Stranded Rescue helicopter

[Guest]

Hello all, follow the news story at this link http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk...folderPk=85696 Some bad weather up here just now as I'm sure you've all seen on the national news. Hope you all are fare-ing better

cheers

Jim

[Guest]

BIGj, Did you read the stupid comments under the news article ? I was the last person to speak to Sandy McCook, the photographer, that morning as he set out from the Mountain Railway car park. He was behind the finest Mountain Rescue Team in the UK, RAF Kinloss. He knows these hills well, is an expert skier and had the full extreme winter clothing and skis. Professionalism of the highest standard. He is no "snapper" of wannabes like some so called press photographers. The Sea King is still there , even more iced-up. Temperature will hit about minus 10 or 11c tonight so it will even more of a problem to get out . Drifting snow has caused more problems all day so I dont think they will get it out till Friday. Spare a thought for the guys guarding it ! I`ll try and a pic of it as it flies out.

[Guest]

The last news I heard, just before I left home, was that they were going to pick it up the next day. Obviously from what is being reported now that didn't happen and the aircraft is still there.

I am sure that under such extreem conditions there will be some very real danger of long term damage with things like hydraulic systems failures (oil can freeze if it gets cold enough) and metal fatigue and embritlement and I don't think it would be wise to fly it now without a very thorough safety check.

[Guest]

Next day was high winds frequent heavy snow showers. Rest assured that the RAF team guarding it will have been briefed on maintenance and de-iceing procedures. It isnt British Rail "wrong type of snow" , these guy train in Arctic Norway. There is no wind at the moment, bright blue sky but it was minus 16c last night at valley level , would have been much lower up the Hill. Today`s local paper has an article on a joker that put the Sea King on eBay...buyer collects. ! Probably one of the guards on his laptop ! Got 16 bids , reached £10,000 so far. Try millions...one born every minute. I`m back up tomorrow, Friday, another good weather forecast for then. Mid-day (Thursday) now and weather closing in again and I havent seen it fly out so far. Have a look at www.cairngormmountain.com and find out about a magical place, check the pictures page and livecams. Read the Rangers pages too for a feel of the place.

[Guest]

Update 5pm. Big Yellow seen flying in same corrie she came down in. Has not left the area yet. Could be test flight. (or the ebay winner has claimed his prize ! ) Weather fine,clear visibility to its RAF Lossiemouth base 40-ish miles away.

[Guest]

Duncan,



One of my most memorable jobs was when I helped to install a number of ski lifts and associated equipment on the top of Anoach Mor (apologies for the spelling!), the next peak to Ben Nevis.



I used to get up to the top first thing in the morning and see the stunning scenery below me of the Loch shining through the low mist and cloud and the crystal clear bright blue sky shining off the snow. Then I would notice the huge icicles hanging horizontally from the tower structures and the lift wires and realise just what an inhospitable environment it could be.

[wonwinglo]

Duncan,you really do live in a most beautiful rugged area,thanks for these updates on the Sea King,you must be our most Northern forum member with the best flying fields as well ?

[Guest]

It is a beautiful area but , as Bunkie says, can be a visciously harsh place. Slopes galore, flat fields are a bit scarcer but there are a few disused WW2 airfields used by modellers. The last remnants of the Cold War has just been closed this week. RAF Saxa Vord (early warning radar station) on Unst reducing the population of that most northerly island by one quarter. Aonach Mor Ski Area (Nevis Range) is much more pleasant visualy but suffers a bit more of a maritime climate with sou`westerlies. Much better up-lift system too, Austrian Dopplemyer gondolas. Nothing new on the Sea King. I`ll check it out 8am friday.

[Guest]

Duncan has it correct about the variable conditions on Nevis Range (modern name) so has Bunkerbarge. The day the Centre opened myself and others were doing an Amatuer Radio Special Event in the Snowgoose Restuarant. I did not get the first Gondola ticket as I was already at the top but I did buy the first paid for coffee and snack. Try Fort William or Lochaber search, you may well want to visit after.

[Guest]

One winters evening just before the opening ceremony I was on top of the hill when a lone piper started playing in the top station. I was in the dark up on the snowy slopes looking down on the pool of light from the Snowgoose Restaurant.

The sound rolled around the mountain amongst the night mist and sounded absolutely captivating.

This whole project was put on the hillside by helicopter as they were not allowed to build a road up the hill. I was lucky enough one day to get a ride when the pilot lifted slightly off the gropund and then backed away over the back edge of the mountain. An unbeleivable experience I will never forget.

[Guest]

Most northerly member ? I`m at North 57, what are you Bob? Must be close.

[wonwinglo]

Duncan,I would love to see a picture looking out of your back garden across the mountains ? perhaps you can post one for us sometime please.

Looking at the map you are not the most Northerly,I think Big Hamish is further North.

[Guest]

Northernmost?

Hello all, On this occassion as a general guide Duncan has it over me by 0.07 of a degree but Phoenix has won this accolade by 0.34 of a degree. Somewhere on the computer I've got a picture taken out of the conservatory overlooking the cliff, when I find it and learn how to post pics it'll appear on here. As to an update on the weather here in Aberdeen, still snowing on day 4 this is most unusual and I'm not liking having to clear the driveway twice a day. No word yet as to the helicopter rescue?

cheers

Jim

[Guest]

Oh yes, i`d forgotten about our Pheonix in Inverness , 32 miles north of me. No word of the rescue helicopter. The one seen flying yesterday in the area was another from RAF Lossiemouth. Weather was light winds 10kph , low cloud , snow showers. 3" snowfall overnight some drifting, minus 10c. My boss was over and took some pics , I`ll try to get some posted here, must be looking weird by now. Barry I`ll try to oblige with some Aiptek 2mpx shots. I`ve got a few with a 6mpx but my computer doesnt recognise the camera ! Mud Duck sandy will help. Any bird watchers ? I spent some spare time today snapping Snow Buntings in winter plumage. No Ptarmigan yet, too high up for me ! The Lapp reindeer herd seem to have gone walk-about and havent been seen recently in the usual places.

[Guest]

Have I wandered into Bill Oddie's nature watch???