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Healing The Wounds


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TwistedSpar -----nice of you to mention my name. Should I take that to mean that you missed me or were you just bored? Careful what you say now because we don't want to get into that 'Broke Back Mountain' crap on this site.....and keep it clean eh?

 

Been following this subject a bit. I say 'a bit' because I've been in a crash of a Huey that killed three other crew members and trapped me in the pilot's seat for about 30 minutes. I had a 'self-sealing' fuel take that had ruptured during the crash and was dripping fuel. Along with that was the overhead electrical panel that had busted open and the electicl wires were all frying like bacon in a pan. You know exactly what I knew was going to happen top me and can you say 'crispy critter'. I got removed, but it took a lot of people and cutting materials to do it........so I understand the concern.

 

So what does anyone consider "self-sealing" or "crash-proof"? I know of lots that are 'self-sealing', but none that are 'crash-proof'. Are there any 'self-sealing' ones available to any a/c? They are for certain types, especially if they are civilian versions of military a/c, but first you have to convince MoT to approve them......and good luck to you in that endeavour. There was one available a long time ago for those Bell 204's that were built with short-range tanks and it fit right under the forward-facing troop seat, from side to side......and was safe as H*ll........but MoT would have nothing to do with it. If one flies a Huey, they will find in many cases, that they already are operating with a 'self-sealing' fuel tank. Notice that I said "in many cases"......not ALL. I've flown enough Canadian registered 204's/5's that I know which ones did and which ones didn't. The 206? Let me know when anyone finds one that was Bell-built with one.

 

One has to understand that if the military designs and has something built, then it must be 'haywire' in some regard because they can't find their as*es with two hands and flashlight on most days............or so some people in authority would like to think (dripping sarcasm intential). Don't 'go there' Blackmac.....I know what you're thinking you 'ol seadog and you can't say that here or I think you get arrested. :lol:

 

"Crash-proof" fuel tanks though? I've seen more than my share of crashes between my time in combat and in the civilan world of flying and I've not seen many that a fuel tank of any type would have survived. Survive better than they do at present? You bet, but follow-the-money first as to why not and I believe you'll find the answer. Other than that, an older, ex-MoT guy like Blackmac should have some wisedom to be listened to on this subject. :lol::lol:

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Cap:

Good to hear from you, I thought I was the only one that was wacko. My first encounter with fire was in Vertol H21, went out of control about 1000ft AGL (failed control cable to the rear head) hit a knoll knocked, about forty trees down, demolished the cockpit, split in two, caught on fire, we only had about 100 gallons of 100/130 on board, DD pulled me out from my upside down position under the forward xmsn with a crash helmet that was totally demolished on the right hand side. Oh!, I forgot to mention that DD was thrown out of the machine seat and all, I mean with him in it. The funny thing about all this as I remember, Doc had stood me up in front of the aircraft and after he pulled JL through the entrance to the cockpit, he told me to move it and gave me a shove, all I did was go head first into the snow. The passenger that we picked up at the site we had just left was sitting in the middle of the machine and got thrown out, he broke his false teeth.

 

Again this story good go on for another page, but suffice to say we were picked the next day after spending the night out at minus 44 Degrees F.

 

This was January 8th 1958 and was reported in the Ottawa Citizen as front page news.

 

It's nice to hear from people that have bin there done that and don't think it is a good idea for anybody else to be doing it.

 

You are a true friend.

 

Cheers, Don

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TwistedSpar------looked at the "YouTube" item and it made me take a 'double-take' because I thought it was me and that some smartass had caught me with a hidden camera after the Ops Mgr asked me after last tour...."So how was your tour anyway Cap?" :lol:

 

If you missed ME, then you gotta get out more often and try a "Day Pass - Unescorted' next time., so you can meet people and mingle more. :lol::lol:.....that goes for Mark also.

 

 

 

Blackmac ------- please, please, please, no further stories involving Doc. I have had lines on my face for eons that appeared there long ago laughing about that guy. They now attribute those lines to age. Where have all those 'characters' gone to anyway? Someday, when I grow-up and get some experience maybe I can be like Doc too..........if my liver survives. :lol::lol::lol:

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