USAF helicopters in long-range rescue off west coast.

[Blue Monday]

Not an Air Corps subject, but apparently a pair of USAF  HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters were involved in a long-range rescue of a sailor off the west coast yesterday. They were refuelled in the air by an MC130 Hercules and there was an RAF Nimrod involved as well. The Hercules completed the mission with two engine failures! The sailor was brought to hospital in Limerick. Did anyone get any photos of them at Shannon? Sounds like an interesting mission, to say the least.

Bue Monday.
 

P.S. Here is a couple of links to the story;

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28172475/

http://www.shephard.co.uk/news/1174/pave-hawks-called-in-on-uk-sar-mission/

[Blue Monday]

Did some more digging and the helicopters involved are;

88-26109, Callsign "Rescue 109".
http://images.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=88-26109&distinct_entry=true


89-26205, Callsign "Rescue 212".
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=89-26205&distinct_entry=true

The Hercules involved was 69-5828, Callsign "Rescue 5828".
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=69-5828&distinct_entry=true

BM.
 

[Fouga]

They were refuelled in the air by an MC130 Hercules

Dont forget the KC135 Involved "Quid75"

The Hercules completed the mission with two engine failures!

It was one engine i believe, The engine failure happened after the mission was completed and after she did a quick turn around at EINN, when departing he told Shannon he had 8 souls on board and 4 hrs fuel endurance. And at 23:15....Rescue 5828 on 124.70 just declared an emergency with No.2 engine shut
down. Does not require assistance. The number 2 Engine had a technical issue.He is happy to continue to Mildenhall.Just switched to London 129.375 FL170 with a direct routing to Mildenhall,
he told London that he would like to avoid left turns !


But in the end the Herc 5828 landed at RAF Brize Norton.





Also one of the Heli's went fuel critical enroute to EINN and the C130 Orbited EINN waiting for them to land.

[Irish251]

They were refuelled in the air by an MC130 Hercules

Dont forget the KC135 Involved "Quid75"

The Hercules completed the mission with two engine failures!

he told London that he would like to avoid left turns !

This is because you should avoid turns towards a dead engine, as it could render the aircraft difficult to control.

[FiannaFail]

And let not forget our very own Casa Crew that have been out looking for the Donegal trawler for the past couple of days. Great that everything ended well!!

FiannaFail

[sealion]

I remember reading somewhere that many 4 engine Prop military aircraft, routinely fly with 2 outer engines feathered, only using the full compliment when under load. This is particularly the case for Maritime Patrol. Not sure if the same would apply for A KC130.

[Irish251]

I remember reading somewhere that many 4 engine Prop military aircraft, routinely fly with 2 outer engines feathered, only using the full compliment when under load. This is particularly the case for Maritime Patrol. Not sure if the same would apply for A KC130.

No, I don't think so.  I think P-3 Orions (and also Nimrods) can shut down an engine or two in some circumstances to extend endurance but I don't know how often this is actually done.

[Joe McDermott]

I'm with Short Finals on this. Many 4 hauler props shut down 2 engins while taxiing in but doubt for a few reasons that any shut down in flight except if they go U/S.

Think of it this way for a start, shut down two to save fuel on an a/c that needs four to get airbourne, what happens if one of the running motors goes tech, crew only left with one turning while they attempt to restart one of the others !   

Regards,

Joe

[Baldonnel-boy]

It's pretty well know that most long range 4 engined patrol aircraft shut down a couple of their engines to increase range.....This is the Nimrod.....On patrol at high weight all four engines are used, but as fuel is consumed and weight is reduced, first one engine is shut down and then a second is shut down. This allows the remaining engines to be run at an efficient RPM rather than running all engines at less efficient RPM. A "rapid start" system is fitted should the closed-down engines need to be restarted quickly. Instead of relying only on ram air for restarting an engine, compressor air from a live engine is used in a starter turbine which rapidly accelerates the engine being started. For transit back to base, the shut down engines are restarted and the aircraft ascends to altitude.

And here's the P-3 ......The P-3 is from a long line of Navy patrol planes. It is powered by four constant-speed turboprop engines, swinging 16 1/2-foot paddle-blade propellers. For sea-level ASW work, two engines may be shut down to achieve increased time on station.