Tag: helicopter

Categories
Flight Simulation

The Jungfraujoch in flight simulation.

On the train heading for the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland 2013.
On the train heading for the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland 2013.

Ten years ago this year, we took the train to the Jungfraujoch Top of Europe station.

Sphinx astronomical observatory on the Jungfraujoch in Switzerland.
Sphinx astronomical observatory on the Jungfraujoch in Switzerland.

The latter is located in the Jungfraujoch pass in Switzerland, at an altitude of 3571 meters (11,716 feet MSL).

The construction of this station was a feat of engineering at the time, but cost the lives of many workers. One does not make one’s way through a mountain range with sticks of dynamite without the occasional unforeseen agenda imposed by nitroglycerine.

The train can therefore only reach this station by traveling inside the mountains on a steep slope requiring a hydraulic mechanism to pull the train forward. The tourist must trust the engineers and the technical support…

To remind myself of our trip to this region, I thought of taking a virtual helicopter flight from Lauterbrunnen to land directly on the platform of the Sphinx astronomical observatory, this world famous tourist attraction of the Jungfraujoch. Fortunately for me, the company Red Wing Simulations recently created a virtual scene including these two magnificent sites.

Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland and the Microsoft Flight Simulator Bell 407.
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland and the Microsoft Flight Simulator Bell 407.

Flight simulation enthusiasts will be well advised to use the Bell 407, as the operating limit of the Guimbal Cabri G2  provided by the Microsoft flight simulator is capped at 13,000 feet. It is best to fly with a slightly more powerful aircraft when maneuvering at this altitude.

Airborne from Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.
Airborne from Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.

From a green landscape in the summer one gradually flies towards the eternal snow of the highest peaks in the Valais.

Getting closer to the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland.
Getting closer to the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland.

The scenery was spectacular on the train and it is just as spectacular in virtual flight. A mechanical problem with the helicopter in this environment of grandiose cliffs would leave little chance for the pilot.

Approaching the Sphinx Observatory on the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland.
Approaching the Sphinx Observatory on the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland.

Here we are on approach: it is possible to land on the platform of the Sphinx observatory, but the pilot needs to be prepared for wind shear and unforeseen clouds at this altitude while taking care during the approach to avoid touching the flagpole and the protective fences surrounding the platform.

The Sphinx observatory on the Jungfraujoch with the Bell 407 helicopter on the platform using Microsoft Flight Simulator.
The Sphinx observatory on the Jungfraujoch with the Bell 407 helicopter on the platform using Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The Red Wing Simulations company has done an outstanding job designing this virtual scenery. In the photo below, you can even see skiers at the bottom of the cliff warming up before their first run.

Red Wing Simulations skiers at the base of the Jungfraujoch observatory on Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Red Wing Simulations skiers at the base of the Jungfraujoch observatory on Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Even if the virtual scene includes something other than Lauterbrunnen and the Jungfraujoch, the pleasure of making a successful approach on the Sphinx platform alone is worth the cost of acquiring the software.

The Sphinx observatory on the Jungfraujoch and the helicopter on the platform using Microsoft Flight Simulator
The Sphinx observatory on the Jungfraujoch and the helicopter on the platform using Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator and Red Wing Simulations representation of the Jungfraujoch Observatory platform.
Microsoft Flight Simulator and Red Wing Simulations representation of the Jungfraujoch Observatory platform.

Click on the links for more challenging virtual flights or flight simulation information on my blog.

Categories
Aviation art Flight Simulation

Flight simulation : three screen captures.

The virtual sceneries shown below were used for flight simulation exercises. They are all available online, for sale or free, at ORBX ( https://orbxdirect.com/ ).

Piper Pacer approaching the dock at Robert's Lake in Ontario, Canada.
Piper Pacer approaching the dock at Robert’s Lake in Ontario, Canada.

In the scenery above, the red Piper Pacer, which is made by Lionheart Creations Ltd ( http://www.lionheartcreations.com/ ), arrives at a Pier at Robert’s Lake, in Canada. This lake was modelized jointly with the Parry Sound (CNK4) virtual scenery.

