Rescue helicopter "flying backwards"

[matchmaker]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-o...

101 mph gust - at sea level . Some of our friends in Shetland have been without power for 26 hours now.

[jbi]

helicopters regularly fly backwards... and side to side

not the most stable things in gusty weather

The wind would have to exceed the maximum forward speed of the helicopter for it to genuinely be forced backwards relentlessly.

This would be about 130mph on something like a sea king

[baldy1926]

When i was based at Northolt we had Pembrokes during a weekly run to Germany. The crew told me of a stormy trip when the were over taken by a cross chanel ferry which was not making much head way either.
The looks on passenger faces were always a picture when they got on the aircraft.
We would weigh the passengers the crew would ask the passenger with the thickest jacket to sit next to the door. In flight catering was a flask and sandwiches.