Uncategorized :: JetBox

Dec

Step into Xmas

By joeltobias · Comments (1)

G-GOES in the Lake District

Welcome to winter, the season of goodwill, over eating, Xmas parties, excess alcohol, corny festive records and superb snow-covered mountain flying. After a week or more of gale force winds, rain, hail, fog, low cloud and every other variant of the elements that contribute to IMC flight we were long overdue a glorious crisp, gin clear, winters day. And today was it. It started slightly murky, but the forecast was encouraging and by 10.30 the sun was shining and the clouds were clearing completely, with visibility in excess of 50nm. It was, however, bloody freezing!

I was desperate to get the JetBox in the air, but my good pal Mark had just passed his flight test and was similarly keen to remain airborne despite not being able to actually act as PIC. Mark had been keen to visit the Lake District throughout his training and today’s conditions were better than perfect for a trip north into the Cumbrian countryside. The best option therefore was to roll out his Robinson R44 and take it for a spin. Read More→

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Nov

Robinson helicopters in danger of being grounded at night.

By joeltobias · Comments (1)

In 2009 EASA published their proposed operation and equipment rules, and pilots and helicopter operators were given an opportunity to comment on the proposals. The HCGB and others identified some serious issues with the proposals that would have impacted many GA aircraft and thankfully petitioned EASA to make certain changes which thankfully they seem to have done.

However, although they have made changes (see below), they have left in the requirement for a heated pitot at night which would effectively rule out any Robinson taking to the air after sunset. Read More→

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Nov

Not so much a drop in the ocean………

By joeltobias · Comments (1)

As a splash in the Mersey river. Merseyside Police have been left with an embarrassing predicament after their innovative, but quite frankly useless, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) suddenly lost power and plunged into the murky waters of the River Mersey.

The slightly odd looking contraption costing, more than £13,000, was apparently being used in a routine training exercise at their leisure centre which is not far from the Mersey. It seems an odd place to be conducting training but who am I to comment !!! The drone attempted to conduct an emergency landing but due to adverse weather conditions, something which has hampered its operational capability throughout its service, it was unsuccessful and crashed into the water. A search was conducted but officers were unable to locate the aircraft which had swiftly metamorphosed into a submersible.

Merseyside Police launched the device in a hail of publicity claiming it would enhance their ability to locate fleeing suspects but it rapidly became problematic with weather becoming the main obstacle to its success. They also fell foul of the law themselves when the CAA investigated its use and determined that they did not have the appropriate license for it. One was swiftly issued and no further action was taken.

Merseyside have now decided not to replace the aircraft and local criminals have breathed a sigh of relief as in the last 4 years the craft has been responsible for apprehending a staggering one baddy! Merseyside police have been compensated by their insurers for it’s loss and have now decided to purchase a chocolate fire guard for their social club, equally useless, but the melted chocolate is delicious on strawberries.

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Sep

If it flys, floats or f**ks……….

By joeltobias · Comments (1)

There’s an old saying, which I may have mentioned before, that if it flys, floats or f**ks – you should rent it! Never a truer word has been spoken and I can personally testify that it’s good advice. I regret, however that I don’t heed the guidance myself and to make matters worse I could easily have succumbed to another of the forbidden fruits in the aforementioned quote because, on Friday I was invited to attend the Southampton Boat show, and I saw no good reason to decline the offer. I know nothing about boats except that they float, usually have an engine (always a good start for me), they have gadgets, and they can be pretty sexy. So it all sounded good.