Virtual Cessna C188B Agtruck near Claresholm Industrial Park in Alberta, Canada.
Virtual Cessna C188B Agtruck near Claresholm Industrial Park in Alberta, Canada.

In the picture above, a virtual Cessna C188B Agtruck created by the Alabeo company ( https://www.alabeo.com/sitealabeo/ ) is parked near the Claresholm Industrial Park (CEJ4), in Canada. The virtual airport is available for  free download at ORBX. Who said that nothing in life is free?!

A virtual UH-60L Black Hawk belonging to the Columbian Police Force is hovering in the jungle.
A virtual UH-60L Black Hawk belonging to the Columbian Police Force is hovering in the jungle.

Above, a UH-60L Black Hawk virtual helicopter created by the Cerasim company ( https://www.cerasimaircraft.com/ ) is flying over the Papua New Guinea territory. It should normally be hovering over Columbia, but the ORBX company has not yet developed very well defined airports for that country. It was more interesting to fly over an area that was already well modelized.

The three screen captures were slightly digitally improved following each virtual flight. The FSX flight simulation platform, although still interesting, is getting a bit old. The original screen captures often benefit from additional digital processing, especially when it comes to posting for the international contest held monthly by the ORBX company.

Categories
Airline manager quotes

One hell of a ride

The Canadian Craig Dobbin built the world’s largest helicopter company

"One hell of a ride" book cover about Craig Dobbin and the world's largest helicopter company: CHC Helicopters
“One hell of a ride” book cover about Craig Dobbin and the world’s largest helicopter company: CHC Helicopters

His view on management

“I’m not an expert on anything” he explained. “Whatever the job, whatever the challenge, somebody can do it better than I can. True entrepreneurs surround themselves with professional managers who share their vision and put form around it. Not only can you not do it all yourself, it’s not necessary, and it does not make sense. I believe in being a good casting director of people who work together and share together”.

Handling pressure

“It’s been a good week” Craig Dobbin might comment to his personal secretary late on a Friday afternoon. Then his face would cloud over and he’d say, “Get Keith Stanford on the phone and ask him for my financial summary. That’ll fuck up my weekend”.

A capacity to take huge financial risks

“The hell with the contract”, he grinned. “Let’s buy the buggers out and we’ll get the contract that way! We’ll start with Toronto [Helicopters].”

“One morning, shortly after the deal to purchase Toronto Helicopters was completed, Craig Dobbin strolled into Robert Foster’s Toronto office. “Robert” he said “I want you to get on a plane, fly to Calgary and buy Okanagan Helicopters for me.” “But Craig,” Foster replied, “you don’t have any money.” Dobbin shrugged and said “That’s your problem.””

On the importance of relaxing and have fun

“Over time, Dobbin introduced initiation rites for first-time visitors [to his fishing lodge]. Steve Hudson’s [a pilot] initial visit to Adlatuk involved a helicopter flight over the ocean in search of an iceberg drifting down from the Arctic. When a suitable iceberg was located, the initiate was given his instructions. “They handed me a hammer and an ice bucket,” Hudson explains. “My job was to jump out of the helicopter onto the iceberg and fill the bucket with chipped ice for our drinks back at the fishing lodge”.

Icebergs, Hudson discovered, are very unstable and riding one in the North Atlantic with a Super Puma hovering a few feet over your head is like trying to keep your balance while walking across a trampoline. “It was a lot of fun for the guys in the helicopter,” he says, “but not so much fun for me, trying to knock enough million-year-old ice of the berg to fill the bucket.” Back in the camp, the ice chilled several glasses of Jameson raised in a toast to the new crew member.””

"One hell of a ride", from John Lawrence Reynolds
“One hell of a ride”, from John Lawrence Reynolds

A genuine interest in people

“When he talked with you in social situations,” one business acquaintance recalls, “he was focused totally on you. He wasn’t looking over your shoulder or around the room, searching for someone more important. He was really interested in what you were saying. Everyone sensed this about the man and was drawn to him”.

