Mil Mi-8MTV-1 Hip C YS-1006P, Huka Falls
Dec 29, 2021 11:18:41 GMT 12
nuuumannn and 11SQNLDR like this
Post by ZacYates on Dec 29, 2021 11:18:41 GMT 12
Hi all,
On the way home from Christmas with the in-laws my wife Sam and I stopped at Heli Adventure Flights near Huka Falls to visit the resident Mil Mi-8. From Singaporean photographer Yang Qize's blurb on a photo at Airliners.net:
Some more detailed history is provided by Mark Allison with his photo on Flickr (link):
My only other visit to the Mil was in Christmas 1998 (I think) with my family on the way to a Rotorua holiday and there was no way we weren't going to pull over! Back then Helistar was the operator flying scenics over the falls, today the site is home to Heli Adventure Flights (R44 and Squirrel spotted on the pad) and The Hub cafe. From memory the paint is by a local artist and is about the sixth paint job she's worn since being installed.
One tip for future visitors going into the cabin: mind your head on the way out! Sam and I both clocked ourselves pretty good!
Photos taken by me 27/12/2021.
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
On the way home from Christmas with the in-laws my wife Sam and I stopped at Heli Adventure Flights near Huka Falls to visit the resident Mil Mi-8. From Singaporean photographer Yang Qize's blurb on a photo at Airliners.net:
While on the way to Huka Falls, I chanced upon this artefact on display at the Helistar Hub Café. She was once Fidel Castro's transport, before her stint as a Nicaraguan presidential helicopter. She was sold to El Salvador in 1993 for heavy work and was imported to New Zealand for logging. While undergoing tests at Taupo Airport, her twin YS-1005P suffered a fatal accident, leading to 1006P being grounded. Today, she spends her days advertising for scenic flights and welcoming visitors to Huka Falls.
Some more detailed history is provided by Mark Allison with his photo on Flickr (link):
On the side of the road just off Highway 5 on the Thermal Explorer Highway near Taupo is this crazy bit of aviation history.
Built in 1976, it began operations with the Fuerza Aeerea Revolucionarait in 1979 and served as the VIP helicopter of both Fidel Castro (Prime Minister and later President of Cuba) and Daniel Ortega (President of Nicaragua).
It was then sold to a logging company in El Salvador before being sold to South Pacific Heli Logging and transported to New Zealand along with sistership YS-1005P.
On 16th October 1993 YS-1005P crashed near Hokitika, West Coast, New Zealand with the loss of the 3 crew onboard. It's said the helicopter went out of control and broke up while in cruise flight. An uncommanded yaw led to a pitch excursion severe enough for the main rotor to sever the tail boom. The precise cause of the yaw could not be determined.
After the crash, the type was grounded indefinitely in New Zealand. In 1994, YS-1006P was towed from Taupo Airport to where it sits today.
Built in 1976, it began operations with the Fuerza Aeerea Revolucionarait in 1979 and served as the VIP helicopter of both Fidel Castro (Prime Minister and later President of Cuba) and Daniel Ortega (President of Nicaragua).
It was then sold to a logging company in El Salvador before being sold to South Pacific Heli Logging and transported to New Zealand along with sistership YS-1005P.
On 16th October 1993 YS-1005P crashed near Hokitika, West Coast, New Zealand with the loss of the 3 crew onboard. It's said the helicopter went out of control and broke up while in cruise flight. An uncommanded yaw led to a pitch excursion severe enough for the main rotor to sever the tail boom. The precise cause of the yaw could not be determined.
After the crash, the type was grounded indefinitely in New Zealand. In 1994, YS-1006P was towed from Taupo Airport to where it sits today.
My only other visit to the Mil was in Christmas 1998 (I think) with my family on the way to a Rotorua holiday and there was no way we weren't going to pull over! Back then Helistar was the operator flying scenics over the falls, today the site is home to Heli Adventure Flights (R44 and Squirrel spotted on the pad) and The Hub cafe. From memory the paint is by a local artist and is about the sixth paint job she's worn since being installed.
One tip for future visitors going into the cabin: mind your head on the way out! Sam and I both clocked ourselves pretty good!
Photos taken by me 27/12/2021.
Mil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on FlickrMil Mi-8MTV-1 YS-1006P by Zac Yates, on Flickr
