H E L I C
O HELICOPTER P T E R L I F E S U M M E R LIFESUMMER 2006 / 2 www.helicopterlife.com BELL 407 T EST FLIGHT 0
0 £3.99 6
THE MYSTERY CHOPPER
lands on Mount Everest summit
STANLEY H ILLER JR (1924-2006) V OLANTE FLYING C AR H ELIEXPO IN D ALLAS TX N EW O RLEANS AFTER K ATRINA
HELICOPTER LIFEis theHIGH LIFE
HELICOPTER SUMMER 2006 LIFE
Show & Tell Guide 4 The Mystery On aviation shows and conferences. Chopper 38 Alan Norris inter - The Editor’s Letter 5 viewed Didier Delsalle about his Guest Columnist 6, 8 record breaking The Lord Glenarthur looks back on his life. achievement landing the first Letters to the Editor 7 helicopter on COVER STORY Mount Everest. Flying Crackers 9, 11 HAI Heli-Expo 48 Obituary 12 2006 show in Dallas, in the Lonestar State. Stanley Hiller, Jr. (1924-2006) by Willie Turner The Big Easy Hummingbird 54 King Island 30 years after 16 How the Sikorsky S-58 and a Bell 205 Capt Janie Foster writes about how she flew helicopters came Alaskan eskimos back to their native island. to the rescue after Hurricane Katrina Volante the struck, as told to Flying Car 18 Georgina Hunter- Inventor and Jones by engineer K.P. Hummingbird’s Rice shows that pilot and operator the future of the Captain Charles flying car has a Priestley . much greater chance of success. After the Deluge 60 Capt Janie Foster The Royal Oman Police 23 tells Georgina Bryn Elliott on how the ROP was formed. Hunter-Jones about her rescue Aerial Forum 27 and aid flights For pilots to discuss their heartfelt views. with Evergreen Helicopters’ Bell Helicopter Simulator 28 412 during the Georgina Hunter-Jones on Heliservices new toy. aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Bell 407 Test 30 Georgina Hunter- Book Review 63 Jones pays a visit John Matchett reviews Uniform Kilo by Tim to Bell Helicopter Gilbert; a novel about Tim’s adventure flying an in Fort Worth TX, R44 from Cambridge to Adelaide in Australia. where Capt Randy Rowles shows her Accident Reports 64 all the ins and outs of the Bell 407. House & Helicopter 66
HELICOPTER LIFE,Sum mer 2006 3 SHOW & T ELL G UIDE
17 June 2006 VERTICAL CHALLEnGE 2006 Helicopter Air Show Hiller Aviation Museum San Carlos Airport, California USA Tel: +1-650-654-0200 Ext. 205 [email protected] www.hiller.org/vertical-challenge.shtml
23 June - 25 June 2006 AEROEXPO 2006 Wycombe Air Park England Paddy Casey Tel: +44 (0)20-8255-4218 Astrid Ayling Tel: +44 (0)20-8549-5024 Fax: +44 (0)20 8255-4300 [email protected] www.expo.aero
17 July - 23 July 2006 FARnBOROuGH InTERnATIOnAL 2006 Farnborough International Ltd. 1 Queen Anne’s Gate London, SW1H-9BT Tel: +44 (0)20-7976-3330 Fax: +44 (0)20-7976-3349 www.farnborough.com
28 July - 30 July 2006 WESTOn-SuPER-HELIDAYS 2006 The Helicopter Museum Locking Moor Road Weston-super-Mare Somerset, BS24-8PP Tel: +44 (0)1934-635-227 Fax: +44 (0)1934-645-230 www.helicoptermuseum.co.uk/helidays.htm
23 September - 25 September 2006 HELI JET SHOW CAnnES Palais des Festivals & des Congres Cannes France Tel: +33 (0)4-9390-4185 Fax: +33 (0)4-9390-4189 [email protected]
HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 HELICOPTER T HE EDITOR S LETTER
verest has always had an incred - ible pull on us, from the first Esuccessful ascent in 1953 by Sir LIFE Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay to last year’s first successful helicop - SUMMER 2006 ter landing by Didier Delsalle. That it is the highest mountain in the world HOn. EDITORIAL BOARD seems to be only one reason that men Captain Eric Brown, CBE, RN and women of adventure have longed The Lord Glenarthur, DL to reach the summit. Perhaps that it is Jennifer Murray because Everest rises a few mms Michael J. H. Smith every year (the result of geological Wing Cdr. Ken Wallis, MBE, RAF forces; in 1999 it was noticed that the EDITOR-In-CHIEF / PILOT mountain had increased an extra 6 Georgina Hunter-Jones foot) that gives it some kind of spiri - series test-flights in the hope that that [email protected] tual waywardness that we hope to will give some information that will CREATIVE DIRECTOR absorb. In the modern jet era most of Hilaire Dubourcq help the buyer. Most recently I flew [email protected] us have flown far higher than the Bell 407 and was captured by its COPY EDITOR Everest, but have not stopped to wait: power compared to the JetRanger, Evangeline Hunter-Jones, JP perhaps that is the attraction, which it resembles in many ways, COnTRIBuTInG EDITORS although even the longest stop at the and its versatility. Bryn Elliott, Capt Janie Foster top was only 21 and a half hours, by This spring Stanley Hiller died at The Lord Glenarthur, John Matchett Alan Norris, Capt Charles Priestley Babu Chiri Sherpa, hardly enough to the age of 81 and Willie Turner from K.P. Rice, John Smith, Willie Turner call it home! Or maybe it is simply the Hiller Museum has written a very COnTRIBuTED PHOTOGRAPHY that we know that, however many thorough obituary. Hiller was not Eurocopter, Capt Janie Foster landings we do there, the mountain only a brilliant inventor and busi - Hiller Aviation Museum, Alan Norris Patrick Penna, Sam Pourciau will never be ours, never be con - nessman (something unusual in Alan Staats, Dan Tendem quered. itself) but he had very democratic SPECIAL THAnKS TO Helicopters on the other hand are views on how a company should be Doral Hotel Fort Worth TX Capt Randy Rowles of Bell Helicopter made to be conquered and bought, run and was determined to make the which may be the reason why this ‘feudal’ way of business so typical at ADVERTISInG Telephone: (44) 20-7430-2384 seems to be the Year of the his time should be replaced by more [email protected] Helicopter Show. In February we had flexible systems. He was a very spe - SuBSCRIPTIOnS HeliExpo, in April Fly, The London cial man. Go to our website or turn to page 64 Airshow, in June we have AeroExpo, EC directive statutory instruments [email protected] in July Farnborough, in August The 55/2001 and 85/2001 declares it will WEBSITE Helicopter Museum’s Helidays, in www.helicopterlife.com be a crinimal offence for shopkeepers September Heli Jet at Cannes, and in to make any reference at all to COVER PHOTOGRAPH December the Dubai Helicopter pounds and ounces, inches or feet By Patrick Penna Show, to name just a few. It was clear after January 1, 2010. Is this then
HELICOPTER LIFE is published quarterly from The London Airshow that many something we pilots should be wary by FlyFizzi Ltd. people are indeed looking to buy hel - of, having, as we still do, height in 59 Great Ormond Street icopters and perhaps after this year of feet, even though we have visilibity London, WC 1N-3 Hz . visiting shows and reading the maga - Copyright © FlyFizzi Ltd. 2006. in metres? Will we have to change, or ISSN 1743-1042. zines they will have found out what does flying have a dispensation? All rights reserved. Opinions expressed seems right for them. Buying a heli - Does anybody know? herein are not necessarily those of the pub - copter is something as individual as lishers, the Editor or any of the editorial staff. Reproduction in whole or in part, in any buying a house or a car, but form whatever, is strictly prohibited without Helicopter Life is continuing with a specific written permission of the Editor.
HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 5 G UEST C OLUMNIST Reflections on a Li in the Rotary World The final part of TheGlenarthur s Lord ruminations on his long and successful carreer in both civil and military aviation
e were in great demand by Faulkner, home to his house at and snorkelling, and I am only sorry the two Cavalry Yeomanry Seaford one evening as the political that our flying of a cameraman for a W regiments, one in the South scene became particularly grim. He BBC wildlife documentary principal - and one in the North of England. tried to persuade me to stay for sup - ly in search of the Manatee (sea cow, Most of the flying was required at per, but the aircraft was needed for to the unfamiliar!) never received weekends and we regularly deployed night flying and I returned to credits due to Air Squadron 1st Royal two or three helicopters to fulfil our Aldergrove. The next day Brian Tank Regiment when the film was proper armoured reconnaissance role. Faulkner resigned, I took him home televised. But we made great friends On one occasion, appalling weather and this time did accept his kind invi - with Krov and Annie Menhuin. And forced a diversion to the United tation to dine and talk about anything where else could one gain the experi - States Air Force Base at Upper other than Ulster politics. I recall ence of hovering along the back of a Heyford. They were particularly sen - both the Taoiseach and Sir Alec surfaced whale lying on the surface sitive about our arrival at an F1-11 Douglas Home telephoning during about 50 miles offshore when en nuclear base. A request for fuel was dinner as Brian Faulkner and I dis - route to Half Moon Quay? accepted, a 64-thousand gallon I had made up my mind to bowser was filled with ...Sir Alec Douglasleave the army at the end of 115/145 Av-gas and drew up to Home telephoned this flying tour and through refuel us on dispersal. The during dinner as Brianvarious contacts it had been refuellers were not particularly suggested that, at least in the amused when I said I would Faulkner and I interim, British Airways take 9 gallons and my fellow discussed the finerHelicopters might be interest - pilot 15! And we were denied ed in employing me. But with access to either the United points of foxhunting no experience of gas turbine States Air Force meteorological peo - cussed finer points of foxhunting, aircraft, I persuaded the powers that ple or our own people at Upavon. We something with which he was much be to send me on an Allouette conver - did not have the necessary authorisa - involved in Northern Ireland and to sion at Netheravon and whilst flying tion. After half an hour or so, we whom my father had drafted some it concurrently with the Sioux, man - were rescued by the RAF Liaison hounds from Ayrshire. aged to master the intricacies of fly - Officer, who took us to his house say - Half the squadron was deployed to ing different aircraft with rotors ing: “Welcome back to England!” Belize in early 1975, and I went with going round in opposite directions. Northern Ireland loomed again and them for 6 weeks to ensure that they Leaving the Army in October the squadron deployed there in April were safely settled in and my new 1975, I embarked upon the necessary 1974 for a 6-month tour, which coin - second-in-command (now a very examinations for civilian licence and cided with the Ulster Workers senior General) comfortable with his heard that I had been successful just Council strike and the collapse of the role. Belize was not without its before Christmas that year. And in power-sharing agreement. I recall attractions – wonderful offshore early 1976, embarked upon the very taking the Prime Minister, Brian islands, fantastic swimming, diving (Continued on Page 8)
6 HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 Helicopter Museum LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Georgina, 59 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N-3Hz, England. Like many other non national muse - Telephone: 020-7430-2384, Fax: 020-7430-2384, Email: [email protected] ums up and down the country The Please include your name, address, home and daytime phone numbers. Helicopter Museum continually suf - fers from a shortage of funding. Despite being a registered charity where the lack of a decent building (Friday 17th March) stated that the we get no local authority grant,the means much of the material has to RotorSport UK Ltd A1 Approval Chancellor has just changed the Gift be stored off site where conditions Certificate for Gyroplane Design Aid rules which were worth £4,000 are at least dry. This means it is sim - and Manufacture will be issued a year to us, and the Museum and ply not available to researchers and ‘shortly’. This will include Flight Libraries Association, which is the other visitors; again an education Testing to F1 B conditions. government authority for national opportunity lost. This follows the satisfactory com - grant aid, is focused on staff training Despite these setbacks I am proud pletion of all company audits to their and education, which is of little use of what we have achieved: more satisfaction, including overseeing if you can't afford to employ the than 70 helicopters and autogyros one carried out in Germany. staff in the first place!! conserved, many of them rare and This part of the UK Spec MT-03 Finally the Heritage Lottery Fund recognised as of national importance implementation project has been has less and less money as the pun - and a 4.5 acre site,including the dis - completed on time, and we are very ters realise A) the chances of win - play hangar, restoration facility and grateful for the help and assistance ning are slim and B) that the govern - office accommodation, owned out - given by all those involved. ment is creaming off the money to right by the museum and all done RotorSport UK Ltd also expect to bolster their own ambitions. without ever borrowing money. make a similar announcement short - We have the ridiculous situation Elfan ap Rees ly regarding the Permit to Test for at the moment where we are trying the UK spec MT-03 2 seat gyroplane. to raise the money to build a new Gyroplane Pitcairn Yours happily, restoration facility, thus giving new Gerry Speich Dear Georgina, opportunities to current and fresh Received the latest HL and, as usual, volunteers to learn about restoration you have produced a great issue. and engineering but, because it is DVDs Some comments on the Udvar- the building shell that needs to be Dear Georgina, Hazy article - there is no “gyro - funded rather than the equipment, I was wondering if anyone had copter” section - more correctly, the which we already have, the HLF thought of making a series of pro - generic “gyroplane” section contain - says it isn't educational enough. The grammes or specialist DVDs, in the ing autogiro, rotary-wing kite, auto - same argument applied to our bid to vain of Top Gear, albeit classier, sur - gyros and gyrocopters. Note also build a library, where the industry rounding the flying & testing of all that the American inventor’s name is stepped up to help fit the facility out the different types of helicopters? Harold F. Pitcairn, not Pitcain. Also, but HLF would not contribute Plenty of onboard footage & all dif - the “Pitcairn, with radial engine...” is towards the construction. Another ferent camera angles would be great actually the Kellett YO-60 Autogiro. project shelved: It is especially frus - with a commentary by the instruc - Regards, trating since we are asking for rela - tors & the test pilot whilst the Dr Bruce Charnov tively small sums, say £400- walkround check & subsequent 500,000, when you see government flight is carried out. I’ve spent many sponsored pet schemes being funded Gyroplane Approval years reading all the articles you’ve to the tune of several millions! Georgina, produced for the different magazines At the moment the tragedy is that I would like to update your readers on & thought a series of programmes we are having to turn away people our gyroplane introduction process: then released to DVD would be both who want to volunteer because our “RotorSport UK Ltd CAA Company fascinating & enlightening for any - present restoration facility isn't big Approval for Gyroplane Design and one interested in helicopters, both enough and yet we have a number of Manufacture.” civil & military types in their roles. rare aircraft seeking TLC. The same We are very, very pleased to Yours sincerely, applies to the library and archives announce that the CAA yesterday Sven Atkin
HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 7 G UEST C OLUMNIST
