Low Level Helicopter R44 Emergency Diversion tropical storm cockpit

[whalebarn]

@TinnInches Comfort breaks often impossible. Possible if ground below is safely landable, and not near anyone who might object. Not true in this video, as it was either jungle or rubber plantations or mangrove swamp or vertical rocky stuff. Often so hot that you sweat it all out anyway. Don't start off needing to go. Other than that, learn to fly with your legs crossed!

[TinnInches]

How do you stop for piss and shit breaks?

[perryinjax]

Did someone say the left seat died later in a crash? Is this true? Any link to the crash report? I hope it isn't true. Please advise.

[R44ChopperII]

@perryinjax No, thats not Martin.

[perryinjax]

@R44ChopperII thanks for the reply :-)

[ragoval]

nice video!!

how did you record de voice of the intercom system and the radio conversations?

[macman8680]

17 Thai military died in 1 week just gone in 3 different helicopters. Each attempting to rescue the previous crashes. The last was a Black Hawk in which there was 1 surviver. Mark Weir died in The Lake District, Cumbria, UK only a few months back. They really are not fit for flying in storms.

[readyornot2198]

What were the winds like ahead of that storm? You must have experienced some turbulence? Any fear of LTE?

Fair play to you both! How long did it take?

[whalebarn]

@readyornot2198 It was pretty windy. Onshore, so it was turbulent when we were passing islands upwind of us as we followed the coast. You can see us being thrashed around a bit. Have never experienced LTE in an R44, (or any helicopter for that matter).

[jb42682]

When you were in preflight didn't the big ass low give you an idea todays a bad day to fly. This is a prime example of why so many aircraft crashes are pilot error.

[whalebarn]

@jb42682 Well you have a point that the preflight weather didn't look great, but flying in the UK gives you a lot of experience of handling flying in low pressure/heavy rain, so we felt equipped to give it a go and see if we could find a way through. The following day we did get through, in similar conditions. I think that accidents caused by pilot error are more about pilots pressing on when things get really bad, rather than from giving it a go in the first place, especially in a helicopter.

[jb42682]

@whalebarn Is this professional or recreation?

[whalebarn]

@jb42682 Entirely for fun.

[jb42682]

@whalebarn I've been in fixed wings my whole life. I just started getting interested in rotorcraft. The performance of this aircraft in these conditions is fascanting.

[decathalon22]

Well that was interesting. I'm thinking next time do a better eval of the weather before chugging off into the muck. Not to mention, you're in an R44 not an S92.

[22640cal]

how did you record all this? im interested in getting something like this!

[whalebarn]

@22640cal I was using a standard DV camera on a magic arm in the cockpit. The hard bit is the sound.

[AustraliaNavy]

so your flying from england to australia

[whalebarn]

@AustraliaNavy Yes, Cambridge UK to Adelaide Australia in an R44.

[AustraliaNavy]

@whalebarn Woe you dudes are really brave, Good work :).

[aligerous]

If I missed it, was there ever any thought to landing rather than flying through the poor weather?

[whalebarn]

@aligerous Hi, we would have landed if really in trouble, as we do in the UK, but the terrain was unsuitable (mangrove swamp or steep rocky stuff, miles from anywhere) and we had got into real trouble in Egypt for landing off-airfield, so we were more inclined to go back to the nearest airfield (Trang) even though it had no suitable fuel for us. We had their frequency, but we were not convinced it was correct, hence asking the passing airliner for the frequency.

[aligerous]

@whalebarn Well, I'm glad it worked out for you guys. Not second guessing you guys. I wasn't there.  Just another experience to make you better. Be safe.

[HerbertKojetin]

Awesome video, great quality definitely worth packing in lots of batteries!

[motokid032]

That is crazy, you both looked like you kept your heads though.Must have been pretty nerve racking.

Wanna be pilot

[blackhawk438]

@motokid032 me to