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Some of these helicopter pilots are really precise! (Original Post) StrictlyRockers Jul 2021 OP
WOW! burrowowl Jul 2021 #1
Hey man nice shot. ret5hd Jul 2021 #2
WOW!!!! Thank you StrictlyRockers!!! Devil Child Jul 2021 #3
Thank you for posting canetoad Jul 2021 #4
I worked at a tea house in the mountains. There was a bridge over the top applegrove Jul 2021 #5
Reminds me of the film "The Dam Busters" nuxvomica Jul 2021 #6
The helicopter & the Air Tractor pilots amaze me NullTuples Jul 2021 #7
Yes. When my brother was helping to build a high speed chair lift in Lake Louise they applegrove Jul 2021 #9
Helo in Afghanistan keithbvadu2 Jul 2021 #8
Nerves//// Historic NY Jul 2021 #10
WOW! elleng Jul 2021 #11
Erickson Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane .. yes, awesome pilots Bo Zarts Jul 2021 #12
You are the first person I thought of for "precision flying." Kid Berwyn Jul 2021 #13
That's an Erickson pilot and they are Bad Ass! MerryBlooms Jul 2021 #14
Amazing. I wish I were as precise aiming for the toilet. Buns_of_Fire Jul 2021 #15
The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane has been inservice since the early 1960s. Stinky The Clown Jul 2021 #16
The ability to hover, even for a few seconds, is invaluable TexasBushwhacker Jul 2021 #17
I once was in a helicopter that flew threw and incised canyon just for fun. Pobeka Jul 2021 #18

applegrove

(118,706 posts)
5. I worked at a tea house in the mountains. There was a bridge over the top
Sat Jul 10, 2021, 05:41 PM
Jul 2021

of a waterfall made out of wood with no railings. My sister said the helicopter pilots would land perpendicular on the bridge when she worked there. When i worked there they only landed once and that was on a flat rock a ways away. But they emptied the fetid barrels from the out houses They delivered heavy goods and building material (there was no road to the tea house). Those pilots are gods. One time i was waitressing and a helicopter was near the deck. A father went out onto the deck and held his daughter up so she could be closer. I grabed him by the arm and made him go inside. I got a tumbs up from the pilot for that.

nuxvomica

(12,432 posts)
6. Reminds me of the film "The Dam Busters"
Sat Jul 10, 2021, 05:50 PM
Jul 2021

In which they had to drop the bombs at a certain low altitude and speed so they would avoid underwater traps and skip across the water to hit the dam.

NullTuples

(6,017 posts)
7. The helicopter & the Air Tractor pilots amaze me
Sat Jul 10, 2021, 05:50 PM
Jul 2021

Totally different styles but both are used for small, precise drops so close to the ground (and flames). When you see a pilot who is highly attuned to their machine, it's just so enjoyable to watch, especially something as maneuverable as this.

applegrove

(118,706 posts)
9. Yes. When my brother was helping to build a high speed chair lift in Lake Louise they
Sat Jul 10, 2021, 06:05 PM
Jul 2021

brought in a sky crane, i think it was called, to lift the metal poles up the mountain and into place.

Bo Zarts

(25,399 posts)
12. Erickson Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane .. yes, awesome pilots
Sat Jul 10, 2021, 07:24 PM
Jul 2021

They are getting a lot of practice. I have watch the helos work - US Forest Service, Erickson, CalFire, and others - they all are extremely precise. My hat is always tipped to them.

Buns_of_Fire

(17,183 posts)
15. Amazing. I wish I were as precise aiming for the toilet.
Sat Jul 10, 2021, 07:55 PM
Jul 2021

When you're good, you're good. And I salute them for it.

Stinky The Clown

(67,809 posts)
16. The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane has been inservice since the early 1960s.
Sat Jul 10, 2021, 09:00 PM
Jul 2021

They are still in production, but now by Erickson Aircraft.

My father worked in Sikorsky's Experimental group and did some work on the prototypes. (1963? 64?)

TexasBushwhacker

(20,204 posts)
17. The ability to hover, even for a few seconds, is invaluable
Sat Jul 10, 2021, 09:08 PM
Jul 2021

Firefighting airplanes can carry a bigger load of retardant, but they aren't quite as accurate.

Pobeka

(4,999 posts)
18. I once was in a helicopter that flew threw and incised canyon just for fun.
Sat Jul 10, 2021, 11:16 PM
Jul 2021

The canyon was maybe 3 or 4 rotor widths wide.

Pilot was ex viet-nam pilot.

One of the passengers asks "Isn't that hard to do?".

Pilot answers -- "No, it's hard to do that when people are shooting at you too!".

True story.
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Helicopters -- the magic carpet ride

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