Jeffrey Donenfeld

Tag: helicopter

  • Helicopter Operations at McMurdo Station

    Helicopter Operations at McMurdo Station

    At McMurdo, helicopters play a vital role in local transportation and logistics. McMurdo has its own helicopter operations hanger and pad, operated by PHI Helicopter, featuring 6 pads, and an indoor enclosed hangar for maintenance.

    During my month or so living at McMurdo while awaiting transport to field camp, I had the opportunity to watch countless helicopter flights, including flights of the PHI-Operated Bell 212 “Twin Huey”, NZ-Operated Eurocopter AS350 B2, and finally a Chinese-operated Kamov KA-32. A few photos and video clips:


    See more of the Chinese Kamov KA-32

    A Chinese-Operated Kamov KA-32 Helicopter hovers over New Zealand's Scott Base.
    A Chinese-Operated Kamov KA-32 Helicopter hovers over New Zealand’s Scott Base.
    New Zealand's antarctic helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350 B2, based out of Scott Base, just around the corner from McMurdo Station.
    New Zealand’s antarctic helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350 B2, based out of Scott Base, just around the corner from McMurdo Station.
    Another view of McMurdo's helo pad - it has multiple landing spots, as well as a fully enclosed hangar
    Another view of McMurdo’s helo pad – it has multiple landing spots, as well as a fully enclosed hangar
    Inside the McMurdo helicopter hanger, a Bell 212 sits for maintenance.
    Inside the McMurdo helicopter hanger, a Bell 212 sits for maintenance.
    Inside the McMurdo helicopter hanger, a Bell 212 sits for maintenance.
    Inside the McMurdo helicopter hanger, a Bell 212 sits for maintenance.
    Helicopter operations at McMurdo, run by PHI Helicopter.
    Helicopter operations at McMurdo, run by PHI Helicopter.

    DSC00904-2014-12-11 Helicopter Operations-Donenfeld-1920-WM

    Bell 212 slingloading at McMurdo
    Bell 212 slingloading at McMurdo

    DSC01894-2014-12-11 Helicopter Operations-Donenfeld-1920-WM

    DSC01900-2014-12-11 Helicopter Operations-Donenfeld-1920-WM

  • A Chinese-Operated Kamov KA-32 Helicopter Slingloads Fuel at Scott Base, Antarctica

    A Chinese-Operated Kamov KA-32 Helicopter Slingloads Fuel at Scott Base, Antarctica

    chinareOn December 30th, 2014, a Russian-made, Chinese-operated Kamov KA-27 Helicopter made a brief stop by New Zealand’s Scott Base, Antarctica. The helicopter is operated by the Polar Research Institute of China, and was flying from its supporting research vessel, the MV Xue Long, China’s only polar research vessel.

    The helicopter was picking up a slingload of fuel, for deposit at a remote fuel depot at Cape Adare, Antarctica, in support of a Kiwi research project.

    Video of the fuel pickup, and a photo of the chopper coming around to Scott Base.

  • Flying the Robinson R22 Helicopter

    Flying the Robinson R22 Helicopter

    Today I took my first flight lesson and flew the Robinson R22 Beta Helicopter. My flight instructor was Pilot Jefferson Vicente of Heliflights.net. After a bit of ground review of the basics, which I had learned previously from the industry standard text “Principles of Helicopter Flight“, we hopped in the chopper and took off from the Lincoln Park, NJ airport. The R22 is a very very small helicopter, and its controls are fully manual, and extremely sensitive. Flying over NJ, I felt every gust of wind and movement of the helicopter, and had to constantly adjust to stay level. We flew a couple laps around the area, and then came back down to the airport, where we practiced hovering and flying at different angles. Overall it was a great experience!

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