Forum Topic

One helicopter, two helicopter,....

About half-an-hour ago I was walking across Haven Green when I heard the distinctive sound of a Chinook helicopter in the air to the East, then I realized that it was two Chinooks flying close to each other. What's up, I thought! You see, two Chinooks in formation are "operational" - they are armed and dangerous and on a mission. If you see one on its own it means nothing (probably carrying spuds or something like that), the moment you see two it means that one is covering the other. So, what's up over London tonight?

Douglas Connor ● 2971d8 Comments

IIRC their fallibility is why helicopters have to fly along the river in London.http://hieldsaviation.co.uk/flying-the-london-heli-lanes-one-of-the-best-things-to-learn-as-a-new-helicopter-pilot/

Paul James ● 2970d

And there I was thrilled that I'd seen one!

Philippa Bond ● 2970d

"Just makes me wonder can a twin rotor (and presumably twin engine) actually fly with a failure at one end?"The Chinook has two engines, the output from which go into a gearbox providing power via drive shafts to both rotors. If one engine fails, the remaining engine automatically takes over, feeding power through to the gearbox, thus still turning both sets of blades. Even if both engines failed, the pilot can enter "autorotation" in which both sets of blades will still go round as the helicopter descends to an emergency landing (difficult in built-up areas).It gets more difficult if there is a mechanical problem with one of the rotors, as synchronisation of the rotors (which prevents the overlapping blades from hitting each other) is then at risk.

Richard Jennings ● 2970d

They are huge, awe inspiring and slightly frightening. I hope one never comes down in a built up area. Yes I appreciate in London we are overflown regularly by bigger aircraft but I understand that fixed wing aeroplanes have a much better safety record than helicopters. Just makes me wonder can a twin rotor (and presumably twin engine) actually fly with a failure at one end?

Philip Coe ● 2971d

I see two together regularly, they follow the path of the river as they fly.I used to work in a building in Finsbury square, and hearing them thunder over then come down in amongst the buildings and land right in the middle of the (tiny) HAC grounds, then take off again was quite a sight!

Paul James ● 2971d

You don't see a chinook for years on end and then two turn up at once. Thats TfL for you.

Bob Little ● 2971d

Lee that could be the case, however, single helicopters are used to ferry people. Pairs of helicopters are usually "operational", armed and loaded and covering each other. Chinooks are big and expensive to run so having two to carry a single load of potatoes is unlikely. Watch for them when they are travelling in pairs, or threes....

Douglas Connor ● 2971d

Very likely just ferrying people to and from meetings, just because you see two together means nothing other than there are two. Happens all the time over London.

Lee Page ● 2971d