[canadianf1pilot]

And there are some guys that don't want heli's at there club!!

Great clip!

[buffythesaint]

The pilot needs a reality TV show teaching rednecks how to fly helis. I think it would be a hit, since you have show like "Honey Boo Boo"

[mwavesdave]

We are totally spoiled, here at the SHEARWATER R/C FLYER'S. We have a fleet of Sea King Helicopters, that have been quite useful for downed RC aircraft recovery. Our first was a foam Extra 300 that went out of control into some very tall grass on the airfield, the guys spent an hour wandering through the muck, and didn't find it. The next morning, my crew opted to do some rescue hoisting practice at the end of the mission, so we went over to the general area to take a quick look, and spotted the downed aircraft immediately. I was hoisted down, recovered it, and returned to the owner the next day! Our second mission was more difficult, a Big Stik that headed off and dissappeared into a wooded area on the base. Ground searching proved futile, so another crew decided they could work it into a Search and Rescue Scenario. Full planning, search grids, etc. They found the aircraft, perched about 30 feet off the ground in a spruce tree, and jotted down the GPS reference. We ground searched an hour later, confirmed the location, retrieved the wings and tail, but no way could we get to the fuselage. Next day, I was tasked with a Waterbird flight, where we practice landings and take-offs on a local lake.(Super fun, the Sea King rocks at this!). We had 10 minutes at the end of the mission, and I asked if we could attempt to use the Sea King as a giant leaf blower, to get the fuse onto the ground. This isn't at all an easy evolution, and requires precise conning from the cargo door, by myself, and pinpoint flying by the pilots, who can't even down and back. It's extremely good training, and we were able to very gently pop the aft end of the fuse up and over an interfering branch, and then pop it off the tree, into the only small clearing, where it came to rest about 4 feet off the ground in a small spruce tree. Grond team recovered, both aircraft safe and sound!

[Max]

Originally Posted by mwavesdave

We are totally spoiled, here at the SHEARWATER R/C FLYER'S. We have a fleet of Sea King Helicopters, that have been quite useful for downed RC aircraft recovery. Our first was a foam Extra 300 that went out of control into some very tall grass on the airfield, the guys spent an hour wandering through the muck, and didn't find it. The next morning, my crew opted to do some rescue hoisting practice at the end of the mission, so we went over to the general area to take a quick look, and spotted the downed aircraft immediately. I was hoisted down, recovered it, and returned to the owner the next day! Our second mission was more difficult, a Big Stik that headed off and dissappeared into a wooded area on the base. Ground searching proved futile, so another crew decided they could work it into a Search and Rescue Scenario. Full planning, search grids, etc. They found the aircraft, perched about 30 feet off the ground in a spruce tree, and jotted down the GPS reference. We ground searched an hour later, confirmed the location, retrieved the wings and tail, but no way could we get to the fuselage. Next day, I was tasked with a Waterbird flight, where we practice landings and take-offs on a local lake.(Super fun, the Sea King rocks at this!). We had 10 minutes at the end of the mission, and I asked if we could attempt to use the Sea King as a giant leaf blower, to get the fuse onto the ground. This isn't at all an easy evolution, and requires precise conning from the cargo door, by myself, and pinpoint flying by the pilots, who can't even down and back. It's extremely good training, and we were able to very gently pop the aft end of the fuse up and over an interfering branch, and then pop it off the tree, into the only small clearing, where it came to rest about 4 feet off the ground in a small spruce tree. Grond team recovered, both aircraft safe and sound!

Wow. Great stories. Too bad you didn't get any of those on video. That would be kinda cool to watch. On second thought, a lot of civvies dont get the idea that you guys fly to train regardless and would have a conniption fit if they see a RCAF heli being used to fetch models. Most dont understand the flying and training is almost a daily occurrence. All they can see is "A waste of taxpayers money"

[Gordon]

Nice if you can arrange it, but not really something you can count on...


Helicopter pilot rescues model plane from tree

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/n...-1226507986636




Gordon

[mwavesdave]

It's incredibly challenging, the process of planning and executing a search for a downed aircraft is very complex. Having the target being an RC aircraft, certainly adds to the challenge, but as our RC runway and flight area, is part of the base, it's super close, so saves a lot of travel time, and serious organization to simulate a rescue. We've gotten a lot of requests to lose a few more planes, lol, it's a regular qualification item to plan and execute SAR. Fortunately for us modellers, we've not had to call out the Sea Kings since.

[bhughes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=O5ElGt6iAYw#!

[Jamie James]

That was cool.

Great guy right there.

What a story both parties will have.

[bhughes]

it was part of my model airplane news e letter i get. love that mag and the e news has a lot of good stuff every time i get it.

[bhughes]

i just posted the same vid didn't see this thread lol. who says heli pilots are bad news lol.