Always keep your camera handy (large images)

[thaddeus]

I was gazing out the window thinking about lunch when I was treated to an impromptu display of flying precision. (Well it was impromptu for me, probably not them!)





100% crop: Concentrating hard!


He then went about his business moving air-conditioners.


Moral: always keep your camera handy!

[firsty]

you think he would have found a longer cable

[nito]

now that is a job I dont want.

[Oneputt]

Ooooh a little squeezy

[Glen]

Thaddeus, amazing shots. From a pilots viewpoint, I would have thought the backdraft from the walls, sun shades, etc would have made it very risky going so close? Or is the zone of influence not very large for the blades?

[avkomp]

whoa!! thats big kahunas!!

little room for error here.


well spotted.

Steve

[obzelite]

anyone else timing out on the photos?

[Matt. K]

Newsflash!
16 airconditioners stolen from warehouse in North Sydney! Police are puzzled by lack of clues.

[Killakoala]

Sweet. Piloted by a cowboy no doubt. Great work if you can get it.

[sydneywebcam]

That helicopter is a Kawasaki BK117, same as used by Westpac Lifesaver Rescue and many police forces around the country. It's designed to fit into very tight spaces as you can see here.

Great set of pics Thaddeus.
___________
Cheers,
Paul.

[thaddeus]

From a pilots viewpoint, I would have thought the backdraft from the walls, sun shades, etc would have made it very risky going so close? Or is the zone of influence not very large for the blades?

The main issues are physically hitting something (wires, something blowing off, etc), and what's called "vortex ring state." VRS is where you are flying through your own downwash. What happens in confined areas is that your downwash hits the ground, goes out, travels up the walls, trees or whatever, then gets immeditely sucked in the top of the rotor disc. You end up churning the same air faster and faster, and you drop like a stone. Pulling more pitch doesn't make you go up, it just makes the air circulate faster and down you go. It's also called "settling with power."

obzelite: I'm not sure why the photos are timing out. If symptoms persist, please PM me with your IP and I'll check the logs.

firsty: He landed in there to drop of the loadmaster (the guy in the orange overalls in the second photo.) I have no idea why the loadmaster didn't arrive in a taxi. Then again perhaps they considered a Sydney taxi ride a higher risk than landing in a school courtyard!

sydneywebcam: Yes, and it's got a very impressive wire strike kit on it too!

[Geoff]

Thaddeus - sensational yet very scary images! I imagine his pay would equate well with the danger invovled in this job!?

[leek]

ok... Seen the pics now thaddeus... pretty
amazing!

All I can say is that at face value it looks like he was taking unnecessary risks...

luckily there were no kids in the school at the time...