Probably the very best piloting I have ever seen was an Apache holding hover in 28 gusting 40 kt winds. And he was sideways to the wind direction. This was December 2003 at Kitty Hawk for the Centennial of Flight. Bush had visited and the whoppitychopper was part of security. While the clown addressed the attendees my full attention was on the helo. I braced myself against the granite monument in order to limit my movement to see if the aircraft moved out of position. I could not discern any movement of the aircraft. It looked painted on that blustery leaden sky. It was an incredible feat of piloting.
And double-clipped in for 100% tie off. Hate to think what would happen if the pilot goofed or helicopter failed while the copter is essentially clipped to the line with 5Klb rated pigtails. Still, that's less likely than somebody slipping and falling, so still a good trade off safety wise.
I'd have zero problem doing this, looks like fun even. And with 100% tie off, there's essentially zero chance of tragically falling to your death. You're probably more likely to die while flipping burgers.
I can't find the original video, but the two linemen bailed at the first contact with the wires. They fell about 80 feet to the ground, and lived. The pilot and co-pilot fell out after the helo got entangled and was fully engulfed - they died. All it took was a slight gust of wind.
some of the craziest folks i ever known was a crew of steeple jacks we had on contract at a tv station i worked for. im thinking this is way beyond that
First helicopter I ever piloted was a OH-6. Man did I love doing aero scout missions in them things. The crazy shit possible to do in them and the stories I have very similar to what you see here. My main pilot was a Nam vet, very quite professional pilot, oh and the Stories I have about flying with Mr. Lacy, CW-3.
These guys here are how the lights are kept on. And yes take a very special kind of individual to perform this level of work. I will not go into why its an all WHITE MALE line of work, I think most here on Mr. Lanes site already know why.
Takes me back to my search and rescue years. 17 years hanging off the side of choppers way back in the mountains. But we were getting on and off under windy cliff-side conditions, had to move smooth-but-quick, so no tie offs.
Wind....I knew one of those drivers a while back, he said he preferred a stiff breeze, made it easier to hover, go figure. Amazing pilots and brave linemen, if you can't respect those skills somethings wrong with you.
I've over 10,000 in mostly Bell helicopters and hovering at that altitude is extremely skillful. Not sure I would have tried, well maybe when I was young and stupid.
Those guys are too young, reminds me: Lord, give me the eyes of an eagle, the strength of a bear and the balls of a Vietnam helicopter pilot. Watching a video on an air cav troop, close ups of couple of pilots, I said, "Good grief, those are babies!" One reunion a few years ago I was talking to a pilot who was in Air Cav Troop maybe four years after me. I mentioned the video and noticed he looked embarrassed. I said, "How old were you?" He blushed and said, "Nineteen." I was not a pilot but did fly with some, I knew they were going to whatever was necessary and then get the aircraft on the ground safely.
Good piloting skills, instantly adjusting for the added and subtracted weight. Figure an add and subtract of 3-400lbs...yeah, good piloting skills.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention the weight of those big brass balls
DeleteProbably the very best piloting I have ever seen was an Apache holding hover in 28 gusting 40 kt winds. And he was sideways to the wind direction. This was December 2003 at Kitty Hawk for the Centennial of Flight. Bush had visited and the whoppitychopper was part of security. While the clown addressed the attendees my full attention was on the helo. I braced myself against the granite monument in order to limit my movement to see if the aircraft moved out of position. I could not discern any movement of the aircraft. It looked painted on that blustery leaden sky. It was an incredible feat of piloting.
DeleteYeah, that would be a nope. A nopity nope, nope in fact.
ReplyDeleteNope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.
DeleteNot ever.
Me too.
DeleteIf that's the only job out there...I'm starvin'.
Absofuckinglutelynope.
ReplyDelete☑ Hell, No!
ReplyDeleteI demand more diversity on that crew!
ReplyDelete(How come no one on the left is screaming that?)
F Fisher
Not for all the tea in China....
ReplyDeleteHow do those guys pants that fit? Cause their balls gotta be the size of basketballs!
ReplyDeletethe 1.2 million things that could go wrong at any moment.
