Aviation MegaThread!!!!

[Daniii]

that fighter was an F4F

[MN_Smurf]

Originally Posted by Heyload

By golly, your right, it is a Wildcat!

Thanks for that link, Gernick.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while....

[Bendernz]

Couldn't find the Helicopters thread, but this happened about 15 minutes ago.

One way to trash a Squirrel.

[Beach40]

Originally Posted by Bendernz

Couldn't find the Helicopters thread, but this happened about 15 minutes ago.

One way to trash a Squirrel.

Whoa!

Main rotor strike?

I was thinking the confined space was just perspective. Maybe not.

[EvilGenius]

Ouch.

A helicopter pilot involved in a dramatic crash on Auckland's Viaduct Harbour this morning has told ONE News he "is doing fine".

Greg Gribble was using the helicopter to set up the Telecom Christmas Tree.

The chopper had lifted a pylon into the air and was slowly descending when the crash happened.

Story continues below...


Gribble could be seen looking around the helicopter as he descended in closely-confined conditions.

The main rotor then struck a cable causing a loud bang as the chopper flipped and slammed into the ground.

The company assists in firefighting and spraying chemicals.

Jazz said lifting the xmas tree was not particulary unusual.

He said the company has good safety record but he does have concerns about the future of the company.

Eyewitnesses described hearing a "massive whack" or an "enormous pop" as the rotor got tangled in the cable.

The B2 Squirrel helicopter was heavily damaged with its tail snapped in half.

Gribble was thrown around the helicopter as it hit the ground, but was quickly helped from the wreckage by other workers.

He is being assessed in the emergency department at Auckland Hospital and staff say he could be released this afternoon.

Gribble's son Jazz, also a pilot, told ONE News he spoke to his father as soon as he was picked up by the ambulance.

He said his father was shaken but he is doing reasonably well.

Jazz told ONE News he was on his way to the hospital.

Jazz said lifting the christmas tree was not particulary unusual for the company, who is often involved in firefighting and spraying chemicals.

He said the company has good safety record but he does have concerns about the future of the company following the incident.

Telecom has released a statement confirming the crash happened while the tree was being set up.

It says it is "extremely glad the pilot and ground crew were not seriously injured, and will assist any investigations into the crash as required."

The tree attracts over 150,000 visitors each year and is made up of 375,000 lights.

Gribble flies for Helisika Helicopters, which specialises in commercial operations such as lifting and spraying.

The company website says he has been a commercial pilot for 20 years and has many thousands of hours of flying experience.

tvnz.co.nz caught the entire crash on a live stream.

Te Wero Bridge on the Auckland waterfront has been closed to pedestrians as authorities work to determine what caused the crash.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission is deciding if it will undertake an investigation.

[Puddleglum]

From the EAA museum:

[Lornce]

[Mudflaps]

Here's a good collection of low fliers, hopefully not 205;

Lower_than_a_Snake's_Belly_in_a_Wagon_Rut



Some of the pictures I've seen before.

[jackd]

Originally Posted by Puddleglum

From the EAA museum:

That's an amazing tool you pictured there - from a Martin Mariner PBM-3C is it? I wonder if each aircraft was equipped with one or did they share the unit within the squadron. I wonder if the Martin Mars - based over in my old home town, has one as well.

I can't find an embed feature, but here's a link to some cool WWII planes flying off the Carl Vinson in Hawaii

http://www.airshowbuzz.com/sabre/go/...835?type=video

[Bigger Al]

Originally Posted by Mudflaps

Here's a good collection of low fliers, hopefully not 205;

Lower_than_a_Snake's_Belly_in_a_Wagon_Rut



Some of the pictures I've seen before.

That linky is big-time fun!!

[Daniii]

We flew C-130 training flights out of Nashville in '68 and '69, 300 knots, 300 feet, through the hills of Tennessee and Kentucky. Often we were a lot lower than that. Even took a 4-ship into an open pit mine one time. We looked up at the crane operator. After a while, it all becomes kinda ordinary....

[Heyload]

Originally Posted by Puddleglum

From the EAA museum:

The C-5A's had a similar weight and balance computer back in the day, well before my time. I've talked to some of the older guys, they said it was very accurate once calibrated....which usually lasted until the next landing and then it had to be calibrated all over again! So it fell out of use pretty quickly. The few that are still out there were disconnected years ago.

I know the C-130 guys used a "load adjuster" which was basically a slide-rule gadget. They made one for the C-5 too...but it was three feet long. It's still around the schoolhouse somewhere. Now they have a computerized program for those little palmtop gadgets, real gee-whiz stuff.

We still teach the students the basics, though. A pencil, a Form 365-4, a copy of the Addenda A and the 5-2 and a $3 calculator still get the job done.

[Gernick]

Nifty.

[oldmanb777]

I'm still trying to put together all the details, but so far................... This DC4 was delivered to the AAF originally during WW2. It should have gon to Western Airlines, but the war too priority. After the War, it was delivered to WAL, then reinlisted in the AAF for the Berlin Airlift, then returned to WAL. After a few years of service at WAL it was sold to PSA. Who being a cahs strapped startup airline in Calif. let it be reposesed, and sold to ANA. There long range fuel tanks were put back into it, and it flew the Pacific for some years. the was sent to the desert to be cut up. there are not many DC-4s left flying. After a while it was sold to Wag aero for parts, but was in good enough shape to be converted into a fire bomber. In the early 70's it was involved in a mid air with a Baron, the baron crashed, but the DC-4 made it back, and was again sent to the desert. Later Florida air Transport bought it for a freighter, and it flw for some years in the freight service. I thin it is now flying charters in a retro operation. I'm still looking, BUT>>>>>>>>>>> the REST of the story. I pulled into San Juan, and it was on the ramp. My dad flew this airplane @ Western Airlines! One of his best fishing buddy's, was a tech @ Western. "Cabby" got his A&P as the war ended. Got on with Western, then was recalled into the AAF for the Berlin Airlift. He was a Crew Cheif on this airplane in the Berlin Airlift. After the berlin airlift he returned to WAL, only to get layed off. the ORIGINAL Frontier Airlines, that started as Monarch, was in need of mechanics. Cabby went back to his home in Denver, and to work for Frontier. Cabby was the first leadman that I worked for @ Frontier as an A&P, in 1976. So now as a B757 Capt, I arrived in San Juan to be greeted by this sight. I am still researching all the facts, but this is what I know so far.


Oh well can't post the pix???