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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 11, 2007 19:49:13 GMT 12
When I was staying in the camping ground at Omaka last weekend I met a nice old chap from Rotorua staying nextdoor to me. He was about 70 something, and had been a pilot in his youth.
Among many interesting stories he told me, one stood out. He said "about twenty years or more ago" so it could be a lot more, he went to an airshow at Paraparaumu where he saw an act where a pilot in a Piper Super Cub performed an incredible feat.
He said there was one of those large wool bale bags full of something placed on the airfield. Attached was a very long length of rope, who's other end was attached to the Cub. He took off on a short take off length, immediately began to circle tightly and climb a little as the rope fed out. It eventually had no more slack in it and the bag lifted off the ground. The pilot was then free to fly where he wanted to, trailing the heavy bag, and apparently flew over towards some hills, then eventualy he returned and reversed the process with more slow, tight circles till he was able to place the bag right on the exact spot it had been on before. He then released the rope.
The chap telling me this couldn't recll the pilot's name but said he'd been a bush pilot in places like PNG and the Phillipines or somewhere, and had developed this method for transporting goods and even people into inhospitable spots in the bush where an air drop would mean lots of goods lost in ravines, etc. Apparently the pilot claimed that it was more accurate and reliable than using a helicopter in those types of conditions.
Has anyone else seen this act? Does anyone know who the pilot was? It would certainly be fascinating to see at an airshow.
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Post by Bruce on Apr 11, 2007 22:15:24 GMT 12
The Technique was pioneered in the 1940s by US Missionary Pilot Nate Saint, and used to establish contact with a tride of Indians in Equador who had no previous contact with civilisation. Nate lowered various gifts in a bucket using this method, eventually enough familiarity was built up to allow Nate and 4 other missionaries to land on a nearby beach and make contact in January 1956. Unfortunately all 5 were killed by the tribesmen upon landing. see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nate_SaintThe technique has been used in all manner of applications since that time. I dont think the Pilot at paraparaumu would have been Nate Saint, but certainly it has been widely used by other bush pilots since that time. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 11, 2007 22:38:41 GMT 12
Thanks Bruce, fascinating. I'd never heard of the technique before. has anyone here seen it done?
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Post by Simonjg on Apr 13, 2007 3:59:48 GMT 12
worth a go I reckon!!!
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Post by lumpy on Apr 14, 2007 15:21:46 GMT 12
Yep seen it done at an air show / open day at Woodbourn . Cant remember the date ( probably close to 20 yrs ago ) . I may be getting my dates crossed , but if I remember correctly there was a newly restored sea fury on show , and also ( not flying ) a Spitfire that had been repaired by Safe air after a landing incident .
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Post by Radialicious on Apr 14, 2007 20:43:39 GMT 12
Yep, that's correct - Woodbourne March 1990. The local hospital was having a fund raiser for a new scanner and the airshow proceeds went to this cause. It is called the 'Indian Rope Trick' and can safely be used to both lower objects to the ground and pick stuff up.
John Sinclair of Marlborough Helicopters flew the Marlborough Aero Club ZK-BPG that day. It was fascinating to watch.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 14, 2007 20:51:09 GMT 12
Very interesting, thanks guys. I'd like to see it done sometime at a show in the future
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Post by lumpy on Apr 14, 2007 21:39:22 GMT 12
Thanks Radialicious , that rings lots of bells . Ironically I know John Sinclair a bit ( was once taken for a ride in a tiger moth by him - back in my atc days ) just didnt realise it was him in the cub that day. Hey , anyone remember the big swing bridge at dip flat ? Ask John if a cub will fit UNDER it ! The rope trick was really interesting to watch , and to be honest I am surprised I havnt seen it since .
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Post by Bruce on Apr 14, 2007 21:53:57 GMT 12
We're starting planning meetings for SportAvex 08 soon, the rope trick would be great to see - just need someone with a nimble little "cub like" aircraft to get out and practice!
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Post by Radialicious on Apr 14, 2007 22:19:25 GMT 12
I'll have to quiz John next time I see him! He used to do a lot of flying in Tiger ZK-BSN when it was on line at Omaka. She's a special machine. Graham Orphan took me for a ride in her a few years ago. The first time I ever heard 'the wind in the wires'. He was most kind to let me fly her solo in late '99.