Dobbin’s humanity

“Dobbin’s business acumen rarely overrode his humanity. On a flight to his fishing lodge in Long Harbour with a group of friends, Dobbin asked the helicopter pilot to set the craft down for a washroom break. The pilot chose an open area adjacent to a shack and tower where a provincial wildlife officer was spending the summer on fire-watch duty. The officer, a grizzled veteran of wildlife work, kept the group laughing for some time with his stories and anecdotes, and the short rest break extended into an hour’s impromptu entertainment.

“How long have you been here?” Dobbin asked the old timer as the group was about to board the helicopter and resume their journey. “Ten weeks,” the officer answered, with about another ten weeks to go before returning home. “Anything you need?” Dobbin inquired, and the man said he was out of sugar; it would be nice to have something to sweeten his tea, but he would get by.

An hour later, when everyone had disembarked at Long Harbour, Dobbin instructed the helicopter pilot not to shut down the aircraft yet. He entered the cookhouse and emerged with a two-kilo bag of sugar, ordering the pilot to fly it back to the wildlife officer they had met.

“Are you kidding?” the young pilot said. “I’ll spend about two thousand bucks in fuel alone to fly it there.”

Dobbin gripped the pilot’s arm. “Son,” he said, “that sugar will mean more to that old fellow than two thousand bucks will ever mean to me. Now get going.””

Title: One hell of a ride
Author: John Lawrence Reynolds
©2008
Editor: Douglas &McIntyre
ISBN: 978-1-55365-491-9

For other quotes from airline managers, click here: Quotes from airline managers

Categories
Flight Simulation

Flight simulation: why not try a flight between two helipads located high in the Alps?

R66 helicopter on the Refuge du Requin helipad in the Alps (DZRR) FSX
R66 helicopter on the Refuge du Requin helipad in the Alps (DZRR) FSX

In the “flight simulation” section, under “challenging virtual flights”, I have added screen captures (also visible here for now) that show a flight that can be quite demanding and which consists of doing a VFR ride  with an helicopter between two helipads situated high in the Alps. The flight is made using FSX. In real weather conditions, the winds can really complicate things when you are on short final for your destination.

R66 helicopter airborne from the Refuge du Requin (DZRR) FSX
R66 helicopter airborne from the Refuge du Requin (DZRR) FSX
R66 helicopter approaching the Refuge de l'Argentière DZRA FSX
R66 helicopter approaching the Refuge de l’Argentière DZRA FSX

For this exercice, the ALABEO R66 has been chosen. You could add another degree of difficulty by using a DODOSIM helicopter.  The helipads are made by  LLH Créations. The virtual flight that you can see in the screen captures set  above shows a takeoff from the Refuge du Requin sur la Mer de glace (DZRR), which is at an altitude of 2510 meters, towards the Refuge de l’Argentière (DZRA), located at  2778 meters MSL. Two other mountain chalets could have been chosen: Chamonix (DZ des Bois , DZDB), at 1075 meters, and Promontoire (DZPR), near the Alpe d’Huez mountain airfield  and Grenoble airport,  at 3055 mètres in the mountains.

R66 on final for the Refuge de l'Argentière helipad DZRA FSX
R66 on final for the Refuge de l’Argentière helipad DZRA FSX

Before doing a flight, you can select one of the following three options: winter, summer and photographic scenery.  The documents provided help you out with the best settings as to the autogen, the complexity, the resolution, etc.

R66 helicopter on the Refuge de l'Argentière helipad DZRA FSX
R66 helicopter on the Refuge de l’Argentière helipad DZRA FSX
R66 on the roof of the Refuge de l'Argentière DZRA FSX
R66 on the roof of the Refuge de l’Argentière DZRA FSX

I am convinced that you will enjoy the experience. By using real weather, each flight becomes an adventure. With moderate winds, on an approach to the Refuge de l’Argentière, you will realize that there is not much margin of manoeuver!

Have a good flight!

For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation