Jonkershoek fire 2021

[Alouette3]

Thanks for the info. It must be quite something when that thing gets swaying in the wind. Proper skills these pilots.

Heavier loads tend to be more stable, but when an oscillation sets in it can be quite a handful. When it comes to wind, you fly on airspeed and try keep that constant. Wind just changes your speed relative to the ground when you using that as a reference, you will still try keep a constant airspeed.

 

Turbulence caused by terrain and obstacles is the bigger issue, resulting in updraught and down draughts as well as local changes in wind direction. Experience teaches you to read the terrain and know where to expect turbulence.

 

Sling rating was one of the more fun ratings I did. Working on the winch rating now.

Edited March 3, 2021 by Alouette3

[Bos]

.

 

The helicopter in the pics is the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. Mark Jackson and his company Leading Edge Aviation is contracted by Working on Fire to assist in the Western Cape during fire season (other part of the year they are at home base in Nelspruit). They are using the Black Hawk (appropriately also known as the Fire Hawk) as well as Hueys (Bell UH-1).

So, no the helicopter did not come from the American boats.

The Jackson brothers are legends, met them at a wedding a few years back.  

[silversonic]

https://www.facebook.com/rideinjonkershoek/posts/3754209231359757

 

Hope it's been postponed.

 

Was a little cautious of going in this mornings drizzle, (rusty vehicle blah, blah) and now is raining down proper.

[PhilipV]

Heavier loads tend to be more stable, but when an oscillation sets in it can be quite a handful. When it comes to wind, you fly on airspeed and try keep that constant. Wind just changes your speed relative to the ground when you using that as a reference, you will still try keep a constant airspeed.

 

Turbulence caused by terrain and obstacles is the bigger issue, resulting in updraught and down draughts as well as local changes in wind direction. Experience teaches you to read the terrain and know where to expect turbulence.

 

Sling rating was one of the more fun ratings I did. Working on the winch rating now.

Does the nature of the load play a role?

When we transport liquids, the ullage (space between water level and top of tank) adds an added dynamic load that needs to be compensated for when driving. Solid loads are lekker, they stay put.

 

Now add a swinging, liquid load and I think the pilot's workload goes up considerably?

Edited March 4, 2021 by PhilipV

[Karman de Lange]

Does the nature of the lid play a role?

When we transport liquids, the ullage (space between water level and top of tank) adds an added dynamic load that needs to be compensated for when driving. Solid loads are lekker, they stay put.

 

Now add a swinging, liquid load and I think the pilot's workload goes up considerably?

 

Heli's can only do "positive G" (unless you stuff up ) .. so water don't slosh as only see "gravity" in same direction.  so either centrifugal force in a turn or gravity from earth

 

ok, now that is a  really *** explination , but in summary water might slosh at pickup, but after that it should all go to the bottom and stay there.  (I think,)

Edited March 4, 2021 by Karman de Lange

[PhilipV]

Heli's can only do "positive G" (unless you stuff up ) .. so water don't slosh as only see "gravity" in same direction. so either centrifugal force in a turn or gravity from earth

 

ok, now that is a really *** explination , but in summary water might slosh at pickup, but after that it should all go to the bottom and stay there. (I think,)

But it may go side to side with directional changes, and the bag is flexible as well.

[Karman de Lange]

But it may go side to side with directional changes, and the bag is flexible as well.

 

its like the water in bucket you spin around.   the pulling force is always above the water, (rope/hook)  so will always "see positive G in single direction".   unless you cut the rope or fly into a mountain.

 

Normal heli cannot do negative G without major @#$@ happening, so you always have tension on the line.

 

sorry, not able to explain properly...   might have to go google something

Edited March 4, 2021 by Karman de Lange

[Karman de Lange]

its like the water in bucket you spin around.   the pulling force is always above the water, (rope/hook)  so will always "see positive G in single direction".   unless you cut the rope or fly into a mountain.

 

Normal heli cannot do negative G without major @#$@ happening, so you always have tension on the line.

 

sorry, not able to explain properly...   might have to go google something

 

Have to add to this .. you might be able to swing the bucket if you roll side to side, but you will still always have a "pull" on the bucket which keeps the "top" at the "top". (like pendulum).

 

You can of course pendulum it to much if you really try , but this is out of normal operation 

 

(i'm also happy to be corrected, but this is my basic understanding)

Edited March 4, 2021 by Karman de Lange

[hansolo]

This is probably a bit easier way to do it...

 

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/sikorsky-firehawk.html

 

Massive respect to those pilots, I thinks it’s difficult enough flying a helicopter without smoke, heat and a 4000 kg pendulum hanging below.

[Headshot]

There was a pretty severe fire in Jonkershoek in 2015 too unfortunately.  Well I'm pretty sure it was 2015. I live here and should know. All I can remember is that it was "a few years back" and it was pretty damn bad. This last one was a bit worse though. Definitely no earlier than 2015. 

Tokai burned in March 2015 and JH a few weeks or days after that.

 

In fact we almost had a repeat at Tokai on Tuesday this week. There was a massive response from the local fire fighting teams and almost no wind or it could have been inferno 2 for Tokai. There is tons of cut alien veg everywhere.

[Eddy Gordo]

Is there any reason why we dont make use of 

 

[Hamstring]

Is there any reason why we dont make use of 

 

Maybe dams are to small?

 

[DieselnDust]

Is there any reason why we dont make use of 

 

 

 

Lack of large accessible water bodies. That thing needs a long clean entry to the vlei/dam and a clean unbstructed exit that isn't over residential  or commercial property

[Twaatie]

This is probably a bit easier way to do it...

 

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/sikorsky-firehawk.html

 

Massive respect to those pilots, I thinks it’s difficult enough flying a helicopter without smoke, heat and a 4000 kg pendulum hanging below.

Also the most difficult/dangerous way to fly a chopper ...

 

Low and slow

Edited March 4, 2021 by Twaatie

[ChrisF]

Seems the cold front is loosing some steam ....

 

Bellville rain prediction has gone down from 60mm to 23mm ...

 

HOPING the Jonkershoek trails are spared heavy rains, for now .... hope the ground cover can repair before the heavy rains come ...

[PhilipV]

Seems the cold front is loosing some steam ....

 

Bellville rain prediction has gone down from 60mm to 23mm ...

 

HOPING the Jonkershoek trails are spared heavy rains, for now .... hope the ground cover can repair before the heavy rains come ...

35mm yesterday

 

http://lognet.saeon.ac.za:8088/Dwarsberg/index.htm