(Continued from Page 6) Foreign Office. I never ceased to be work of that body and I gladly took different world of civil aviation, join - amazed at how easy it was to find up the challenge. Before long, I ing British Airways Helicopters at one’s way into the left/right hand seat became involved with the European Aberdeen and undergoing a 4-week of a civilian or military helicopter or Helicopter Association of which ground school and type examinations fixed wing aircraft and be given con - BHAB is a member and was eventu - on the Sikorsky S61N. How very dif - trol almost at once. In particular in ally persuaded to become its ferent it was to have nineteen or more Hong Kong, I regularly toured the Chairman for some seven years. passengers in the back, sometimes province, with the Governor and oth - During that time we were able to with a cabin attendant, and to fly in a ers in the back seat. We used to reinforce not only the importance of straight line for anything up to an switch off the rear intercom and the European dimension in helicopter hour and a half at a time, or more, undertake a confined area landing regulatory matters but also in the role and land on a platform, rig or vessel. and sloping ground en route from of the helicopter as seen through the Transit flying was often thoroughly point A to Point B. How therapeutic eyes of the International Civil monotonous but very disciplined. this was when about to be faced with Aviation Organisation. Throughout Landings and take-off however, were the baying Hong Kong press corps! that period, the support of John a very different kettle of fish, partic - On leaving the government in Friedberger and Dick Whidbourne at ularly at night or in adverse wind 1989, another opportunity arose to BHAB, Jan Willem Stuurman at conditions, some of which affected continue my interest in aviation when EHA and Frank Jensen and Roy performance not least when Resavage at HAI created an the flare stack was blowing hot extremely happy and construc - air over the deck. Instrument ...where else could toneive working environment; one flying and instrument rating gain the experience ofthrough which it was possible became a sine qua non and to develop the International after about 16 months of work hovering along the backFederation of Helicopter as a First Officer came promo - of a surfaced whale? Ass ociations for which I was tion to Captain. alternately Chairman and But in all honesty, I cannot Vice-Chairman. say that the work was too intense; I joined Hanson PLC which then Here we are: some 37 years there was still plenty of time for owned Air Hanson, one of the lead - involved with helicopters of various many thoroughly enjoyable ‘country ing members of BHAB. At that time sorts, many happy memories, many pursuits’ with gun or rod in Hanson PLC also became one of a good friends and quite a lot of Aberdeenshire. Subsequently, con - group of five companies to embark achievement within the industry. I version to the S76A, flying single upon the potential construction of the have always worked on the basis that pilot under IFR became a very inter - City of London Heliport. I worked nothing should be embarked upon esting challenge but after two years on that project with others for many unless it is likely to be fun. I can hon - of this I decided that enough was months and it was extremely sad that, estly say that my past and present enough and that life held other possi - in the event, planning permission was involvement with the helicopter com - bilities and left to join the govern - denied, not least because City of munity has not only been fun but also ment as a junior Minister. London who had initially come up immensely rewarding. There are I thought that would be the end of with the idea, had formally to object many other exciting developments to flying for me but not so. A continual to their own proposal because of come, not least in tilt-rotor and other itch to get my hands on the controls political pressures. technology (having had 45 minutes of anything that flew followed me It was at about that time that I was flying the XV15, I can vouch for the from department to department and I approached to ask whether I might former!) and I only hope that, was able to fly a variety of aircraft: consider becoming Chairman of the although I shall continue to retain a Lightning, Harrier, Tuccano, Jaguar, British Helicopter Advisory Board in close interest and help the industry in Optica and helicopters of all sorts, order to help add credibility through any way I can, my successors can not least during my days in the my government experience to the themselves enjoy as much as I have.
8 HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 LYING Pilots are Cheaper F In some states in the USA pilots are charged less for car insurance than other professions, after a study found cue, ‘too risky’. Ironically, while the ing aircraft systems and flight manu - them some of the safest drivers in the Bell 407 had infrared and night als, officials said. The men were later world. A 2004 study, done by Quality vision equipment the Sheriff’s heli - released when it was discovered they Planning Corp, matched the copters had neither. The Sherrif’s were students at the Bell Textron Department of Motor Vehicle records office demanded that such jobs company and were reading Bell heli - with its own database of 14 million should be left to professionals. Guess copter manuals! auto insurance policies to match inci - what the families thought! dents, drivers and occupations. It Flying Tomatoes! found the worst drivers: students, Flying Therapy Australians have a new threat to avi - medical doctors, attorneys, architects A Nebraska prisoner has choosen fly - ation: flying tomatoes. Anthony and real estate agents, had twice as ing as his rehabilitation therapy. Douglas Donohue, of Queensland, many accidents as the safest: home - While he was still in jail, local cor - was given two years on probation makers, politicians, pilots, firefight - rections officials and the FAA after admitting threatening to bring ers and farmers. allowed Barry Greg Caughlin to fly down a helicopter by shooting toma - alone, according to a report by local toes from a homemade bazooka. Boeing Barrier NBC news. Caughlin has, to date, Donohue became annoyed over the A retired Air Canada 737 became kept his promise to come back each helicopter’s repetitive survey flights British Columbia's seventh artificial time as he builds time toward his pri - over the house he shares with his par - reef when it was sunk off the coast of vate pilot certificate. However, ents and called in the threats to Air Vancouver Island. Foremerly used ironically Caughlin’s conviction, for Services Australia, the government for carrying Canadian tourists to which he has been behind bars for agency that regulates civil aviation. Florida, it might now become a more than four tourist attraction itself. The 100-foot years, is for airframe was winched from a barge vehicular homi - and lowered into Stuart Channel. cide, and he can - Within minutes the divers reported a not have a dri - level landing of the craft on the ocean ver’s licence until floor 88.5 feet below and the jet's 2011. Prison offi - four-year journey from wreck to reef cials said the was finally complete. decision to let him go ahead was Sour Grapes after rescue not taken lightly. Using night-vision goggles, pilot David Gunsauls and helicopter Dangerous owner Dan Kohrdt spotted Revina Reading? Dennis and her cousin Austin Rogers Five men on an on a lava-rock-strewn hillside miles American away from the ground party looking Airlines flight for them. Gunsauls toed the helicop - from Dallas to ter into the hillside while Korhdt Newark set off a pulled the kids inside the Bell 407. security alert and The girls, who got lost while explor - were detained ing the hills near Paradise, in last month after California, were dropped off to their passengers and families in a school playing field. crew members However, it didn’t take long for the said they were local sheriff’s office to distance itself acting suspi - from the celebration, calling the res - ciously and read -
HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 9
FLYING Plane stealing Heard over the UNICOM: Cessna XYz: “Cessna XYz taking runway 10.” aboard an AS350 costs $31,800, Marchis, an experienced pilot. Sky Unknown voice: “Well, don’t take it although a customer who uses the Arrow spokeswoman Arabella too far. There’s another plane on helicopter for half a day “will only be Bortolotti said the accident shocked finals.” charged for one hour,” says Frederic those who knew the victims. “It is Aguettant. mind boggling to think that two of new diesel engine needs money Italy's best pilots were aboard,” she DeltaHawk, a small company based Perfect Crime? told ANSA. in the USA has been working for Howard Jamison, a New zealand about a decade to develop a diesel skydive operator claimed he had been First Heli Jet Show engine for GA aircraft: “the only such forced to ditch and has lost his plane From September 23-25, 2006 the first engines being built in the USA,” in the waters off New zealand. Heli Jet show will be held at Cannes according to the company. The However, last week he was charged in France. The aim of the show is engine first flew in May 2003 in a with using a document to obtain both to demonstrate the incomprable Velocity RG fixed wing aircraft, and pecuniary advantage, after the plane connection between helicopters, since then has been making the was found. Jamison admitted con - boats and finance and to promote rounds of trade shows as research and cocting an elaborate scheme to claim business enterprise. There will be development continues. A few 200- a $258,000 NzD insurance settle - displays of aircraft, helicopters and hp engines have been built for exper - ment aimed at getting him back on limosines, as well as sizeable boats imental aircraft, but, the company his feet financially. Now, he faces a with helicopter pads. For more says, it is still at least 18 months possible jail term and will likely have details email the Heli Jet office at: away from having an FAA-certified to sell off all of his assets, including [email protected] engine, and money problems are the Cessna 185 he slowing down the process. With a lit - ‘ditched’ in a stor - tle luck, and a cash injection, the age container. company hopes to sell more than 3,600 of the engines in 2010. Angelo D’Arrigo He soared over Helicopter Credit Card Mt. Everest in a French helicopter and business jet hang glider, charter company Aviaxess launched crossed the Europe's first helicopter card, the Mediterranean in Corporate Helicard. Card programs one and set myriad allow customers to pre-pay for their aviation records, travel in exchange for reduced rates but sadly he was and other services. This is popular killed at an air amongst companies and individuals show in Italy. with the need to fly but lacking the Angelo D'Arrigo, resources or will to buy their own who was also business aircraft. known as the President Frederic Aguettant has Human Condor, established operator members in 12 was a passenger in European cities, giving the company a Sky Arrow 650 access to 35 helicopters ranging from TNT that crashed the Eurocopter AS350 light single to on approach. The the Sikorsky S-76 medium twin. The plane was flown Helicard is available in 25- and 50- by retired Italian hour blocks at a fixed price through - Air Force Gen. out Europe. Pricing for 25 hours Giulio De
HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 11 O BITUARY Stanley Hiller, Jr. 1924- 2006 Helicopter pioneer and founder of the Hiller Aviation Museum tanley Hiller Jr., age 81, died Corp. Hiller developed and advised at up to 60 miles per hour, and before peacefully at home on the nation's business community on long a local department store was SThursday, April 20, 2006, of how corporate governance needs to selling Comets from a production complications associated with reform to succeed in a global econo - line of neighborhood boys in the Alzheimer’s Disease. my. He warned of the feudal system Hiller back-yard shop. By the time he Stanley Hiller was born November at the top of many large corporations was 17, Hiller Industries was turning 15, 1924 in San Francisco, which would ultimately undermine out 350 miniature cars each month, at California. He began his career as the American system of free enter - the rate of $100,000 a year. With one of the world's three principal prise he cherished. In 1990s speeches some help from his father and a developers of vertical flight while and articles, he pressed for structural draftsman, Stanley invented a die- still a teenager. Hiller innovations in solutions in such trends as growing casting machine based on a cooling the technology of vertical flight trade deficits, paralyzing federal process which increased the strength included the first helicopter flown in debt, and against corporate boards of aluminum castings for the Comet. the western United States, the world's too weak to redesign failing and Now a freshman at the University of first successful co-axial helicopter, greedy managements. California at Berkeley, Stanley was the famed Flying Platform, the one- Stanley Hiller spent his youth in soon discovered by the U.S. military man foldable Rotorcycle, the unique Berkeley California. His father was as a resource for aluminum fighter Hornet helicopter powered by rotor- an engineer and inventor. Using his plane parts. tip-mounted ramjet engines, and the father's tools, workbench and devot - Hiller developed an interest in first high-speed vertical take-off-and- ed encouragement, Stanley at age 8 helicopters when at age 15 he read landing tilt-wing troop transport. connected an old family washing about Igor Sikorsky's experiments Hiller started the Hiller Aircraft machine engine to a homemade with rotary wing aircraft, noting that Corporation in 1949. A formalisation buggy frame and began driving it, the early vehicles were compromised of the original United Helicopters somewhat recklessly, on neighbor - by the elaborate ways of compensat - started when Hiller was 18 years old. hood sidewalks. Father Stanley had ing for inherent instability. “I have HAC was soon producing the first built and flown his own airplane in ideas about how to correct that,” he battlefield evacuation helicopters for 1910 at age 20. When Stanley was told his father, who suggested he put the French Indochinese War and the asked by a reporter years later how he the ideas into hardware. The teenag - Korean Conflict. had achieved so much in so few er's idea was a co-axial rotor design, After leaving Fairchild Hiller Corp years, the 23-year-old replied, “I was which would avoid the elaborate tail in 1966, Stanley Hiller created The fortunate in my choice of a father.” rotors and gears that controlled the Hiller Group, utilizing his leadership Stanley learned to fly before he inherent yaw of Sikorsky's single concepts to turn around failing com - was 10, and became interested in rotor models. panies in diverse fields, including building and flying model planes, Stanley finished high school, Reed Tool Company, Bekins Corp., which to his consternation, tended to entering the University of California and the huge York International air crash. His response was to apply one at Berkeley at age 16. His college conditioning manufacturer. His of the airplane gas engines into a phase lasted a year: he was consumed efforts were responsible for a trans - model racing car. It was a turning with the history and technology of formation of Baker International into point in the boy's career: the Hiller vertical flight, intensifying his design its present structure as Baker Hughes Comet sped around a back yard track of a co-axial with the aid of a drafts -
12 HELICOPTER LIFE, Spring 2006
O BITUARY
man, a welder and an auto mechanic. figuration, the system achieved When the Korean Conflict broke Although many materials were remarkable stability with a simplicity out in 1950, the U.S. Army finally frozen by the War Production Board, in parts. It was upon this design plat - responded to Hiller earlier pleas to he managed to improvise a 100- form that the famed Hiller 360 began create a light utility helicopter capa - pound model. Discouraged by Army the Hiller ascendance as one of the bility. Soon Hiller Aircraft was deliv - officials, the 17-year-old inventor few full production helicopter com - ering a helicopter per day for the lugged his aircraft and drawings to panies in the world. The 360 was Korean battlefronts, and a progres - Washington DC, where higher only the third helicopter licensed by sion of technical advances provided authorities not only permitted his the Civil Aeronautics Administration Hiller a family of aircraft alongside proposed XH-44 helicopter to be fin - in U.S. history. the other major manufacturers, Bell, ished, but granted Stanley a defer - Post-WWII aviation was not an Sikorsky and Piasecki. ment from the draft board. encouraging environment for a As early as 1947, the Hiller cre - Although UC Berkeley had little young helicopter company. Now ative group had experimented with chance to influence young Stanley, operating as Hiller Aircraft Company, rotor systems that tilted forward for the university did yield the love of his Hiller became the first American higher speed horizontal flight. The life, Carolyn Balsdon, company's concept of whom he married when pure jet lift was the first they were both 22. in its genre proposed to By 1944, Stanley the military. By 1951 Hiller, Jr., completed the Hiller was flying a two- first successful flight of place Hornet powered a helicopter in the west - by ramjets at the blade ern United States. He tips, where, Stan Hiller flew his yellow fabric- had long maintained the covered contraption power was needed, himself, although he eliminating much of the had never flown a heli - helicopter's weight and copter nor seen one fly. complexity in transmis - The flight propelled the sions and tail rotors. A young inventor into fleet of H-32 Hornet international headlines. evaluation aircraft were He became the youngest delivered to the Army, person ever to receive Navy and Marines in the coveted Fawcett Aviation Award company to produce helicopters 1956. Huge Flying Cranes were stud - for major contributions to the without military sponsorship. Capital ied under military contract, in the late advancement of aviation. Eventually, was acquired from businessmen who l940s, later replacing the tip ramjets the little co-axial XH-44 Hiller- had faith in the promise that helicop - with more fuel-efficient turbojets. Copter would earn a permanent place ters would revolutionize such utility The Hiller Flying Platform in Smithsonian Institution. chores as agricultural management, perched a pilot on ducted propellers, C o
The early successes also attracted crop spraying, search and rescue mis - requiring him to lean in the direction u r t
business investments in Hiller's sions, and remote field installations. he wanted to go. Improbable as it e s y
enterprise. United Helicopters The stable reliability of the 360 in appeared, the platform hovered and o f t h
became a corporation in 1945, hope - utility jobs resulted in the helicopter's darted, with its standing passenger e h i
ful of opening a new age of commer - recruitment as a medical evacuation often using both arms to fire a rifle or l l e cial vertical flight with the Hiller vehicle in the French Indochinese take photographs. r A v i A
Commuter helicopter. When this war starting in 1949. The UH12-360 Begun for the U.S. Navy Bureau t i o crashed, Hiller tried the Rotormatic became the first light helicopter of Aeronautics in 1954, the Hiller n M u
Control System. Although reverting applied to that task under difficult XROE-1 one-man Rotorcycle could s e u to a single rotor-plus tail-rotor con - jungle warfare conditions. be parachuted in a pod behind enemy M
