Good to See the RAF Chinooks in Action Again

[Mice!]

38 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

They are 40 odd years old, but we have bought more over the years and as you say the maintainance crews work hard to keep them in pristine condition.

Thanks, you never hear them mentioned really, when we were buying new Apache helicopters it was all over the news.

40 odd years old means someone is doing a great job, and spares are available 👍 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Interesting to see Argos have started showing their Chinook advertisment again, opportunistic or what?

[kennett]

On 03/08/2019 at 06:56, NoBodyImportant said:

Ever look at our technology and think wow,  just 200 years ago we where writing with feathers.  

I often think this when in our tractors at work, self steering, GPS guided, cab and seat suspension, aircon and bluetooth connectivity. Less than 50yrs ago a cab on a tractor would have been something to get the neighbours round to look at! 

[Penelope]

On 03/08/2019 at 23:20, NoBodyImportant said:

At Knobscreek machine gun festival in Kentucky there was a Huey that was giving rides.  We talked with the pilot for about a hour during his break and helicopter refuel.  When we got in we was all one group of guys and he said to you want the helicopter tour or the experience.  He was a Vietnam pilot and he ran us down a power line screaming banking sideways.   On the way back in he was like you want to **** with those picking people.  He came over the field about 20ft off the ground and blew everyone’s food and blankets across the field.   He was awesome. 

Had a similar experience at a charity clay shoot at the Berkshire Shooting School, many years ago. A woman in our team had a private light aircraft licence and had been chatting the the helo pilot of a Bell Jet Ranger that was there giving rides. He took 5 of us up for a little circuit  and then said something likes, 'this is all right, but I think you'd all like the reel stuff!', he then banked steeply and proceeded to fly along and below the level of and hop over telegraph wires, hedges and woods. All I could hear in my head was the Ride of the Valkyries!!

On 04/08/2019 at 10:19, TIGHTCHOKE said:

They are 40 odd years old, but we have bought more over the years and as you say the maintainance crews work hard to keep them in pristine condition.

 

They are made in America by Boeing and are basically a truck with wings.

 

The way they were used for Casevac in Helmand Province really lead to new flying techniques and new medical procedures being introduced.

They would regularly fly as complete working airborne operating theatres and were instrumental in a lot of British and Foriegn Servicemen living to return to their homes.

Those new medical procedures have now spread out to help civilian caualties.

A chap off one of the car shows on Discovery did a programme on the re-fit of one he flew in whilst in Afghanistan. Amazing stuff.