Pilatus PC-6 Porter - Bush flying over the Borneo jungle

[Moose.]

Pilatus PC-6 Porter - Bush flying over the Borneo jungle

Now that I'm back in the UK for a bit, I've finally got round to editing together all the footage I've been collecting from flying around the jungles of Borneo there past few months. Shot entirely with a GoPro HD camera, I hope it gives you an idea of what I get up to on a daily basis.

Enjoy!

[Eric Mc]

Fantastic footage.

What altitude are those hill airstrips?

[Fat Albert]

Great Vid matt, had a look at your blog after your comment's on Carol's picture of a Pilatus on FB (I am Wessex Boy on the other side), must be much more fun/rewarding than flying a big jet!

Makes my Strip landing in a 20kt crosswind on Sunday seem a little mundane!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

[Moose.]

Eric Mc said:

What altitude are those hill airstrips?

Not too high, just under 3000ft on the whole. Although the surrounding terrain goes up to 8-9000ft in places. That can make things interesting in the mornings when you need to get to an airstrip in a valley under the clouds. There's some more information on the airstrips we fly to on my blog here:

http://indopilot.blogspot.co.uk/p/kalimantan-airst...

[motomk]

That was very good. I read your blog once a month or so. Amazing to see the airstrips pop up out of nowhere!
Only ever dealt with one Porter, was a parachute plane, think ex army, used to ask us how fast he was going, we'd say 20kts groundspeed and he would say "It will take me 25 minutes to get back to the drop zone!" Of course I am guessing he had everything going slow!! Just found a list of them and it still flies in another part of the world. Also didn't know they still make them.

[Eric Mc]

I didn't realise that the CIA used Turbo Porters on those missions. I know they used the Helio Courier and Super Courier.

[Fat Albert]

Go and watch Air america with mel Gibson, tells you all you need to know....
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099005/

(I am sure Matt shouts at the Telly when he watches it though!)

[Zaxxon]

"Excuse me....is that an UZI?"

[bob1179]

Fat Albert said:

Go and watch Air america with mel Gibson, tells you all you need to know....
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099005/

(I am sure Matt shouts at the Telly when he watches it though!)

I watched that last night!

Great video by the way Matt! I would love to have a job like that, how long have you been flying for? What got you into doing that sort of thing?

[Moose.]

Fat Albert said:

(I am sure Matt shouts at the Telly when he watches it though!)

There's just a few inaccuracies in there Although it's still a great movie which I do enjoy.

[Moose.]

bob1179 said:

Great video by the way Matt! I would love to have a job like that, how long have you been flying for? What got you into doing that sort of thing?

I had to double check but I've been flying for just over 6 years now(!) Got my PPL in 2006 at Filton. I pretty much fell into this job, almost by accident. The more of this sort of flying I do, the more I enjoy it. I honestly can't think of much else I'd rather be doing right now

[JuniorD]

What a great blog. That's what I call proper aviation.

I've a friend who has been flying Porters in the Austrian Army for nearly 25 years. He could've been in the airlines long ago but he loves his job too much to leave it.

[Rower]

Great Vid of some amazing country and of course your flying skills !

What are you actually doing there , transporting people or freight or surveying ?

Rower

[Eric Mc]

The movie "Air America" is a bit rubbishy. I read the original book decades ago and it was excellent. I know the Aussies operated Porters and TurboPorters in Vietnam and I know the Helio Courier was definitely used. I just couldn't remember if the US (either covertly or overtly) used the Porter.

[Moose.]

Rower said:

What are you actually doing there , transporting people or freight or surveying ?

Rower

Flying local government subsidied routes which are mainly people and their cargo. Occasional charters for soldiers/mining people/geologists/dead bodies. Basically, anyone who's willing to pay

[FourWheelDrift]

Dead bodies pay well do they?

[V41LEY]

Wow - that is amazing and proper aviation as someone said on here. Followed you onto this thread after comments about NGHFB's at Singapore. What a job ! Are you based in Indonesia ?

[XJSJohn]

A mate of mine used to fly these and other similar things out of Moresby in PNG in the early '80's. Will have to send him a link to that video!!

He now flys Mega Ark's around the world.

[Moose.]

Yeah, based in Indo; currently in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). Hoping to be moved to West Papua by the end of the year, all being well. The flying is exactly like PNG (i.e. mountains) but you're slightly less likely to be attacked by the locals

[RemaL]

bob1179 said:

Fat Albert said:

Go and watch Air america with mel Gibson, tells you all you need to know....
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099005/

(I am sure Matt shouts at the Telly when he watches it though!)

I watched that last night!

Great video by the way Matt! I would love to have a job like that, how long have you been flying for? What got you into doing that sort of thing?

Only just seen this and Bobski don't give Matt a big head, but got to love the pics and vids Matt