For the aviation fans

[Long Wheel Base]

SAA is so ahead of everyone else, we cancelled our flights there last week already. The rest are amateurs.

[johnson]

Thanks for the link.

With out being an investigator and just a regular fixed wing guy there are things I question and no disrespect to the pilot. Sure, experienced and IF rated, but how current and how much practicle IF time? Helos tend to fly visualy out of all of that IMC stuff (generalizing I know). Looks like a hard pull up and turn, possible overbank and loss of control, effective spiral into the ground. Single pilot ops is hard enough as it is let alone in crap Special VFR coditions. The transition to instruments will also add to the problems if any disorientation had occurred. A hard pull up and simultaneous turn can easily disorientate someone who has suddenly gone IMC.

Sorry if it sounds like I am accusing the poor pilot, Perhaps there was a mechanical but I (we all) have seen too often how experienced folk get it wrong too.

Anyway, all will be revealed in time and for now I will stick with my theory.......much like the Citation near George....avoidable.

 

Edited,,,,,,content.

My thoughts exactly. The best of the best also makes mistakes. Look what happened with Mike Patey.

[Alouette3]

Looks like BA have cancelled flights to China....

Last medivac from a vessel, a new crew member from Asia had to be brought to shore, MRCC requested we take full precautions for Corona virus.

[DJR]

Another cool aviator

Edited January 30, 2020 by DJR

[The Ouzo]

Another cool aviator

apparently science says these things should not be able to fly

[Blu82]

Some more information on the C-130 crash in Australia.

https://youtu.be/zGhzpx5Zxw8

[DJR]

Last medivac from a vessel, a new crew member from Asia had to be brought to shore, MRCC requested we take full precautions for Corona virus.

Your name and the medivac reminds me of some interesting times in a previous life from long ago. I shared a mess with a couple of airforce Alouette pilots in the far end of the Caprivi. They were real hard drinking party types and always up for a bit of fun. We got to fly those Alouettes up and down the Zambesi, Kwando, Okavango and the Chobe, chasing the best tiger fishing and game watching, all in the name of training. The distinctive sound of an Alouette will stay with me forever, a bit like an angry metallic vacuum cleaner with a few loose bolts in there somewhere, like it was about to fly to pieces, but of course never did. The best of times that I never want to re-live!     

Edited January 31, 2020 by DJR

[Bonus]

Cargo plane conversion . . . 

 

https://thepointsguy.com/news/a-look-inside-the-747-that-evacuated-americans-from-wuhan/?fbclid=IwAR1It-6sxn2uuYMOQLXsoy776zLimO8LOBY27hpzrZhqWjNpRKoHHPuoTUI

[Bonus]

Landing gear tests....

 

[Bonus]

Same for the A380 - which really is a massive plane!

 

[Spokey]

The Blanco take was/is that hovering with no vis is all but impossible ....

 

https://youtu.be/cttx236mUIE

 

But having said that if the weather is closing in on you in a heli its sure is going to be a lot easier to do a precautionary landing  than in  a fixed wing, Prior to that it seems there was a lot of ATC interaction

Blanco update on his channel is pretty interesting. He chats with a good mate who flies hellos. Pretty much calls it as loss of control going into IMC. Errosion of skills and lack of training in the industry.......This operation was certified VFR only. Despite his best efforts and previous training, the pilot was up against it the second he could not see outside. So sad that he left the decision to abandon the mission a tad too late. (Easy to chill in the desert and comment, I know. This will go into my CRM reference files)

[Twaatie]

Blanco update on his channel is pretty interesting. He chats with a good mate who flies hellos. Pretty much calls it as loss of control going into IMC. Errosion of skills and lack of training in the industry.......This operation was certified VFR only. Despite his best efforts and previous training, the pilot was up against it the second he could not see outside. So sad that he left the decision to abandon the mission a tad too late. (Easy to chill in the desert and comment, I know. This will go into my CRM reference files)

And thats how most accidents happen. Pilots believing that weather will get better once they through the clouds

[Long Wheel Base]

Landing gear tests....

 

I have done a few of these before. Never done one on a A380 though.

[MrJacques]

The South African Air Force over the past 100 years – Photos

 

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/trending/337240-the-south-african-air-force-over-the-past-100-years-photos.html

Edited February 1, 2020 by Jacquers

[Bonus]

I have done a few of these before. Never done one on a A380 though.

 

Do you know what the dry weight of a Std SAA A340-600? In terms of the jack sizes necessary?

[MrJacques]

Catch me if you can - Hollywood vs Reality: