Medical Airlift Question

[forza whites]

wildcat45 said:

Merlin is not ideal for SAR in the UK. Though a very capabale aircraft (Canada uses a SAR version) it is just too big for certain types of operation.

Merlin has a tremendous downwash which can casue problems. UK SAr aircraft don't jsut operate in a maritime environment, they have to get up close and personal with cliff faces, and land on all sorts of different terrain from dedicated helicopter facilities, though boggy moors, fields, hill tops motorways and school play grounds.

Merlin is not ideal for all these roles.

The fact is the sea King - in ist S61 Sikorsky and Westland HAR marks is just about right for what is needed in the UK. It can carry a lot of survivors and it can get in and out of quite small places. Remember Boscastle? A merline would have not really been an asset there.

For deep sea long range SAR - the Merlin with its 3 engines - would be great.

SAR pilots I know love the Sea King. Its old has its limitations but with an upgrade to the rotors to give more lift and imporved avoinics it is a very capable SAr platform.

But it will have to be replaced and the fact is there is no real direct replacement for the Seak King.

Maybe!
It doesn't mean that the MOD won't go down the Merlin (derivative) route! Have seen a SAR Blackhawk (huge thing)..and its size didn't preclude it from SAR operations in Alaska, which has much more severe mountains/cliffs than anything in UK/Europe.

The Blackhawk has almost the same Rotor diameter as a Merlin (meter or so in it) and just under 2m shorter. I guess it depends on how the things are configured/rigged.

[rhinochopig]

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.

The replacement aircraft are Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters.

Oh yes - I was getting mixed up with tehn Irish, who have used Dauphins (as have the US Coast Guard).

Engage pedant mode...

The Us Coast Guard helicopters are called Dolphins


Disengage pedant mode...

Now, that is just being "Uber Pedantic". Even I'm not that bad. The Yanks just don't like having to use French words.

Being even more pedantic, they called their chips after the French!

[onlynik]

Scotland has a dedicated air wing.

http://www.scottishambulance.com/what_we_offer/air...

S-92's are all grounded at the mo due a critical failure.

[Eric Mc]

rhinochopig said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.

The replacement aircraft are Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters.

Oh yes - I was getting mixed up with tehn Irish, who have used Dauphins (as have the US Coast Guard).

Engage pedant mode...

The Us Coast Guard helicopters are called Dolphins


Disengage pedant mode...

Now, that is just being "Uber Pedantic". Even I'm not that bad. The Yanks just don't like having to use French words.

Being even more pedantic, they called their chips after the French!

Yeah - but they don't call them "pomme frites", do they?

[ninja-lewis]

Doesn't the USAF provide long range cover over the eastern Altantic using AAR-capable helicopters at RAF Mildenhall/Lakenheath?

[Eric Mc]

Not sure if they do any more.

the 67th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron(67th ARRS) used to be based at RAF Woodbridge with their Jolly Green Giants but they've switched to Mildenhall these days and the Jolly Greens are retired. Not sure if they have any heliopter assets any more.

"67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron
Constituted 67th Air Rescue Squadron on 17 Oct 1952. Activated on 14 Nov 1952. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 18 Mar 1960 at Prestwick, Scotland. Activated again on 10 May 1961, organized on 18 Jun 1961 at Prestwick, Scotland. Transferred to Moron AB, Spain on 1 Jul 1966. Redesignated 67th Air Recovery Squadron on 1 Aug 1965 and then 67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 Jan 1966. On 15 Jan 1970, the 67th ARRS transferred to RAF Woodbridge, UK. On 1 Jun 1988 they were redesignated the 67th Special Operations Squadron. On 1 Apr 1992 they moved to RAF Alconbury, UK. They are still active as the 67th SOS and have flown the HC-130 since 1965 (their aircraft are now designated as MC-130P), currently stationed at RAF Mildenhal, UK."

[Jimbeaux]

rhinochopig said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.

The replacement aircraft are Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters.

Oh yes - I was getting mixed up with tehn Irish, who have used Dauphins (as have the US Coast Guard).

Engage pedant mode...

The Us Coast Guard helicopters are called Dolphins


Disengage pedant mode...

Now, that is just being "Uber Pedantic". Even I'm not that bad. The Yanks just don't like having to use French words.

Being even more pedantic, they called their chips after the French!

Being even more petty; Dauphin is a fish, Dolphin is a mammal.

[forza whites]

ninja-lewis said:

Doesn't the USAF provide long range cover over the eastern Altantic using AAR-capable helicopters at RAF Mildenhall/Lakenheath?

Lakenheath is full of imported Japenese cars!

[excersizer]

XJSJohn said:

We have something called the Civil Defence Farce which pretends to be an emergancy service, but TBH you are better off hailing a taxi!!

