Helicopters R Us

[coyote]

Originally Posted by WeirD

Live line work.

Holy shit Wierd!

Your Huevos are way bigger than mine.

[Photog]

Mmmmm...mountain waves....Mmmmm.





Jeebus, you guys are amazing.



The best times of my life were spent in helicopters. No doubt about it. If I could go back, I'd rearrange my life so that that's all I ever did for the rest of my career. Maybe I still can...who knows?

[Kaumajet]

Originally Posted by WeirD

Holly shit

That's some rough looking terrain. Top elevation of what?, about 6000?

The hill in the picture is Bishop's Mitre in the Kaumajet range, and it's at 3600' if I remember correctly. The Torngats get to about 5500 in Labrador, 7000 for Baffin and 8500 for Ellesmere. That's to the water.

[Weirdo]

Originally Posted by Photog

Jeebus, you guys are amazing.
The best times of my life were spent in helicopters. No doubt about it. If I could go back, I'd rearrange my life so that that's all I ever did for the rest of my career. Maybe I still can...who knows?

Like I said before, some days are better than others.

I am not this cool, pomis.

[Max Power]

[Photog]

Oh, man, that is SERIOUSLY BADASS.

C'mon...you know this is like crack cocaine to us aerial shooters.

[Photog]

Okay, these are crummy pics but I shot them off some old framed pics on my desk.

This is N26FH...the A-Star. Gorgeous bird, flown by an immensely talented pilot. We lost him and two other crew one night. This is from the pic he kept in his office.



The 206B3. The awkward pose was due to this being used later for some photoshopping fun at the Other Shop's expense.



And the "trophy" at Cu Chi in Vietnam. What you don't see out of frame is some US soldiers who are walking from my left to go look at it, about to walk into the frame. Moving moment.

[Kaumajet]

Photog, what story were you doing in 'Nam?

And Max, that is one sweet-looking 'L'. I have a soft spot for Long Rangers :rabia

Originally Posted by WeirD

I am not this cool, pomis.

Really? You look pretty cool here. I love this shot of the three of us.


The view from WeirD's former office in Whistler


One of my favourites - SWMBO enjoying a view of the Selkirks from our buddy Don's Bell 407

[Loadedagain]

Originally Posted by Brad Vardy

The view from WeirD's former office in Whistler

you lyin sack of poop. this is the only work i've seen that lout doing in whistler...

[Photog]

Originally Posted by Brad Vardy

Photog, what story were you doing in 'Nam?

Documentary on the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.

[pilot]

Vardy, what's a cutie like that hanging with and old fart like you, bearing children, and such? You the only pilot she could find at the time?

[AFekete]

The ultimate adventure touring vehicle...

I want to learn to fly

Great pictures!!

-A

[MountainMan]

Hey WierD... This bring back memories?



-MM

[DoctorIt]

this is already an awesome thread - but here's a question that i've been wondering. How'd you guys come to be helicopter pilots? I imagine many go the military route first? I'm all

[Kaumajet]

Originally Posted by DoctorIt

this is already an awesome thread - but here's a question that i've been wondering. How'd you guys come to be helicopter pilots? I imagine many go the military route first? I'm all

I was going to university, enrolled in a science program with thoughts of pursuing medicine or engineering. I landed a summer job at age 17 doing forest inventory work for the local pulp and paper company, and that involved flying in helicopters every day.

I managed to get through three summers before I could no longer resist the urge, then quit to get my helicopter pilot licence. Went to a flight school in St. John's Newfoundland in 1981.

My commercial career lasted until 1996, when I made the jump into the flight test world. Five years later, in 2001, I got this gig with the feds.

Not so many go the military route in Canada - it's much more common in the US.