14 HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 O BITUARY lines, assembled in just nine minutes The Hiller group launched a 20- company posted a five-fold increase by its recipient on the ground, and year progression of corporate turn - in profits, a 130% rise in stock price, take off to fly with all the speed, alti - arounds, starting by cleaning up and a stable employment. tude and hovering capability of a mini-conglomerate G.W. Murphy Stanley Hiller was often quoted in large helicopter. Industries which the group changed the media on his abiding opposition In 1956, as Hiller military and into Reed Tool Co and in 1979 sold it to business practices which under - commercial utility helicopters con - to energy giant Baker International. mine the vitality of corporations. tinued to gain acceptance as depend - Soon after that success, the Hiller Among them were the unfriendly able workhorses in the nation's verti - group took control of the nation's takeovers; slash-and-burn tactics cal flight realm of aviation, Hiller largest moving and storage company, aimed not at building companies but chose another daring step: the devel - Bekins Co., reversing 20 years of draining their assets; excessive remu - opment of a high speed vertical take - declining earnings. neration of many American CEOs off and landing transport plane to Approaching age 60, the man who and the feudal system at the top of deposit troops and equipment into had started as CEO of his own com - many companies that stifles change restricted battlefield locations. The pany as a teenager now became and innovation. Hiller stressed project's X-18 test bed throughout his long was made of borrowed career, from age 15 to engines and fuselage beyond 70, what people parts, but the 17-ton plane can do when motivated managed to complete test and enabled. flights at Edwards Air Acknowledging that Force Base in 1959-60, aviation was an exciting proving the long-held career, Hiller created an Hiller idea that a tilting education-based avia - wing-engine approach to tion museum, now one high speed vertical flight of the nation's largest, in was feasible. The result San Carlos, California. was production of a eval - The Hiller Aviation uation fleet of Air Force Museum is an institu - tilt-wing XC-142 trans - tion of education and ports by the consortium research aiming to stim - of Hiller, Chance-Vought ulate communities to and Ryan. Challenged in use their imagination jungles and on aircraft carriers, the deeply committed taking the roles of the future of aviation, with a focus on XC-142 proved the point, as did all CEO or board chairman of challeng - unique technological innovations. Hiller's experimental hardware sur - ing enterprises in a wide variety of In his 78th year, Stanley Hiller was prises: they did what they were sup - industries. One of Hiller's most suc - awarded Smithsonian's 2002 posed to do, safely, and with consid - cessful turnarounds came close to the National Air and Space Museum erable fanfare, minus only full pro - end of his career when he persuaded Trophy for Lifetime Achievement. duction contracts to follow. Clearly, Borg-Warner to spin off to sharehold - That year his aviation community these and many other Hiller creations ers its failing York International, one honoured his lifelong contribution to were meant to teach the world what of the world's largest air conditioning the progress of aviation with its could be done in vertical flight in firms, and put him in charge as CEO. Medal of Achievement, from the San every possible field requirement. Stanley and Carolyn Hiller took up Francisco Aeronautical Society. In 1968, after merging Hiller residence in York, Pennsylvania, Stanley is survived by his wife, Aircraft into what became Fairchild until the job could be completed. A Carolyn Balsdon Hiller, his sons, Hiller Corporation, Stan Hiller left year after Mr. Hiller took the helm of Jeffrey and Stephen and his many aviation for business and opened the the once-floundering company he grandchildren. Hiller Investment Company. affectionately called Yorkie, the Willie Turner, Hiller Aviation Museum
HELICOPTER LIFE, Spring 2006 15 King Island 30 years after... Two Evergreen pilots transported 17 Inupiat Eskimos back to their native Alaskan King Island BY CAPT. ANIEJ FOSTER ing Island, Alaska, is a rock- and their summers engaging in simi - Christmas, by Jean Rogers, illustrat - cliff land mass about 1.6 km lar activities on the mainland near ed by Rie Munoz, which showed the (1 mile) long. It rises out of Nome. Their name for the island was devastation the islanders felt at hav - K the Bering Strait, 95 miles Ukiwuk. After the establishment of ing to change their way of life as well from Nome and 40 miles from Cape Nome during the 19th century gold as leave their homeland. Wooley, and for centuries was occu - rush, the islanders began to sell intri - The 400 surviving Ugiuvangmiut, pied by the Inupiat Eskimos, known cate carvings to residents of Nome who are now in their 60s, 70s, and as ‘King Islanders’ or Ugiuvangmiut. during the summer. 80s, live mostly in Nome and Gradually, though, the island’s In 1959, however, the Bureau of Anchorage. They are the last genera - population started to decrease and Indian Affairs decided it was too tion who have lived on the island and younger members moved away. The costly and too dangerous to run the wish to return seasonally, with their C
island became the winter home of a island and closed the island’s school, children, to their homeland to try and A p t group of about 200 Inupiat who leaving the King Islanders no choice recreate their former life. The King J A n i called themselves Aseuluk. The but to relocate with their children to Island Native Corporation, which e f o
Aseuluk spent their winters engaging Nome. This departure was the subject owns the land, is working to protect s t e in subsistence hunting on King Island of a children’s book, King Island and rebuild the island’s modest r 16 HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 homes and public ceremonial build - ings, most of them originally made of wood with walrus skin roofs, to allow the islanders to return. However, with little or no maintenance in a half-cen - tury, some of the structures have already collapsed while others are in danger of being washed into the sea. Richard Moe, president of the National Trust said: “To the Ugiuvangmiut people, this rugged island is more than a historic site: It is the cradle of their culture...unless Capt Janie Foster getting the Evergreen Helicopters Bell 412 ready to fly (we) preserve the structures that remain...the Ugiuvangmiut will have to watch as their community collaps - es and is lost forever.” The abundant animal life made a thriving King Island community pos - sible, despite a formidable environ - ment. Civilization was advanced with intricate knowledge of climate, ocean patterns, and marine life. As with all native populations, epidemics brought by outsiders decimated them; King Island’s population was Crew and passengers line up at the fuel cache before departure cut in half between 1900 and 1950. The cost of rebuilding King Island has not been estimated. However, involved parties are seeking funding to provide transport to and from the island, to assess current conditions and write restoration plans. I was one of two Evergreen pilots who flew on a mission that involved transporting 17 native elders in a Bell 212 from Nome to visit their former home on King Island. Although the Inupiat women wearing their mustang survival suits island is rocky and uninviting it is possible to land at the top on a flat plateau. Most of the people I trans - ported had not been back to the island in the last 30 years, which made the trip very emotional. Owing to the icy nature of the water all the passengers and crew had to wear survival suits; something which contrasted anachro - nistically with their own clothes, which at the time they lived on the island was their own survival gear! VECO Polar Resources sponsored the expedition. Inupiat women in traditional Kuspuk hooded dress: survival suits of their era HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 17 Volante the Flying Car This time the future of the flying car looks a little more possible, says an inventor and engineer
BY K. P. ICER n the past our imaginations have for your attention, but, in contrast to that has stopped all such programs in been stimulated by the appear - many past efforts by others, it is both the past. This has been the huge pro - ance of new flying cars in duction investment that finan - Iaviation journals and cial people have not been will - Sunday supplements. Some ing to provide for a machine of have shown great promise, like unproven, even if promising, Molt Taylor’s Aerocar, others worth. In contrast, the Volante have lacked various necessi - flying car will be offered to ties. All have faded from view home builders in kit form for without ever having an oppor - their own assembly and indi - tunity to explore the contribu - vidualistic touches. The cus - tion that such a machine could tomers would be the D A make to the general aviation Starting from a basic car model and growing wings! Experimental Aircraft n t e n
spectrum. a sound car and a quality aircraft. Association (EAA) members and fol - D e The Volante is another candidate Furthermore, it avoids the impasse lowers. This organization has provid - M
18 HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 ed, under FAA guidance and sanction, plus Paul Poberezny’s watchful eye, more home-builts in the last 40 years than the leading light plane builder, Cessna. This year over 10,000 kits will be sold to enthusiastic builders. What did I want the flying car to do? I immediately decided against trying for VTOL. The reason for this is that most of suburbia and city dwellers will not take kind - ly to the noise and downwash problems these machines currently present thus you must operate from an airport most of the time, so VTOL makes little sense. In time, as attitudes and facilities change, the VTOL machines will probably have a more prominent place in the market but at the moment they do not seem to fill a large- scale need in any practical manner, and are more expensive than the potential customer at can afford. I want a vehicle that will enhance the life of the vast majority of neither rich nor poor pilots, looking for more utility in their investment. For similar reasons, the flying car ahead of you on the freeway which suddenly sprouts wings and takes off from its place in traffic, is impractical. There are regulatory, if not technical, problems, something we will have examine in the future. There are two types of flying cars, both of which use airfields figure at some phase of their development. The first is the ‘leave a piece at the airport’ (LPA) type of flying car, which leaves the flight component at the air - port when the car drives away. The disadvantage is you must return to the same landing place to fly. The second is the ‘take-it-all-with-you’ (TAW) flying car. After landing all of the parts go with you, so that you can travel to another airport to continue your flight. There are two types of vehicle in this latter category. I borrow Lionel Salisbury’s ‘Roadable Times’ definitions here: Firstly, the integrated flying car with wings and empennage that fold and store, plus a stationery propeller, which allows you to drive an entire, albeit folded up, aeroplane on the highway. Secondly, the modular flying car. In this case the car returns to being just a car and the flight component becomes a trailer or some such attachment. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Firstly, the LPA. This machine is much less complex to build, requires fewer licenses to operate, and may well satisfy some people’s needs, however, you still have hangar or tie-down rent and significant operating restrictions. Secondly, the two types of TAW: the integrated machine, basically a fold-up aeroplane for highway trav - el, is great if you’re willing to put up with certain penal - ties. These depend on the sophistication of the design. It is relatively easy to conceptualise such a design but far more difficult to make it happen reliably. There are also the conflicting centre of gravity requirements of a car and an aircraft, fuel storage space and so forth. The highway
HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 gawkers are the least of the problem. and having to service complex fallible hangar as you initially paid for the kit I’ve got over a 100 sketches and still machinery when you land on a dark itself. Instead of which you can keep don’t have what I consider to be a rainy night in ‘Nowheresville, USA’. a flying car in your garage and use practical solution for this design at With the Volante, I have achieved the car a lot more than the hundred this time in history. Don’t give up the a design that will provide the largest hours per year that the average pilot sketch pads, I’m sure someone will number of presently recognized fly - flies his aircraft. do it well eventually. ing car advantages with a minimum Next the modular flying car. I of complexity. On top of that, the utility chose this for the Volante for several practical dual use of the separable car This average pilot does not fly reasons. I could not get an integrated makes a lot of sense. Needless to say, enough to maintain proficiency in all design to meet all of the types of weather. Accident combination aircraft-car reports are full of harrowing requirements without com - tales of the pilot who plex heavy machinery and I thought he saw a hole up didn’t think the world was ahead! With a flying car, ready for it on an economic however, the pilot can drive basis. It may well be that to the airport, take off, fly up unit production cost at to the edge of a weather sys - 100,000 vehicles or more tem, land, drive the car por - per year will be low enough tion to the other side of the for a significant number of problem and continue flight pilots to own, but it will be to his final destination air - some time before the market port, or his actual final desti - develops to that point. I The Volante provides the largest number of advantages nation. He has no need to chose the kit route for initial intro - this design, in contrast to many inte - take chances. This avoids the vaca - duction, because I think the flying car grated designs, also allows all of the tion trip that turns into a nightmare has to demonstrate its projected value ease of use of the LPA machine. If an when weather keeps you grounded before any entrepreneur will invest LPA machine meets your needs, it is for days on end. To quote Paul the magnificent sums required for your choice to build when you buy a Poberezny, April 1976: “All who serial production. We really have owned aeroplanes need to learn the ‘real world’ know that their investment contribution a flying car sits on the ground probably makes within the aviation more than 95% of its life - spectrum before we know time, either in the hangar or what it should look like, tied down out in the ele - how it will operate, what are ments. As I have often said, its economies, all of its pros one must have a strong love and cons, considered within for aviation to tolerate such an evolutionary framework a vehicle.” which simultaneously deals with necessary regulatory Convenience and facility changes. While the convenience of Once again I made many Separating into car and wing mode is relatively simple scheduled airlines is ques - configurations and even built another Volante kit. tionable at best, travel with them has flying car prior to the presently flying A few of the advantages and disad - become vastly more complicated and design. This No. 2 design has vantages of owning a TAW flying car: time consuming since 9/11’s security evolved even further in a production measures. Prior to 9/11 the average model, which for proprietary reasons Affordability speed for an airline distance of 500 I am holding close to my vest. I tend With an aeroplane, you can only tie it miles was estimated at between 50
to have to learn by experience and down outside and pay increased and 60 mph door to door, today this D A what I think I have learned is that ‘the maintenance costs, or you can hangar speed has been reduced dramatically. n t e n
devil is in the detail’. You don’t need it, and over a 5-year period, in As a further advantage, the pilot of a D e the disadvantages of a large toolbox, California, you pay as much for the flying car is able to avoid the overly M
20 HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 long commute from the closest air - ward section which actually forms a means of trailer wheel jacks; the trail - line airport to a final destination, slot to insure that this surface will not er wheel jacks are lowered to high - which normally has a small airport of stall prematurely. Stall seems to be way travelling height and the outer its own often without rental cars. In straightforward without wing drop at wing panels folded across the centre some areas, the flying car capability 70 mph without flaps at slightly section nearly ready to go. may be the only available ground below gross weight. Meeting the My plan is to complete the flight transportation. Alaska, for example. cruise speed also does not seem to be test and update the production proto - The current Volante is a two-place a problem. In general the handling type design with all changes indicat - composite machine with an empty qualities are working out well. ed by test and convenience, I am cur - weight of about 1,200 lb. and a gross At present the whole thing is in my rently exploring ways to proceed weight of 1,850 lb. with the kitting operation, Conversion time, either way, backed by reliable suppliers. in leisurely style, is less than From production compo - ten minutes and the job can nents a prototype will be be done by one person. It assembled and tested for will cruise at 150 mph with a demonstration and proof of Lycoming 0320 and drive at the entire package. At this normal highway speeds. I’m point, we will truly be ready not sure yet about speed to realize the full potential of with the flight section trailer a flying car, and I plan to ask attached, as it will depend a builders to report their uti - lot on crosswind. If you can lization so that I can docu - blow over an 18-wheeler, ment, analyze, and deter - you can also make travel KP Rice, designer, standing beside his flying car mine the evolutionary pro - with a Volante package exciting. shop while I install the ground vehi - gression of the flying car from At this point in time the concept cle drive that was tested in the Dune today’s version to the single-button prototype has completed about 20 Buggy, and to make the wings fold as transformation from aircraft to hours of successful flight test, tem - provisions were incorporated to do. A ground vehicle we all dream about. porarily without wheel pants. In the slightly wider fuselage will have to From the time I have all of my course of flying this prototype, many wait for the production unit. financing in hand, I expect the car kit improvements have suggested them - By carefully designing the Volante to be out and flying in about a year or selves, as well as ways to make it a to incorporate the best features of the less with the flight component to fol - better product conversion-wise as flying car design family, we will be low as soon as the production proto - well as aesthetically. These modifica - able to offer both a kit car and kit type confirms the satisfactory flight tions, not required immediately, are flight appendage, which are appeal - characteristics of the developmental being incorporated in the production ing and from which builders will unit, probably about sixteen months. prototype version, which will be kit - realize many advantages over pure For more information see: ted in composite structure for buyer aircraft. In fact, the prospective http://www.volanteaircraft.com assembly. A preliminary look at builder must ask sources for all components is under - himself, why he way at this time, as well as the would build a required organization to engineer, pure aircraft if test, assemble, and market the kits. the performance Based on flight test data, I have penalty for build - made several changes. First, I had to ing a flying car is tighten up the rudder system and put minimal. in bell cranks to reduce friction. Transferring Initially the rudder cables ran through the Volante from Nylaflow tubing but there was too being an aircraft much friction. Next, as I ran centre of to a car is simple: gravity range tests I found a need to the flight section add horizontal stabilizer area, which I has been lifted did by installing an add-on on the for - off of the car by
HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 21 P eckham D iamonds are a Girl s best Friend !