Bruce, I'm sure the rope trick could be resurrected with little drama. It is one of those often forgotten airshow displays that is little use as a drawcard before an airshow. It is however, guaranteed to be talked about long after the roar of the Allisons and Merlins have died down.
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Post by Radialicious on Apr 14, 2007 23:01:25 GMT 12
There is the story about another rope trick that has been done with a Cub. A farmer in the USA bought one for his farm but found that he couldn't consistently takeoff from his largest paddock without worrying about hitting the far fence. Landing wasn't so much of a problem. He modified his Cub to include a remotely released shackle at the base of the right wing strut. He modified his largest paddock to include a bloody big post in the centre with a swivel on the top. Between the swivel and the shackle was a strong rope. His theory was that he'd tie the Cub to the post with the rope and build up airspeed in the manner of a control line model before releasing the shackle and continuing on his merry way. I never heard that he ever came to grief doing this. It would be good to watch.....  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 14, 2007 23:14:28 GMT 12
Al, the RAF tested (successfully) the exact same system in early WWII with Spitfires when all the airfields were being bombed and they thought it may be difficult to take off. They planned to install the poles and Spitfires in small dispersed fields. In the end they felt there was no necessity as I guess it'd take a lot of pilot training, etc. It would indeed be neat to see. I'd watch from quite a distance though!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 14, 2007 23:16:20 GMT 12
I meant to add that FlyPast or Aeroplane Monthly had an article on the Spitfire pole launch system back in the early-mid 1990's
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Post by lumpy on Apr 15, 2007 14:26:18 GMT 12
Hey Radialicious , dont tell John it was me who blabbed :-) . In fairness ,I never actually saw it go under . Him and Pete Nelson drove out the day before , didnt say anything , but had a good look around . We were woken the next morning by the sound of the cub doing " bombing runs " on us ,with rolls of toilet paper . They then started doing passes down the river ,the first few clearly above the bridge as you could see the cub flashing behind the trees , but then there were a few that could only be heard and not seen- until they came back into view climbing out of the river bed . nobody actually saw him go beneath it , but all of us looking agreed he must have .
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Post by Radialicious on Apr 15, 2007 14:39:20 GMT 12
Lumpy, no problems. I'll keep it to myself - let him think he has gotten away with it. As I write this, Pete Nelson is out towing gliders from Omaka.
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Post by lumpy on Apr 15, 2007 16:33:15 GMT 12
Pete Nelson ( and John ) taught me to fly gliders back in my ATC days . Really should go for a another fly someday , trouble is Ive got about two too many hobbies - and three too many kids ! :-)
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Post by Peter Lewis on Apr 15, 2007 20:51:55 GMT 12
Paul Legge tried out the 'Indian Rope trick' at Masterton many years ago using, I think, a Tiger Moth. The idea was to retreive high-value cargo (like whitebait) from remote areas prior to the importation of helicopters.
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Post by brianallen on Dec 17, 2013 6:24:20 GMT 12
Paul Legge tried out the 'Indian Rope trick' at Masterton many years ago using ... Paul more than "tried it out." he regularly performed 'Paul Legge's Indian Rope Trick' at airshows, including many times with my brother, Russ, in the tire at the end of the thousand feet of rope. On one notable occasion Paul and I believe Russ was involved too, flew down with Paul and was on the beach -- but not 100% about that -- rescued folk who'd been swept beyond the surf at Palliser Bay. Picked them up one at a time in the tire. And were recognized with gongs from the Royal Humane Society. Paul quite definitely so - Russ, not sure. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 17, 2013 9:36:14 GMT 12
Thanks for this Brian. Fascinating story about the rescue. I'd forgotten all about this old thread. Great stuff. Are Paul or Russ still around today?
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Post by brianallen on Nov 23, 2015 23:54:12 GMT 12
Thanks for this Brian. Fascinating story about the rescue. I'd forgotten all about this old thread. Great stuff. Are Paul or Russ still around today? Whoops - long time to notice: I corresponded with Paul within the past couple of years or so but sad-to-say Russ was killed, in a Rural C-185: ZK-CBK; (wires) in 1963. Warmest - B A.: |
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