Helicopter down in Norfolk
Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25646978
Breaking BBC news.... Hope it turns out ok for all those involved.
Apparently US military.
Breaking BBC news.... Hope it turns out ok for all those involved.
Apparently US military.
None of the reports I've read have suggested that, more that it landed to help. We'll see, but I suspect that it'll be a slow process as that area was featured on our local news last night as still being damaged from the recent flooding.
I live near Lakenheath and there's been lots of worried people on facebook this morning trying to find out who the crew were. Sad times.
I live near Lakenheath and there's been lots of worried people on facebook this morning trying to find out who the crew were. Sad times.
I'm confused as to why it had live ammo on board.
If it were a training exercise then surely blank ammo is just as effective. Its only really CQB / FISH or when training door gunners that you'd need live ammo on these things. Can't see them doing live training at night in this area or in the conditions we've had recently.
Out on a job maybe (very similar aircraft that SF use on long range Ops)? They have the ability to mid-air refuel so it's a possibility that they were returning from somewhere far away, however unlikely.
Does anyone know if the USAF still train for SAR out of Campbletown / Machrihanish? They used to use the air base a lot when i was there with the Marines.
If it were a training exercise then surely blank ammo is just as effective. Its only really CQB / FISH or when training door gunners that you'd need live ammo on these things. Can't see them doing live training at night in this area or in the conditions we've had recently.
Out on a job maybe (very similar aircraft that SF use on long range Ops)? They have the ability to mid-air refuel so it's a possibility that they were returning from somewhere far away, however unlikely.
Does anyone know if the USAF still train for SAR out of Campbletown / Machrihanish? They used to use the air base a lot when i was there with the Marines.
ecain63 said:
I'm confused as to why it had live ammo on board.
If it were a training exercise then surely blank ammo is just as effective. Its only really CQB / FISH or when training door gunners that you'd need live ammo on these things. Can't see them doing live training at night in this area or in the conditions we've had recently.
Out on a job maybe (very similar aircraft that SF use on long range Ops)? They have the ability to mid-air refuel so it's a possibility that they were returning from somewhere far away, however unlikely.
Does anyone know if the USAF still train for SAR out of Campbletown / Machrihanish? They used to use the air base a lot when i was there with the Marines.
I suspect it's SOP not to remove ammo once fitted?If it were a training exercise then surely blank ammo is just as effective. Its only really CQB / FISH or when training door gunners that you'd need live ammo on these things. Can't see them doing live training at night in this area or in the conditions we've had recently.
Out on a job maybe (very similar aircraft that SF use on long range Ops)? They have the ability to mid-air refuel so it's a possibility that they were returning from somewhere far away, however unlikely.
Does anyone know if the USAF still train for SAR out of Campbletown / Machrihanish? They used to use the air base a lot when i was there with the Marines.
A friend of mine is the Safety Manager at Earl's Court. He was doing a "night before" walk thorugh of a major careers exhibtion at which the RN had a helicopter (I forget the type) as part of the display. It had a pungent smell of Avgas & he enquired whether the tanks had been drained & whether the Andrew recognised the risks this might present the public. "No mate, it's on its way to BAe for overhaul, it's been in the Gulf for years on active deployment. We thought we'd show it here on the way. Do you want the ammo out too?"
Collectingbrass said:
A friend of mine is the Safety Manager at Earl's Court. He was doing a "night before" walk thorugh of a major careers exhibtion at which the RN had a helicopter (I forget the type) as part of the display. It had a pungent smell of Avgas & he enquired whether the tanks had been drained & whether the Andrew recognised the risks this might present the public. "No mate, it's on its way to BAe for overhaul, it's been in the Gulf for years on active deployment. We thought we'd show it here on the way. Do you want the ammo out too?"
As an ex Weapons and ELectrical Tiff that sounds like a very tall story to me.I don't remember BAe being involved in helo overhauls either - might be wrong but I think its all Westland, the operating bases or what used to be the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Aviation_Repa...
ecain63 said:
I'm confused as to why it had live ammo on board.
If it were a training exercise then surely blank ammo is just as effective. Its only really CQB / FISH or when training door gunners that you'd need live ammo on these things. Can't see them doing live training at night in this area or in the conditions we've had recently.
Maybe inert or exercise rounds, but treating them as live until recovered and confirmed. The won't want to leave even inert rounds on the ground anyway.If it were a training exercise then surely blank ammo is just as effective. Its only really CQB / FISH or when training door gunners that you'd need live ammo on these things. Can't see them doing live training at night in this area or in the conditions we've had recently.
ecain63 said:
I'm confused as to why it had live ammo on board.
I've been out of the military for a while now, but I seem to recall all ammunition that hadn't been used (fired) being classed as live munitions, once fired they were empty casings.That included ones with a bullet in the tip and blank (exercise) rounds as even blank rounds are capable of killing someone when used incorrectly.
So they may have just had blank rounds loaded.
jhfozzy said:
ecain63 said:
I'm confused as to why it had live ammo on board.
I've been out of the military for a while now, but I seem to recall all ammunition that hadn't been used (fired) being classed as live munitions, once fired they were empty casings.That included ones with a bullet in the tip and blank (exercise) rounds as even blank rounds are capable of killing someone when used incorrectly.
So they may have just had blank rounds loaded.
ecain63 said:
Yeah, possibility. Dunno why its not reported like that though. Live and Blank are 2 clear descriptions. One means dangerous and the other means dangerous if you try to abuse it.
The military liaison officer probably just told them that there are live munitions onboard which is factually correct.Police this morning said the area had been cordoned off because it had 'bullets' on board.
Mind you police do like to use scare tactics to impress/alarm.
Summing up their spokesman from the lunchtime news, yesterday they had a look at it, and tomorrow they are going to have a look at it. I expect as it's not on a speed camera they're a bit stuck for ideas.
Mind you police do like to use scare tactics to impress/alarm.
Summing up their spokesman from the lunchtime news, yesterday they had a look at it, and tomorrow they are going to have a look at it. I expect as it's not on a speed camera they're a bit stuck for ideas.
andy97 said:
Collectingbrass said:
A friend of mine is the Safety Manager at Earl's Court. He was doing a "night before" walk thorugh of a major careers exhibtion at which the RN had a helicopter (I forget the type) as part of the display. It had a pungent smell of Avgas & he enquired whether the tanks had been drained & whether the Andrew recognised the risks this might present the public. "No mate, it's on its way to BAe for overhaul, it's been in the Gulf for years on active deployment. We thought we'd show it here on the way. Do you want the ammo out too?"
As an ex Weapons and ELectrical Tiff that sounds like a very tall story to me.I don't remember BAe being involved in helo overhauls either - might be wrong but I think its all Westland, the operating bases or what used to be the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Aviation_Repa...
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