A Helicopter Adventure to Russia ! A novel by Georgina Hunter-Jones
Send a£ 18 cheque (incl P&P) to: FlyFizzi Publishing Order Now : 59 Great Ormond St. LondonWC 1N -3 HZ , England or go toF lyFizzi Book Store: www. flyfizzi.co.uk The Royal Oman Police A look at the Police Air Wing and how i development reflected chance rather tha choice
BY BRYN ELLIOTT
he Sultanate of Oman (or the country until the starting of oil pro - Provost trainer and the Scottish
t Muscat of Oman as it was duction in 1967. Air power in Oman Aviation Pioneer utility aircraft, gave t o i l known until 1971) occupies was British sourced and manned. The way to modern types including jets l e
n over 82,000 square miles of first air equipment of the Sultan of after the oil revenues became avail - y
r T
B the south-eastern corner of the Oman’s Air Force (SOAF), later able. The impetus behind the acquisi - f o
y Arabian peninsula, with the coastline renamed Royal Air Force of Oman tion of the aircraft was to assist s e t
r overlooking the strategic Straits of (RAFO), including examples of the British forces in quelling rebel activ - u o
C Hormuz. It remained a backward lightly armed piston engine Percival ity which had been afflicting the HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 23 country since the 1950s. The British with a civil face, was primarily as a separate section with its own aided conflict against the rebel ele - tasked with policing in the face of facilities in 1975. Based with the ments continued until 1975. communist inspired rebellion from Royal Flight at Seeb International Until 1970 the country remained factions in Yemen. As a national Airport it was tasked with the provi - virtually untouched by modern civil - force they undertake the roles of sion of emergency and routine patrols isation, life under the rule of Sultan Customs, Immigration. Coast Guard, and the conveyance of police person - Sa’id bin Taimur nel on a daily basis, seeming sometimes a means of over - almost medieval. coming poor road The sparse popula - communications. tion of the desert The initial PAW areas was mainly pilots and air crew from the wandering were all ex-patriates Bedouin tribe, a but even then it was background which a mixture including tends to instil in British, American them little day to day and Swiss. Much of interest in politics the choice of early but requires the ROP equipment was to garrison isolated inspired by chance oil installations in rather than choice. the interior in addi - The first aircraft tion to being respon - The Huey was to be used to undertake the heavier work it was designed for assigned to ROP air sibly for overall security. Fisheries Protection and support duties in July 1974 was a Around the national capital of Environmental Pollution Control. Pilatus PC-6 Porter obtained directly Muscat, and for 220 miles or so up to The flying activities of the police from Switzerland. The Porter was the Straits of Hormuz, the northern encompass the provision of air trans - rugged and capable of being operated terrain is mountainous and in the port for various other agencies hav - from rough strips or roads. Although south, across a desert it was feared ing no natural affinity with policing. it offered only eight seats and was the population would break away The formation of a Police Air relatively slow its limited capacity from the country and was offset by being increase ties with ideal for supplying Yemen in the west. the initial police The southern portion posts - most of of the country could which were not not be reached by more than 80 nm road, part of the from the centres of gravel track still population. being liable to The first addition ambush and mining. to the single PC-6 In the north much of Porter aircraft was the population lived an Agusta-Bell in the mountains 205A transferred which could only be from the SOAF on reached by air. The eight months loan in growth, and eventual September 1974 downsizing, of The Police Air Wing had a mixture of fixed wing and rotary aircraft pending the arrival C o u r
police flying in Oman was to reflect Wing (PAW) in 1974, later appended of five Bell 205A-1 helicopters, the t e s the gradual improvement of the sur - Directorate of Police Aviation (DPA) civil equivalent of the military UH- y o f face infrastructure. in 1985, was as a formation con - 1H (Huey). The aircraft were shipped B r y The Royal Oman Police [ROP], joined with the Royal Flight. This by sea from Houston, Texas, arriving n e l l
formed in 1972 to replace military link was never to be totally severed in Oman during March 1975. The i o t law enforcement with an organisation even though the Air wing was set up parts of these helicopters, spread t
24 HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 among thirty four crates, were assem - nel exchange role when not operating en-suite wash room and shower, the bled with the aid of Bell representa - for the Royal Guard. rear was set out with 72 standard tives and the first of the batch flew on A third Buffalo acquired a couple seats to enable it to perform flight April 6. The first official operational of years after the initial pair was a schedules in place of the Buffalo’s. flights of the new aircraft added to civil example with the rear air drop A type subsequently tried and the PAW fleet took place at 0710hrs loading doors deleted and an execu - found unsuitable was the Bell 222, on Sunday May 11, 1975. The rest of tive, or airline, interior and belonged two of which were acquired in 1980. the fleet was declared fully opera - to the palace for use by the Sultan Representing a major investment for tional on May 16. but was again operated by and avail - Bell, the result of considerable effort To further expand this spread of able to the Air Wing. When intro - and investment by them to produce a police aviation the PAW decided to duced to service it was marked as a sleek and comfortable and quiet acquire a type of machine that would police aircraft - a short lived turn of executive helicopter the concept was be able to transport seven or eight events that was personally reversed unfortunately not completely people across the country at speed. by the Sultan. The royal crest embraced by the ROP. Following a demonstration flight in replaced it. Bereft of its doors, unex - With its role displaced the Oman during September, a Gates pectedly the civil example suffered LongRanger was sold off to a pur - Learjet 25B (replaced by a 35A in severe corrosion in the lower fuse - chaser in the USA. 1978) was acquired for VIP use and lage area, damage which affected the The projected performance for the to be flown by the police. flight control runs. In retrospect it is new full IFR twin Bell 222 led to it To allow the 205 fleet to be thought that this was a direct result of being ordered virtually off the draw - released to undertake the heavier the removal of the doors. The utility ing board in 1978, for 1980 delivery. work they were designed for, two variants were regularly left with their The ROP used them almost exclu - contracts were signed for two Bell rear doors open on the ground, a fac - sively for VIP transport, the crews 206B (A4O-AR, A4O-AS) and one tor which ensured good circulation of tending to fly it in full ROP uniform Bell 206L (A4O-AT) for 1976 deliv - air in the rear fuselage, a facility rather than a flight suit. Not having a ery. The acquisition of the denied to the hotter travellers in the crewman the pilot had to undertake LongRanger’s was in itself an interim civil variant. measure forced onto the Air Wing by The largest type the absence of the type they were to yet serve with really seeking to have; an executive the ROP was an twin engine helicopter. eleven year old In 1976 the Air Wing was tasked 1965 vintage with providing transport for up to 16 Boeing 727-100 members of the Royal Guard at one acquired from the time. The primary route was a three German airline times a week shuttle between the Condor. In addi - north and south of the country. As tion to maintaining with other types, when these were not a fast connection required by the Royal Guard the between Muscat police were to have full use of them and Salalah it for similar transportation tasks. A served as a back pair of Swearingen Metro’s were up to the Royal selected by the Royal Guard who Flight. Its intro - were to pay for them. Massive expan - duction led to the sion of the Royal Guard from battal - ROP employing a ion size to a brigade meant that after flight engineer and only a year or so of operation the male and female Metro was no longer adequate for the cabin staff. The primary task. In 1978-79 this devel - Boeing performed opment brought about the acquisition a dual role and the of two rugged twin engine DHC-5D front cabin was set Buffalo aircraft which supplemented out as a ten place police Porter’s in the routine person - VIP lounge with
HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 25 refuelling from 44 gallon drums sin - the Bell 205s were to be replaced by Wing had been operating some 15 gle handed. The pilot was required to the arriving 214s in 1984 three were years but, not surprisingly in view of handle the heavy drum to the rear of retained for special use with ROP the background of the population, its the aircraft [rolling the drums was no Special Task Force and the Sultan’s locally recruited strength grew only problem, but getting them upright own Special Forces. slowly. Contract pilots were still was] and transferring the fuel by Two Dornier 228 twin airliners being sought for service with the means of an electric pump powered were introduced to replace the Porter ROP in 1998. Engineering was self by the aircraft battery. The Jet aircraft in 1984. All of the original contained within DPA with a team of Rangers and 205's had a socket into police posts supplied by the Porter aircraft engineers, again including an which went a lead from the motor, now had good road connections but element under contract, working in a thus enabling the aircraft battery to there remained some far flung ones large police hanger at Seeb Airport. be used. Being an executive type not that still had to be supplied by air. The hanger, large enough to accom - designed for such low tech condi - One Porter, the first, was damaged modate two 727s, contains the spares tions, the 222 battery was of fairly in a taxiing incident at Ibri when its department, stores, engine and paint low capacity so an additional battery port wing tip struck the only security shops, sheet metal facilities and an was carried in the avionics section. luggage compart - There was plenty of ment, handily hav - space but rarely ing its door on the enough personnel. right side, by the Early in 1999 there fuel filler. Use of the are only a handful 222 for police work of ex-pats left on was rare. After near - the Air Wing, two ly seven years in helicopter and two operation they were fixed wing pilots made redundant by and three helicopter the arrival of Bell A&C engineers. 214 helicopters and Even with the addi - finally sold directly tion of one or two to the UK. nurses the total The type that had strength of foreign shown the 222 a The single engine Long Ranger was regarded as a temporary measure workers with the clean pair of heels, the Bell 214ST, fence within 200 miles. To enable it whole ROP is less than ten. was acquired to replace the fleet of to return to Seeb it was temporarily A single Pilatus Britten-Norman 205’s from early in 1984. The type repaired the next day with the use of BN2T was acquired in the autumn of had been a contender in the market Dexion bracing and some "Gaffer 1989 but was temporarily lost from for a replacement for the Huey in US Tape". To ensure the unusual repair service when after the cockpit filled military service but had lost out to the remained in place the Porter was with smoke and obliged the pilot to Sikorsky UH60 Blackhawk and was escorted at close quarters as it flew at undertake an emergency landing on then offered on the civil market. It 10,000 feet back to base. This Porter what was found to be unsuitable ter - was to enjoy only a very limited suc - was later sold in Switzerland after an rain. It was repaired and returned to cess, exactly 100 were built by Bell, Omani pilot managed to put the other service. and in spite of high operating costs it one in to a thorn bush at Ibri. As the With the changing times and the - fitted the needs of the ROP useful lives of the Buffalo fleet growth of the roads and other infra - admirably. The six Bell 214STs ini - expired without the appearance of a structure the transportation needs tially ordered were equipped with a direct rugged terrain replacement assigned to the police fleet has C
variety of useful all weather naviga - increased rotary wing operations dis - reduced. The fleet of 214s has dwin - o u r tional aids that were to be a boon placed some of those of the fixed dled, with three reported sold abroad. t e s tracking across the featureless desert. wing fleet. The Sultan donated one None-the-less the experience of hav - y o f
It flew all of the operations that had Buffalo to the Sudan where it was ing the sturdy, useful helicopters B r y been undertaken by its predecessor shot down soon after. remains as beneficial and helpful in n e l l but it did them a bit further, faster and By 1989 the reliance upon ex- the minds of those involved. i o t better but at greater cost. Although patriate pilots remained. The Air t
26 HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 A ERIAL FORUM
hen I left the forces, some ness’. While some instructors may and to get political. Extra hours thirty years ago, I started use the defence that this is common might be a great help, but not if these W instructing at a civilian sense, and thus cannot be taught, I are wasted. The CAA reason for not school in the UK, a common practice beg to differ. An aware and informed doing full-down autorotations is that in schools of the time which had instructor alerts his student to the more helicopters are destroyed in mostly ex-forces instructors. Then inherent dangers of aviation, and by practice than engines fail in reality: after a few years I went into another constantly monitoring their levels but this I think just begs the question. aviation job, for about twenty years. I helps increase their sensitivity. Who Perhaps if we followed the US have now returned to instructing, and amongst us has forgotten the ‘old- model more closely with free tests what a shock that has been. My first time’ instructor saying: “you’ll think from approved examiners who are impression was that standards are so of me sitting beside you when...” up-to-standard, and then concentrat - low as to be underground, and this Factors that comes up again and ed on the parts of flying that are like - impression has not changed with again are a lack of understanding in ly to kill you, then we would start to closer examination. the correct fuel use, and of weather produce better instructors and hence Firstly, it seems that almost no observance, hence the number of better PPLs. instructors are ‘prepared’ to teach accident reports where PPLs ran out I suggest that included in the engine-off landings, that is to full of fuel or into terrain, and a basic lack PPL(H) should be 10 hours of fixed touch-down. A few individual of facts as to why we do things. wing flying. This would alert stu - instructors and examiners tell me This I think leads on to the greater dents to essential differences, such as they do, but far more PPL(H)s tell me problem, that instructors are no runway usage and genuine blind fly - they have not done a single engine- longer of the calibre they used to be. ing, while not substantially increas - off in their whole training, ing the cost, indeed if it was and some have not even done instructors are no longerdone before the helicopter an autorotation to a hover flying or in the early stages it recovery, their instructors of the calibre they usedmigh t toactually reduce the having done all the autos to a be number of practice hours and go-around. That they do not thus leave time for more even do engine-off landings in a test It is true that as an ex-forces pilot I important parts of learning. I find almost unforgivable, even look on civilian instructors with We are in a era where education in more so when I am told that this is no some reservations; however, I have the factual sense is no longer valued. longer required in a test! God forbid met good instructors who did not I see this from my grandchildren’s that any pilot so ignorant should have come through a military route, but school work, and from the comments an engine actually fail on him. who are prepared to give themselves of their teachers, as well as from the The second thing which is no to the job and to the through ground - press, but in aviation learning and longer taught appears to be tail-rotor ing and teaching of their students: instruction is not just invaluable it is failure. I have many PPL(H)s coming sadly these are far and few between. a life and death matter and should be to me for advanced training and not The majority I find uninterested in treated seriously. I hope it is, or it will one of them knows anything about the job and wanting only to go on to not be just for ecological reasons that tail-rotor failure. The best I could get other forms of flying. Many of these PPLs will find themselves grounded. out of one student was that he had not young instructors were not well Take my advice. Question your done any because “the school did not taught themselves and are perpetuat - instructor. “Why don’t we do engine have a simulator” and that tail-rotor ing the problem in their students. off landings/tail-rotor failures,”ask failures are too dangerous to practice. The problem does not stop there. him what he would do if the worst The third, and somewhat more The CAA themselves do not seem to occurred. His answer will at least abstract thing, I notice about students be using their powers to improve avi - give you something to think about. and PPLs lack is ‘aviation aware - ation, only to feather their own nests John Smith
HELICOPTER LIFE, Summer 2006 27 Virtually holding its O High Wycombe