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Post by Gavin Conroy on Oct 8, 2009 18:11:41 GMT 12
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Post by beagle on Oct 8, 2009 18:15:01 GMT 12
nice shots. I see a few different types and was just trying to tell the mrs the difference with regards the NOTAR
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Post by Gavin Conroy on Oct 11, 2009 18:55:27 GMT 12
took this one this morning, check out the ghosts  |
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Post by Gavin Conroy on Oct 11, 2009 19:25:19 GMT 12
now thats a hot paint job  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 11, 2009 19:38:49 GMT 12
Great photos Gavin, well done. Worth getting up early for.
How on earth did you achieve that ghost affect with a digital camera?
You wouldn't know if that last chopper was actually on fire, would you. If I saw it come screaming past me I'd probably dial 111
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Post by ZacYates on Oct 11, 2009 20:34:42 GMT 12
Great shots Gavin of some top-class machines! I always love seeing the 500-series ships, and having so many in one spot would be a real treat for a Hughes fan like me. Loving the paint job on HSH!
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Post by corsair67 on Oct 12, 2009 14:53:05 GMT 12
That spotlighting rock thrower should have his benefit revoked. Idiots like that bloke need to be removed from the shallow end of the gene pool for the sake of all humanity. You're a man of impeccable taste, Zac.  |
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Post by lumpy on Oct 12, 2009 16:53:46 GMT 12
Whilst Im not disagreeing Corsair , what is more dangerous , flashing your car lights , and throwing a rock , Or flying in the dark at an altitude that these actions are likely to actually cause harm ? As I said , I dont dissagree with you comments at all , but I am wondering if there are any regulations covering this flying ? ( certainly the spotlight was not on , but how low do you need to be to be affected by car headlights , or hit by a rock ) ?
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Post by Bruce on Oct 12, 2009 16:58:35 GMT 12
Frost control operations are specifically excempt from regulations concerning minimum operating altitudes, its entirely legit.
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Post by lumpy on Oct 12, 2009 17:30:00 GMT 12
Thanks for that Bruce , thats exactly what I was wondering ( I also used to wonder how come some people could leagally operate motor vehicles ( as defined by LTSA ) on footpaths - with no wof , or rego , or licence . Its allowed if you call it a " mobility scooter " )
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Post by corsair67 on Oct 12, 2009 17:55:19 GMT 12
Lumpy, to be completely honest the sound of these things buzzing around in the early hours of the morning would probably drive me spare too - but surely there are other ways to deal with this noise problem, rather than spotlighting and rock throwing.
Surely there is a more environmentally sustainable (yes, I can't believe I'm using that terminology either! ;D ) and cheaper way of keeping frost off the wine grapes, rather than having to have helicopters flying around for several hours at a time?
New Zealand has pushed its clean and green image overseas as a marketing tool over the past 10 or so years, so it does seem a little strange to me that helicopters are the only solution to the frost problem that the NZ wine industry can come up with.
No wonder the last bottle of Marlborough Savignon Blanc I had tasted of sweet tropical fruit, lemon-lime, rose, vanilla cream, honey, citrus gumdrop, lemon, grapefruit, pear, anise-licorice, slightly grassy, faintly mineral flavours and Jet-A1! ;D
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Post by lumpy on Oct 12, 2009 19:57:14 GMT 12
I think the council have a lot more to worry about than helicopters , Corsair . Namely the wind machines they use . There are loads more of them , situated a lot closer to boundries ( because the council issued permits for them to be there ) , and lots of neighbouring dwellings ( because the council also issued permits for them to be there ) ! They are now " damed if they do , damed if they dont ".
Interesting comments Gav about the headlights , I guess there is a fairly obvious line between " just driving along at night " and causing nusience with them
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 13, 2009 14:54:02 GMT 12
In the olden days they used to tow trailers with Merlins mounted on them with props turning, in the Nelson apple orchards to disperse frost. Are helicopters more cost effective than that sort of system (using modern engines I mean)? Or does that not work for grapes?
Maybe that's a job for Al's Bristol Hercules?
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Post by lumpy on Oct 13, 2009 16:36:20 GMT 12
I think, as Gavin pionted out , helicopters are more effictive because they can push a warmer layer of air ( inversion layer ) down on the grapes . This layer is not at a constant hieght , which means heilicopters are perfect , as they hunt for the warm air . They are more expensive though , so its a balancing act of cost verses benifit .
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