Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 12, 2007 19:46:32 GMT 12
Chopper crews train in mountains
By RICHARD MILLER - The Marlborough Express | Friday, 10 August 2007
The skies above Marlborough have been buzzing with helicopter activity this week as Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) helicopter crews take part in a special mountain flying exercise.
Four Iroquois helicopters and 38 personnel, including helicopter crewman, aviation refuellers, aircraft technicians and 12 pilots, are taking part in exercise Blackbird, using RNZAF Base Woodbourne as their base.
Helicopter crews from RNZAF Base Ohakea have been conducting daily flights in the mountains around St Arnaud from Monday and will continue testing their skills in a low-visibility, high-wind mountain environment until tomorrow.
Iroquois pilot Flight Lieutenant Neal Crawford said the exercise helped pilots and crews maintain skills for search and rescue operations or overseas deployments in mountainous terrain.
"When you are flying in the mountains the wind swirls around peaks, dumps over ridge lines and funnels through gullies," he said.
"It's much more challenging than flying over an open field or over the ocean. The uneven terrain also makes landing more difficult and the snow provides additional challenges when reading the radar."
The helicopters and their crews have been taking off each day at 9am from Dip Flat in the Rainbow Valley and flying most of the day to test their skills in the surrounding mountain ranges.
The RNZAF has a total of 14 Iroquois helicopters and 12 pilots. The helicopters have a cruising speed of 195 kmh and can carry nine passengers or seven troops with light kit. They are mainly used as a troop transporter and in search and rescue missions.
RNZAF spokesman James Heffield said exercise Blackbird is held annually and is based either at RNZAF Base Woodbourne or Tekapo Army Camp, depending on conditions.
"In terms of helicopters it is certainly our definitive annual flying exercise," he said.
"It involves a third of our pilots and a lot of support staff. The mountain ranges in Marlborough offer the right conditions and RNZAF Base Woodbourne is not far away."
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/marlboroughexpress/4159864a6563.html
By RICHARD MILLER - The Marlborough Express | Friday, 10 August 2007
The skies above Marlborough have been buzzing with helicopter activity this week as Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) helicopter crews take part in a special mountain flying exercise.
Four Iroquois helicopters and 38 personnel, including helicopter crewman, aviation refuellers, aircraft technicians and 12 pilots, are taking part in exercise Blackbird, using RNZAF Base Woodbourne as their base.
Helicopter crews from RNZAF Base Ohakea have been conducting daily flights in the mountains around St Arnaud from Monday and will continue testing their skills in a low-visibility, high-wind mountain environment until tomorrow.
Iroquois pilot Flight Lieutenant Neal Crawford said the exercise helped pilots and crews maintain skills for search and rescue operations or overseas deployments in mountainous terrain.
"When you are flying in the mountains the wind swirls around peaks, dumps over ridge lines and funnels through gullies," he said.
"It's much more challenging than flying over an open field or over the ocean. The uneven terrain also makes landing more difficult and the snow provides additional challenges when reading the radar."
The helicopters and their crews have been taking off each day at 9am from Dip Flat in the Rainbow Valley and flying most of the day to test their skills in the surrounding mountain ranges.
The RNZAF has a total of 14 Iroquois helicopters and 12 pilots. The helicopters have a cruising speed of 195 kmh and can carry nine passengers or seven troops with light kit. They are mainly used as a troop transporter and in search and rescue missions.
RNZAF spokesman James Heffield said exercise Blackbird is held annually and is based either at RNZAF Base Woodbourne or Tekapo Army Camp, depending on conditions.
"In terms of helicopters it is certainly our definitive annual flying exercise," he said.
"It involves a third of our pilots and a lot of support staff. The mountain ranges in Marlborough offer the right conditions and RNZAF Base Woodbourne is not far away."
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/marlboroughexpress/4159864a6563.html
