Line up of Robinsons

Alouette II

SA Police Air Wing

A MBB-Bo105 represented the South African Police Services Air Wing at the Fly-In and it was interesting to note all the latest modifications to the helicopter. Fitted with two wire cutters (above and below the frontal cabin section), a re-enforced cabin structure, modern comms suite, GPS and Tracker vehicle recovery equipment. Arguably the most talked about helicopters of the day were two examples from Hughes/McDonnell Douglas in the form of the civilian 369 model derived from the original 500 model build for the US Military.

Part of the day’s activities a precision flying competition was staged in the area adjacent to the helicopter parking bay. Teams comprised two members and it called for a skilled pilot, precision flying, co-ordination between pilot and team member, team member guiding a suspended bucket through various makeshift corridors while calling instructions to the pilot, dropping golf balls into various buckets half filled with sand before racing for the end in the shortest possible time. The day belonged to “Team Lemoen” (Orange), Eddie Vorster and Grant Kriel from Tzaneen in the MD 369 E with second place going to Ruan Fuchs and Alwyn Fuchs in a R22 with the reigning champions, Johnny O’Reilly and Martin Coetzer in a Jetranger taking third place. Perhaps the best aspect of this competition is the close proximity for the spectators to view all the action.
 

Get in the bucket

Not this time...