Flying with the Helicopter Mob!

[Michael Alexander]

This was by far the highlight of my entire year.... I received a phone call two days ago, from our forum member, Sean, inviting me to join Johan and himself for a flight in their new helicopter.

These are the lads that fly the helicopters between Oranjemund Airport and the Debeers Marine vessels....

Last night , I battled to sleep as I was like a wee boy looking forward to flying on my first helicopter ride......

It was interesting to don the headphones and to listen to the lads go through their pre flight ritual....

I had often driven past the airport on the way to the beach with the dog.... I would always stop to watch the helicopters taking off...

Now here I was, strapped in about to take off, what a gut wrenching feeling, you know the kind you get on a rollercoaster..... as that beast of machine powered effortlessly into the misty morning skies....

Yes, the weather was typical Omund weather for this time of the year, plenty of misty cloud around....

the lads headed out over the mouth and turned north up the coast.... the yacht club a speck beneath us......

I am led to believe we were travelling in the region of 300-320 km an hour.... and it was less than 10 minutes and we had just passed the old jetty at NO. 3 Plant......

[Michael Alexander]

I was stunned by the various colours the ocean kept reflecting back at us on the helicopter.... the sea was pretty flat......

[Michael Alexander]

The snaps are in no particular order.....

I was saddened to see the poor condition of the soccer, rugby and cricket fields.... as we stated on another topic on this forum, that contracting company should be brought to book for not doing a good job......

[Michael Alexander]

I have flown on fixed wing planes in my time, but in all honesty .... That helicopter felt so safe... Sean and Johan were raving about their new toy......  seems this bird can be programmed to fly itself to an extent....

[Michael Alexander]

 

[Michael Alexander]

 

[Michael Alexander]

Interesting to see the Appie training centre still standing ....

[Michael Alexander]

 

[Michael Alexander]

 

How is that for a trashed looking soccer field, looks more like on of those illegal dagga plantations in Mexico, perhaps the service controller cannot see how trashed the field is from his office...

[Michael Alexander]

 

[Michael Alexander]

Notice how grey the vacant homes look....

[Michael Alexander]

Still a nice place to live....

[Michael Alexander]

 

[Michael Alexander]

 

[Michael Alexander]