Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Descent or Ascent?

 


8 comments:

  1. does not appear wet and no water dripping off so decending

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    Replies
    1. Look closer at the suit. It's wet.

      You aren't going to see much dripping under 100 mph rotor wash, and you'll be mostly dry before you get to the bird.

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  2. He's not looking up so I'm guessing he's going down.

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  3. I am going the other way. Won't see "dripping" due to rotor wash. Don't know if the swimmer has had multiple insertions. Not at attitude for a insertion, too high. I would not clear an insertion until I was established in a hover at the correct altitude. If I had a crew chief I trusted with my life I would let him call the exit but I always had the final say. I would start rotation to forward flight and/or climb while the swimmer was in transit up depending on wave height. He is too high to drop so coming up.

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    Replies
    1. Just noted, his fins or pointing down so relaxing not tense like he's going in. He would not enter the water that way. So going up. The left arm is reflecting light. Dry suit won't do that but as noted above he might have had multiple dunks.

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  4. To be sure, going one way or the other

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  5. Did quite a few water entries from helos, never was winched down. Only winched up or used a Jacobs ladder.

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  6. Could be a couple of reasons. Sea state, weather (unable to stabilize the aircraft), equipment carried for mission, non-permissive personal (not trained or current) and visibility (night, blowing snow or rain). Sea state is the hardest- waves/swell at 50 ft. and you can suddenly be way to high for a safe landing. A/C call and we always took crap from the back for a no/go. I see none of those in this photo, so recovering.

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