Helicopter

[PeteC]

How in the world did you make the connections to link up with a Detroit suburban police department? I assume the machine was then disassembled, packaged and shipped to ??? overseas?

Perhaps there is a clearinghouse for things like this but if you did it before about 1996, there wasn't much if any internet to help search things out. Pete

[Nereus]

How in the world did you make the connections to link up with a Detroit suburban police department? I assume the machine was then disassembled, packaged and shipped to ??? overseas?
Perhaps there is a clearinghouse for things like this but if you did it before about 1996, there wasn't much if any internet to help search things out. Pete

Well Pete, in those days (1986), I did not have white hair and need a walking stick! The Helicopter was advertised in "Aircraft Trader", I think it is called, anyway a trade publication that lists all sorts of aircraft and related items.
I looked at several in California, and also met up with a nice old bloke that was very familiar with what I was looking for, and he insisted that I call him each time I found a possibility and he would check it out.

As it turned out the one I bought did not need Einstein to see that it was genuine. The Police Dept were upgrading to turbine machines, and had traded this one in, although they still had it. The best part was that it came with a huge inventory of spare parts, tools and manuals, and a brand new engine, as they had operated several of them over the years and this was the last one.

I paid for their own engineers to dismantle and pack it in a 20 ft container. Legally it required an "Export C of A, (airworthiness), and that was was done by an FBO that had also worked on it previously.

It arrived in Australia near Brisbane and was reassembled and put on the register by the main operator of the type. I then flew the thing, (at a top speed of around 60 knots) all the way across Australia to my base near Perth.

[migrant]

in those days (1986),

Being from Detroit, and having some umm.... questionable years when I was young, that helicopter could have shown it's spotlight on ummm... me

[PeteC]

Great story Nereus. Those were the days before IPod but I guess you had an 8 Track in there for in-fight entertainment. I know a long trip at 60 Knots but a once in a lifetime experience, especially if you landed at outback bars along the way. Pete

[Nereus]

in those days (1986),

Being from Detroit, and having some umm.... questionable years when I was young, that helicopter could have shown it's spotlight on ummm... me

Do you have, erm... a dark comlexion and curly hair, migrant!

[Nereus]

No 8 track, Pete. I had my late Father with me as well, so had comments coming from him along the way.

The biggest problem was carrying enough fuel, and making it to airports. I had cargo racks on each side and some drums of extra fuel and a hand pump.The old girl would run happily on 95 octane automotive fuel, and on a couple of occasions I landed near a petrol station and topped up with that. Same with overnight stops in the outback area`s, just land in the nearest vacant block near a motel. Took 5 days if I recall correctly. As I was moving "with" the sun, some of them were long days!

Yes, once in a life time experience, which helps to overcome the loss of the whole shooting match to some extent. But that is another storey.

[migrant]

in those days (1986),

Being from Detroit, and having some umm.... questionable years when I was young, that helicopter could have shown it's spotlight on ummm... me

Do you have, erm... a dark comlexion and curly hair, migrant!

Nahh, we were the last of the central European immigrant families (Hungarian) that have long been squeezed out

[2dandan]

Steve M,

To go back onto topic. I don't know where you live on Klong Road or where the helicopters are in relation to your house, however when I was in HH in November at least 2 helicopters started flying an apparent loop about 3/4 pm in the afternoon. They were about 1/2 mile away from my house at the closest point. They also made about 12 journeys.

My house is near the top of Soi 56 and I went looking for them one day without success. What I did find though was a "Police" complex which was brand new and very large in size. It is located at the top end of Soi 56 (shortly after you leave the houses) and you can find it if you turn to the right towards the Wat on the hill. Don't take the Wat road cut off but go straight ahead and you will find it there.

It's got some large warehouse type buildings with large flat concrete parking/loading areas, an office HQ type building, a full size football (soccer) pitch and 3 large apartment blocks which are either offices or staff accomodation. The area is vast and it can also be accessed from the Klong Road area (think it's the yellow bridge area).

Didn't see the helicopters, but my guess is they were landing in this area and it's certainly big enough to take them. I saw them for 3/4 days in a row before I went home.

[Acadian450]

Glad to hear someone else has a helicopter in their backyard. I live near an airforce base in Canada and they practice night flying drives us crazy!! But I guess we will be happy when they are there to provide emergency service if we ever need it.

[Nereus]

There is quite often both Police and Military helicopters on maneuvers around Hua Hin, more so when our esteemed resident is present. I have not seen the new Police complex, but it is very possible that what you report was associated with that.

However, the helicopter that the OP was asking about is a lot smaller (only 2 seat), and very rarely flies in the afternoon. Depending at what stage the student is in his training, the flight pattern will vary. Mostly it involves circuits and landings, which means it will travel the same path every 15 minutes or so. (and invariably directly over my house in Soi 6)!
In the later stages of training navigation exercises are carried out to the West of Hua Hin, in which case the aircraft may be gone for an hour or so.

[Steve M]

Hi all

Thanks for your response

Here is a pic of the helicopter in question

[Steve M]

However, the helicopter that the OP was asking about is a lot smaller (only 2 seat), and very rarely flies in the afternoon. Depending at what stage the student is in his training, the flight pattern will vary. Mostly it involves circuits and landings, which means it will travel the same path every 15 minutes or so. (and invariably directly over my house in Soi 6)!

Nerius, this gels with what I have observed also at Soi 6 area. However the pic I posted earlier shows only one person in the helicopter ruling out training flights I guess

[Nereus]

However, the helicopter that the OP was asking about is a lot smaller (only 2 seat), and very rarely flies in the afternoon. Depending at what stage the student is in his training, the flight pattern will vary. Mostly it involves circuits and landings, which means it will travel the same path every 15 minutes or so. (and invariably directly over my house in Soi 6)!

Nerius, this gels with what I have observed also at Soi 6 area. However the pic I posted earlier shows only one person in the helicopter ruling out training flights I guess

No, not at all. Long before a student can get a licence he has go solo, and accumulate a minimum number of hours solo.

[Rider]

Well said Mr N.
He'll have comms with ground control too for support etc.

Looks like a farang from the angle it was taken at

[yabz]

If its a training helicopter its strange that they don't fly over the sea rather than over residential areas. Not only is the noise maddeningly irritating but its also dangerous given the number of helicopter crashes there have been recently.