I’ve always given the utmost respect to the emergency services helicopter pilots, those guys seem to be able to put a chopper anywhere in all conditions, but what I’ve just been watching goes one step further. I live quite near to a whole line of power cables, and these are often inspected by a helicopter crew, who fly quite close to the cables so that the guy checking them out for whatever reason can see any problems.
I’ve just been watching a pilot in an Alouette flying UNDER the power cables with a chap hanging out of the door looking up…and then to top that, the pilot put the chopper ON IT’S SIDE…ALMOST IN A HOVER, presumably so the inspecting man could get a better view! I’ve never seen anything like that before, it was absolutely amazing to watch…the chopper remained in this position for several minutes before the pilot flipped it back into level flight, pulled the nose up, circled once more around the pylon and then flew off down the cable lines. That was the most awesome flying I’ve ever seen, especially in a heli like the Alouette, they are not really designed for that sort of manoeuvre, but this guy seemed quite happy with the thing sitting on it’s side and almost stationary in the air.
Whoever you are sir, I take my hat off to you…the word ‘respect’ doesn’t even begin to cover what I think of his flying skills.
Rich…shocked and stunned.