• The ambulance will wait at every set of traffic lights, the taxi by routine jumps most of them
• No one will get out of the way of an ambulance, everyone gets out of the way of taxi's as they just don't give a st and are driven by nutters.
• The taxi will take you to your choice of hospital!!!
• The taxi will probably be cheaper!

The police are not the brightest bulbs in the box either (which is not a bad thing) but the fire brigade to appear to be on the ball and realy know thier stuff, they also have very cool fire tenders!

The Air Force uses Super Pumas - and occasionally, Chinooks - for places where the taxis and Rhinos can't go, like the South China Sea.

[Eric Mc]

Jimbeaux said:

rhinochopig said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.

The replacement aircraft are Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters.

Oh yes - I was getting mixed up with tehn Irish, who have used Dauphins (as have the US Coast Guard).

Engage pedant mode...

The Us Coast Guard helicopters are called Dolphins


Disengage pedant mode...

Now, that is just being "Uber Pedantic". Even I'm not that bad. The Yanks just don't like having to use French words.

Being even more pedantic, they called their chips after the French!

Being even more petty; Dauphin is a fish, Dolphin is a mammal.

Dauphin is the French word for Dolphin.

No wonder the USCG chose to use the English version of the word.

[moleamol]

rhinochopig said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.

The replacement aircraft are Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters.

Oh yes - I was getting mixed up with tehn Irish, who have used Dauphins (as have the US Coast Guard).

Engage pedant mode...

The Us Coast Guard helicopters are called Dolphins


Disengage pedant mode...

Now, that is just being "Uber Pedantic". Even I'm not that bad. The Yanks just don't like having to use French words.

Being even more pedantic, they called their chips after the French!

I don't know what kind of pedantic I'm being but I thought they changed the name to freedom fries when the French disagreed with something or other.

[telecat]

Shame on you!!! do you not remember the appeal after Richard Hammonds crash?? The resulting funds helped the Yorkshire Air Ambulance fund a second MD explorer. The "Hammycopter" is also night landing capable. Both YAA Helicopters also carry the Pistonheads logo. The Majority of Air ambulances in the UK are MD Explorers or EC135's. The remaining are MBB Bo-105's and Dauphins

Edited by telecat on Monday 23 March 15:26

Edited by telecat on Tuesday 24th March 08:57

[moleamol]

Am I right in assuming the police aircraft that don't need any reconfiguring are the Explorers? And that not all forces run these yet?

[telecat]

moleamol said:

Am I right in assuming the police aircraft that don't need any reconfiguring are the Explorers? And that not all forces run these yet?

The Police have been re-equipping with either the MD Explorer or the EC135. Both are used by Air Ambulance's as well so could be configured in a dual role.

Edited by telecat on Tuesday 24th March 08:57

[Jimbeaux]

Since these resources are all purchased and controlled by local jurisdictions, not statewide, the citizens have direct vote on tax-funding and policy. Worked well so far.

[Jimbeaux]

Eric Mc said:

Jimbeaux said:

rhinochopig said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

HOGEPH said:

Eric Mc said:

Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.

The replacement aircraft are Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters.

Oh yes - I was getting mixed up with tehn Irish, who have used Dauphins (as have the US Coast Guard).

Engage pedant mode...

The Us Coast Guard helicopters are called Dolphins


Disengage pedant mode...

Now, that is just being "Uber Pedantic". Even I'm not that bad. The Yanks just don't like having to use French words.

Being even more pedantic, they called their chips after the French!

Being even more petty; Dauphin is a fish, Dolphin is a mammal.

Dauphin is the French word for Dolphin.

No wonder the USCG chose to use the English version of the word.

I was referring to the Mahi-mahi, sometimes called the "baby dolphin". You are correct however. I notice that Dauphin Island Alabama has retained the French spelling.

Edited by Jimbeaux on Tuesday 24th March 01:52

[HOGEPH]

telecat said:

The Majority of Air ambulances in the UK are MD Explorers or EC145's. The remaining are MBB Bo-105's and Dauphins

Edited by telecat on Monday 23 March 15:26

Small correction for you. The majority of air ambulances are MD Explorers or EC135s

[Ruskie]

Yorkshire ambulance service has one operational chopper soon to be two fully manned everyday.

[CaptainSlow]

I flew in a helicopter for the first time the other day. Pretty cool.

[telecat]

HOGEPH said:

telecat said:

The Majority of Air ambulances in the UK are MD Explorers or EC145's. The remaining are MBB Bo-105's and Dauphins

Edited by telecat on Monday 23 March 15:26

Small correction for you. The majority of air ambulances are MD Explorers or EC135s

Apologies and corrected.