Life Through Your Camera

[G-man]

Now all the LRMP aircraft can do is circle overhead and hopefully maintain visual contact with the downed aviator.

Nah, we would drop liferafts, supplies etc, AND check this out:

http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=750

[Baradium]

Now all the LRMP aircraft can do is circle overhead and hopefully maintain visual contact with the downed aviator.

Nah, we would drop liferafts, supplies etc, AND check this out:

http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=750

They were using it until fairly recently, but what is left out in the article is injuries.  Apparently injuries from the initial "snap" is the reason they decommissioned the system.

The cessna driver almost died becuase after a day of circling over him watching him, the conditions got worse and the herc couldn't see him anymore.  They finally spotted him on the edge of their search grid,  he'd almost drifted far enough away they'd never have foudn him again.  I want to say he was in a raft for 3 days.  The other problem is that the supplies need to be close enough to the downed aviator for him to reach them.  I want to say the first attempt or two were blown away and he never reached them.   Need to find the article to get the details accurate...


I like this quote though:

The first live test was conducted with a pig as the target. Due to some stability issues, the pig spun in the 125 mph wind, and arrived on the plane dizzy and discombobulated. It recovered, however, and promptly attacked the crew.

[G-man]

Yeah the system is not the best. I still claim that an experienced crew can drop supplies to a person in the water---once you understand if you have to drop up wind or downwind, it is not a problem.

I dropped about 15 life raft packs during my time---all made it to their target. Even talked a cessna pilot down to a successful ditching in mid Atlantic---he climbed out the window, onto the roof and was picked up by the tanker we had him ditch next to, without even getting fully wet. He was doing a solo ferry flight and his fuel pump failed---he had fuel on board in a bladder tank, but no way to get it to the engine.

Also found my fair share of idiots who chose to row across the Atlantic in row boats---now these are the ones who should be charged for their search and rescue, but that's another thread.........................

[TheSoccerMom]

Yikes!!   

How about more wild stories from mid-ocean?  That is some crazy stuff, and mean weather. 

One of our mechanics was a Navy rescue diver for some time..  he has so many wild stories, whenever he's done, we all step outside and just about kiss the ground in gratitude!!!

 

[airtac]

A good ol' Piper PA-44-180 Seminole. 

Oh a twin Tomahawk......only flew one once, I thought the performance was lacking..............till I figured out I forgot to retract the gear....DUH !!

[chuckar101]

Even with the gear up the performance is lacking, especially when the door pops open at 10,000 ft.  Which happened shortly after those pics were taken.

[tundra_flier]

Now all the LRMP aircraft can do is circle overhead and hopefully maintain visual contact with the downed aviator.

Nah, we would drop liferafts, supplies etc, AND check this out:

http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=750

I've got a book on the C-130 that talks about that system.  They claim there it was mainly used for covert extractions in Nam.  It also says they had trouble finding volunteers to practice with.  Bet that wouldn't be a problem now!  Sounds like the ultimate bungee jump in reverse       

Phil

[airtac]

Even with the gear up the performance is lacking, especially when the door pops open at 10,000 ft.  Which happened shortly after those pics were taken.

Lucky you weren't an in Aztec---I had an Aztec door pop once--the low pressure area between the nacelle and fuselage sucked it out about 8 to 10 inches, where it stayed and the resulting airflow stalled the stabilator which caused the airplane to tuck under.  I was looking straight down at the ground with the yoke slamming full in and out despite my best efforts to stop it.  After a few seconds of complete control loss the only thing I could think of was to extend the gear which changed the airflow enough I was able to regain control.   Scared the crap out of me and after landing at Reno, I had a couple of stiff drinks before going to my layover.  There have been a few fatal accidents in Aztecs attributed to door pops---don't know of any other airplane wiith that problem and it doesn't happen every time either, I have afriend with an Aztec who's had a pop with no problems other than noise-- Just thought I'd mention it, good bit of info to have tucked away for the future.

[gibbo_335]

Even with the gear up the performance is lacking, especially when the door pops open at 10,000 ft.  Which happened shortly after those pics were taken.

Lucky you weren't an in Aztec---I had an Aztec door pop once--the low pressure area between the nacelle and fuselage sucked it out about 8 to 10 inches, where it stayed and the resulting airflow stalled the stabilator which caused the airplane to tuck under.  I was looking straight down at the ground with the yoke slamming full in and out despite my best efforts to stop it.  After a few seconds of complete control loss the only thing I could think of was to extend the gear which changed the airflow enough I was able to regain control.   Scared the crap out of me and after landing at Reno, I had a couple of stiff drinks before going to my layover.  There have been a few fatal accidents in Aztecs attributed to door pops---don't know of any other airplane wiith that problem and it doesn't happen every time either, I have afriend with an Aztec who's had a pop with no problems other than noise-- Just thought I'd mention it, good bit of info to have tucked away for the future.

WOAH!! I keep that in mind airtac if i ever fly an Aztec...yikes

[Frank N. O.]

Even with the gear up the performance is lacking, especially when the door pops open at 10,000 ft.  Which happened shortly after those pics were taken.

Lucky you weren't an in Aztec---I had an Aztec door pop once--the low pressure area between the nacelle and fuselage sucked it out about 8 to 10 inches, where it stayed and the resulting airflow stalled the stabilator which caused the airplane to tuck under.  I was looking straight down at the ground with the yoke slamming full in and out despite my best efforts to stop it.  After a few seconds of complete control loss the only thing I could think of was to extend the gear which changed the airflow enough I was able to regain control.   Scared the crap out of me and after landing at Reno, I had a couple of stiff drinks before going to my layover.  There have been a few fatal accidents in Aztecs attributed to door pops---don't know of any other airplane wiith that problem and it doesn't happen every time either, I have afriend with an Aztec who's had a pop with no problems other than noise-- Just thought I'd mention it, good bit of info to have tucked away for the future.

Yikes indeed! That sounds like a true horror-story. Very well done getting it back under control  And thanks for sharing the story 

Frank

[chuckar101]

Dang man, that sounds pretty extreme.  No problems with ours, just lots of noise and a little bit of a workout to get it closed.  Vegas approach had a few questions when we could here them again, and those stiff drinks were definately on the menu that night

[Turbomallard]

For three years I've tried to have my friends from Sonex visit and be guest speakers for our EAA chapter meeting. Wx canceled two previous years, but yesterday was our turn! And we got TWO airplanes to visit from Oshkosh. The guys crashed out at my place overnight after the meeting (we finally called it a night somewhere around 1:30 because Kerry had to fly back and staff the Sonex tech support phone line after lunch, otherwise we probably would have kept talking all night not knowing how late it was until the sun came up). We got up at 7:00, went to breakfast, and they flew home. The airplanes were very popular at the meeting and Kerry did a great presentation. Every six months or maybe once a year you get a day in your life where everything is just perfect... mine was yesterday!

TM

[airtac]

Nice pictures of nice airplanes duck

[Frank N. O.]

Sounds like a great day! Funny, those planes remind me of a duck with that sloped back nose 

Frank

[airtac]

Sounds like a great day! Funny, those planes remind me of a duck with that sloped back nose 

Frank

So what else would you expect from a Mallard?