to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the time. This (understandably) was not well received among the Israelis and among many others who see his conduct in so many areas as being wanting.
The desk he has his shoes on (and it should be noted that shoes have special significance in the islamic culture when resting on something or pointed, or even thrown, at someone) was a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880 and was built from the timbers of the British Arctic Exploration ship Resolute.
Another 'interesting' gesture by Obama is the fact that he has had a bust of Winston Churchill removed from the Oval Office.
Commentators speculate that the photo taken while talking with the Israeli Prime Minister was part of his 'campaign of signals' to his muslim associates to reassure them of his disdain for the people and nation of Israel while his many other 'signals' indicate his dislike (especially) for 'whites'. Whether or not this is so will forever be a matter of speculation but .. there are some startling first-hand accounts by White House staff of Obama's breathtaking rudeness, not only to members of staff but also towards specific foreign dignitary.
No doubt we will hear all about it in the years to come.Comment
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Neighbour Shoots Down Drone
http://www.nj.com/cape-may-county/in...elicopter.htmlA 32-year-old Lower Township man is facing charges after shooting down a remote control helicopter being flown over his neighborhood on Friday, police said.
Russell J. Percenti, 32, is charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and criminal mischief. Police also seized the shotgun he allegedly used.
Russell Percenti didn't appreciate his neighbour's drone and therefore decided to shoot it
The owner of the remote-control helicopter was using the drone to take aerial photographs of a friend's home being built on the 1000 block of Seashore Road. He heard shotgun blasts around 5:30 p.m. and lost control of the helicopter. When he retrieved it, he noticed the helicopter had multiple holes in it and notified police.
Police tracked down Percenti and took him into custody. He posted 10 percent of $25,000 bail and was released.
Click on Muttley to hear him laugh!Comment
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Always thought Peugeot had a slightly inflated opinion of their products!
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Of Partridges and Police
There have been number of stories over the years about the apparent misuse (and by that I mean the questionable tasking) of police helicopters in the UK. As a fan of game dishes .. this particular story attracts my sympathy however!
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/...to-help-24628/A police helicopter was called out last night after someone reported partridges had been stolen.
Ground patrols were sent to Ryarsh village in Kent at around 10pm to reports of a theft in Park Farm Road.
EC135 G-ESEX which also serves the County of Kent
A force spokesman said a vehicle had been seen with its lights on in woodland where number of birds were believed to be missing.
Officers asked for the helicopter's help about 10.30pm.
The area was searcheded but no arrests were made. Inquiries are ongoing.
Sadly we've not discovered whether the partridges were recovered! I do hope so, because the season for partridges (and indeed pear trees .. of the lyrical kind) is upon us!
I am not sure just how much partridges enjoy sitting in pear trees but .. I can recommend partridge with pear .. in this instance - poached pear!
Partridge with Poached Pear
Serves 2-3- 4 pears. (Preferably Williams' Bon Chrétien pears - aka Williams pears)
- 1 Tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 Partridges
- 2 Onions or shallots (quartered)
- 50g Pancetta cubetti
- 2 Tablespoons of flour
- 3 Tablespoons of cognac
- 150ml of white wine
- 75ml of stock
- Bay leaves (for decoratation)
- 1 tablespoon of cranberry sauce (preferably made with port)
Place in the oven to roast for 25-30 minutes until tender and the juices run clear when pierced with a skewer. Remove the partridges and pears, cover with foil and leave to rest.
Scrape the contents of the roasting dish into a pan, sprinkle with flour and heat for 1 minute until thickened. Gradually add the brandy, the wine and the stock and bring to the boil. Simmer for 2-3 mins then strain.
Arrange the partridges on a serving dish with the bay leaves and pears. Fill the centre of the pears with cranberry sauce. If you enjoy bread sauce (and of which I am a big fan with British game recipes), then this can be served as an additional accompaniment.
Partridge with poached pearComment
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Imran Khan (that cricketer of old) was seen flying around the Punjab in an EC130 this week.
All we would say is .. don't do a 'Tommy Sopwith'!
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Sunday Outing
How to treat your children on a Sunday afternoon .. let them play with 50 calibre rounds from a Hughes 500 .. obviously!
Children inspect 50 calibre rounds from a Philippine Hughes 500D at Camp Aguinaldo in suburban Manila on 16th November 2014. A selection of military equipment was on display to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the Department of National Defence
The kids gain tactile familiarity with the craft's arsenal .. hmm .. that doesn't sound so good, let's try again .. 'Children check-out the craft's 50 cal ammo!'
The battle of the sexes continues .. 'Anything you can do .. '
Children pose with rockets from the armed HughesComment
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I'm not a huge Robinson fan .. but I try to be open-minded about these things!
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Obama Keeps Marine One Waiting
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...kberry.htmlPresident Obama was on his way to Las Vegas to promote his immigration executive order, when he boarded his Marine One helicopter on the White House's South Lawn. Seconds later he promptly disembarked and headed back into the executive mansion.
"I'm going back inside"
When he re-emerged the president said he had forgotten his Blackberry, pulling it from its holster and showing it to reporters and photographers.
"I'm gonna say that I forgot my phone!"
But an Associated Press photographer captured a curious thing when Obama first got out of the helicopter: His Blackberry was already in its holster.So does he have two phones and had lifted the wrong one? Or had he forgotten something else which he wasn't willing to disclose?Comment
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Celebrating The Epiphany in Tenerife - Wise Men Use Helicopters
http://redqueenmusings.wordpress.com...hree-kings/We've come to know that Father Christmas uses helicopters with increasing frequency, but now we see that the Wise Men (or Magi) are following suit!
The Wise Men arrive in Santa Cruz, Tenerife courtesy of a Spanish Ecureuil
“Have you been good?” Is the question is asked in every corner of Tenerife when traditionally the children of Spain open their Christmas presents - on the Feast of the Epiphany. On the evening before youngsters eagerly await the arrival of Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar, the Three Wise Men, who make a special visit to Tenerife so that the children can give their wish lists – much as happens elsewhere with Santa Claus.
Even though the island is not big the kings have various modes of transport to ensure they get to meet everyone. They travel by helicopter to Santa Cruz and Adeje, in La Laguna they let the train (or is that tram) take the strain and traditionally they arrive by boat and then camel in Los Cristianos.Comment
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Wedding Shoot Involving Icelandic Puma Goes Awry
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...oto-shoot.htmlComment
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