Ready and waiting for the upcomming fire season, and using the time to catch up with whats happening at backcountrypilot

Might see you round this season

Gday there mate! good to see yet another aussie about! you will have to check out our planned up coming fly in for May/June next year! I noticed you are from Coffs, you wouldn't have something to do with eagle copters would you?

I'll be down to join you mate's some time in December. We (Erickson) already have one SkyCrane on contract in Sydney and others going on the ship in a week or two. Last two years I was working out of Victoria, this year sounds like I will be stationed in South Australia. Where are you based?

you guys will definatley have to keep an eye out for a feature article I have written for Zane that will be coming online in the next week or 2 I guess. Its about fleet helicopters fire bomber Lucy. An ex Ericsson aircrane huey that was based in Borneo as N149AC, and has just been fully revamped in coffs harbour, now bright pink and supporting the cancer cause!

I'm looking forward to your article Drifter. The other pilot I'm currently flying with (2 of us in the crane) flew that helicopter for a number of years in Borneo. Small world! I hope to get a chance to meet some of you guys down under this summer.

that wouldnt happen to be Jeff brenhaug would it? I've been chatting to him about it

That's the guy! He and I are planning to make it out to the High Sierra Flyin Saturday evening if we don't goto a fire else where. We might even get him on BCP one of these days. By the way I really enjoy working the fire season down in your country, always a good time!

No next to Eaglecopters new hangars at Precision Helicopters as their Chief Engineer.
We operate Bell212, Bell205, Bell 206 x 2, MD500D, BK117, R22.

Hi Waterboy, I'm mostly around NSW, but with our new Bell 212 we may end up in Vic once the NSW fires are finished.
I'll keep an eye out for you boys.

haha if you see him waterboy tell him Tim Howes is still waiting on his photos and video! if you fancy a holiday while you guys are over here, feel free to come up to Byron bay, nice spot to come and your welcome to come for a fly any time! talk about a small world

Waterboy wrote:I'll be down to join you mate's some time in December. We (Erickson) already have one SkyCrane on contract in Sydney and others going on the ship in a week or two. Last two years I was working out of Victoria, this year sounds like I will be stationed in South Australia. Where are you based?

I will be based in northern NSW spraying cotton but the company I work for will have 4 AT802's available on a call when needed basis, so I could end up on fires anywhere in NSW.

dont forget 51C170 to check in on our fly in page, I just put up details of another possible location and would love your thoughts!

Hey Waterboy. Are you coming back over this year?

Yep sure am. I'll be back in Victoria again this year. Based out of Essendon airport. Headed over the first week of December.

Waterboy wrote:Yep sure am. I'll be back in Victoria again this year. Based out of Essendon airport. Headed over the first week of December.

Cool. I'll be based at mansfield in Victoria in an 802 for the season, starting tomorrow. I think coulsons have a s61 starting here at the end of the month. I was lucky enough to line up a hangar down here so I brought my 170 down with me. Would be cool to catch up and check out the sky crane.

51C170 wrote:

Waterboy wrote:Yep sure am. I'll be back in Victoria again this year. Based out of Essendon airport. Headed over the first week of December.

Cool. I'll be based at mansfield in Victoria in an 802 for the season, starting tomorrow. I think coulsons have a s61 starting here at the end of the month. I was lucky enough to line up a hangar down here so I brought my 170 down with me. Would be cool to catch up and check out the sky crane.

I'm on duty here at Essendon. Our call sign in Helitack 341. It a bit of a quick trip for me this round, I'm headed home on the 18th. I'll be back on the 4th of January for the month. Perhaps we could meet up then. I doubt we will be doing much flying before I leave. In fact we are just trying to stay warm down here in Melbourne.

It would be great to check out your 170. My 170 is a 49 A model.

What's the number on your 802?

I know what you mean about staying warm.... it got down to 4' here Friday night. I'm flying bomber 358 - occasionally. I've been on for a month already and only dropped a dozen or so loads.
My 170 is a stock 51 A model.
Will definitely try to line something up in January.