If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 08:49:56 +1300, Mainlander *@*.* wrote:
In article , says... Bruce Hamilton wrote: Cub Driver wrote: It's getting awfully crowded down there (or up there, in terms of latitude). No wonder the folks at McMurdo were so unfriendly to the Kiwi who dropped in without enough fuel to reach his destination. Just to help your understanding of global political dynamics, the West Island of New Zealand is where the pilot originated, and both the NZ and US base refused to provide Avgas because:- 1. They didn't have any, and didn't want to give him Mogas. 2. He didn't seek advance permission to land at McMurdo ( as required ), probably correctly assuming they would reject it, given his inadequate planning. 3. He didn't organise logistic or search and rescue support in advance or take notice of Antarctic station guidances - as did the British pilot who gave him some of her contingency, as her well-planned expedition had been been deferred. 4. He apparently wasn't carrying enough fuel for his stated objected, so always intended to scavenge several hundred litres of fuel from a base. He radioed the base on his southward journey saying he didn't have enough fuel, but continued onto the point of no return and the South Pole anyway. Once again another armchair quarterback that does not know what they are talking about. Referring to yourself are you? Mr Hamilton's post is the best summary of the facts I have seen. Antarctic flying conditions are so unpredictable that it is not unusual for planes to have to fly all the way down and all the way back without landing if the weather closes in in the few hours that it takes to fly out of Christchurch. The LC-130's have a PSR of approx 4 hrs out from CHC. At that time, they must commit or return. I am very aware of one instance where one was past PSR and declared an emergency. Mac Tower said return to CHC as they could not handle it. Rapid calculations were made and it was found they barely had enough fuel to reach NZ. As it turned out, the pilot, also the CO of VXE-6 at the time, had enough fuel to make one only shot at landing at Dunedin's Momona Airport. The FE. a family friend, after the flight returned to CHC said in all his years of flying, which included that year being his approx 8th Antarctic season, he'd never had such a close shave. What saved their bacon was the CO had taken part in an exchange programme with the RNZAF and had flown into Momona several times in Kiwi C-130's so he knew the approach etc. I was at the hanger waiting with the men and women of 6 waiting for this flight to make it back to NZ as my fiance was on this flight . We all knew there was the risk of ditching. For those that remember the mid-winter mail drops, the C-141-B's on the Pole run were refuelled three times in mid-air by a KC-10. I've known many pilots that have served in 6 and the USAF. None will tell you it's a breeze flying the Antarctic route. Some may remember the crash when a JATO bottle wrenched loose on takeoff and the subsequent crash of the plane that went in to rescue to the original crew. [I think I still have the photos of this somewhere]. Then the crash of a further plane that went in a few years later - a flight several friends died or were badly injured in. Cath |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Ummm ...
We don't have a West Island. He's an Aussie who started his trip from the lower part of our South Island. Just to help your understanding of global political dynamics, the West Island of New Zealand is where the pilot originated, and both the NZ and US base refused to provide Avgas because:- |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Cub Driver wrote: It's getting awfully crowded down there (or up there, in terms of latitude). Well, it *is* the Summer vacation period down there. George Patterson Great discoveries are not announced with "Eureka!". What's usually said is "Hummmmm... That's interesting...." |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Point of order Mr Chairman ...
He was a bloody Aussie, not a Kiwi "Cub Driver" wrote in message ... It's getting awfully crowded down there (or up there, in terms of latitude). No wonder the folks at McMurdo were so unfriendly to the Kiwi who dropped in without enough fuel to reach his destination. all the best -- Dan Ford email: see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Newsflash!
Plane goes down on an unprecedent flight... nowhere near the South Pole and not attempting to set a record!!! Details on the 11 o'clock news. =D |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Newsflash!
Plane goes down on an unprecedent flight... nowhere near the South Pole and not attempting to set a record!!! Details on the 11 o'clock news. =D |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 10:17:31 +1000, BJ wrote:
http://www.falklandnews.com/public/s...2549&source=12 "Following the reception of a distress call early this morning, a massive search for 63 year-old Jenny Murray and her co-pilot, Colin Bodil began and culminated in their successful rescue. It was thought that the pair, who were attempting to be the first people to fly around the world from pole to pole had ditched in the icy waters south of the Falkland Islands. Though Mrs. Murray sustained a broken arm and her co-pilot suffered chest injuries, they erected a tent in -40C temperatures. The 63 year old Grandmother and her co-pilot will be flown to Punta Arenas in Chile for Medical treatment." http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1014182.htm "Helicopter pilot Jennifer Murray, 63, suffered a broken arm, while co-pilot Colin Bodill, 53, has chest injuries, information sent from the US Antarctic base of Patriot Hill says, which organised the rescue". Hmmm - sic 'em boys. I am going to apologise to any prudes here first off for either my weird sense of humour or my gutter mind, I can't work out which. The reason for my apology is the rather ambiguous subject header. The little snippet at the end tends to lend support as well. Nelly. If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours :-) |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
("Nelly" wrote)
I am going to apologise to any prudes here first off for either my weird sense of humour or my gutter mind, I can't work out which. The reason for my apology is the rather ambiguous subject header. The Grandmother header I accept your gutter mind, .....I mean your apologies. g -- Montblack http://lumma.de/mt/archives/bart.gif |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
I am going to apologise to any prudes here first off for either my
weird sense of humour or my gutter mind, I can't work out which. The reason for my apology is the rather ambiguous subject header. The little snippet at the end tends to lend support as well. That also struck me immediately. I thought that we were going to be redirected to alt.binaries.pictures . . . . . . . . -- Tony Roberts PP-ASEL VFR OTT Night Almost Instrument Cessna 172H C-GICE |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Bah. First I'd heard about this, not read much aviation press
recently. http://www.polarfirst.com/html/press.php?recno=4 I see the helicopter they were flying was a Bell 407. Jennifer's previous round the world record flights were all in an R-44, with "Q" (Quentin Smith) either as co-pilot (1996) or flying another helicopter (another R-44) alongside, with Colin Bodil flying his microlight (2000). http://www.earthrounders.com/other.html Polly Vacher is also on her way to circumnavigate the world via the two poles (having done it the "easy" way in 2001) in her Piper Dakota. http://www.worldwings.org/ http://www.earthrounders.com/singles.html Paul "BJ" wrote in message ... http://www.falklandnews.com/public/s...2549&source=12 "Following the reception of a distress call early this morning, a massive search for 63 year-old Jenny Murray and her co-pilot, Colin Bodil began and culminated in their successful rescue. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|