ReplyDeleteAnd double-clipped in for 100% tie off. Hate to think what would happen if the pilot goofed or helicopter failed while the copter is essentially clipped to the line with 5Klb rated pigtails. Still, that's less likely than somebody slipping and falling, so still a good trade off safety wise.
ReplyDeleteI'd have zero problem doing this, looks like fun even. And with 100% tie off, there's essentially zero chance of tragically falling to your death. You're probably more likely to die while flipping burgers.
I think the first thing he clipped was a ground clamp.
DeleteDoing is easy, trusting the pilot is the hard part.
Such an occurrence happened 3 years ago up near Plattsburgh, NY.
Deletehttps://www.wcax.com/content/news/Helicopter-crashes-in-Beekmantown-499046261.html
I can't find the original video, but the two linemen bailed at the first contact with the wires. They fell about 80 feet to the ground, and lived. The pilot and co-pilot fell out after the helo got entangled and was fully engulfed - they died.
All it took was a slight gust of wind.
Leigh
Whitehall, NY
I would do that in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteAll in a day's work.
ReplyDeleteTHESE are the kind of people that make our society possible.
ReplyDeleteLot of guts, lots of skill, lots of trust. I wonder what the wind velocity limit is for that kind of work?
ReplyDeleteAnything over 20 they start to call it a day unless they have to get guys down and then depends on the pilot...
Deletesome of the craziest folks i ever known was a crew of steeple jacks we had on contract at a tv station i worked for.
ReplyDeleteim thinking this is way beyond that
Usually hate heights, but somehow that looks like fun.
ReplyDeleteFirst helicopter I ever piloted was a OH-6. Man did I love doing aero scout missions in them things. The crazy shit possible to do in them and the stories I have very similar to what you see here. My main pilot was a Nam vet, very quite professional pilot, oh and the Stories I have about flying with Mr. Lacy, CW-3.
ReplyDeleteThese guys here are how the lights are kept on. And yes take a very special kind of individual to perform this level of work. I will not go into why its an all WHITE MALE line of work, I think most here on Mr. Lanes site already know why.
Saber 7
In the late 1960s I watched an AH-1 Cobra do a loop. Yes, inverted at the top. If done right, you should be pulling almost 2 Gs at the top anyhow.
DeleteYea it's mostly white guys on my crew...
DeleteTakes me back to my search and rescue years. 17 years hanging off the side of choppers way back in the mountains. But we were getting on and off under windy cliff-side conditions, had to move smooth-but-quick, so no tie offs.
ReplyDeletewho is holding the camera?
ReplyDeleteProbably a drone or someone with someone with some good zoom
Delete-arc
Wind....I knew one of those drivers a while back, he said he preferred a stiff breeze, made it easier to hover, go figure. Amazing pilots and brave linemen, if you can't respect those skills somethings wrong with you.
ReplyDeleteThank you sir...
DeleteNope on a rope 'cause I ain't no dope.
ReplyDeleteThey don't make enough money.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the pay for an aerial lineman?
ReplyDeleteWhat does the helicopter pilot make?
The pilot is probably making $350 to $500/hr. Plus hazard pay probably. If turbine, definitely $500/hr. [Figures are approximate but fairly accurate.]
DeleteA WAG on the lineman might be around $100 to $150/hr. Plus hazard pay probably. I am more certain about the pilot pay than the lineman.
I wonder how much they pay for life insurance.
DeleteNot no way, not no how.
ReplyDeleteI've over 10,000 in mostly Bell helicopters and hovering at that altitude is extremely skillful. Not sure I would have tried, well maybe when I was young and stupid.
ReplyDeleteThose guys are too young, reminds me: Lord, give me the eyes of an eagle, the strength of a bear and the balls of a Vietnam helicopter pilot. Watching a video on an air cav troop, close ups of couple of pilots, I said, "Good grief, those are babies!" One reunion a few years ago I was talking to a pilot who was in Air Cav Troop maybe four years after me. I mentioned the video and noticed he looked embarrassed. I said, "How old were you?" He blushed and said, "Nineteen." I was not a pilot but did fly with some, I knew they were going to whatever was necessary and then get the aircraft on the ground safely.
ReplyDeleteWho have the biggest balls of them all?
ReplyDeleteThey do. God bless them.
mommy, why does daddy take Brasso into the shower?
ReplyDelete