tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713282434144514700.post7429230418143270751..comments2023-10-02T15:01:43.213+01:00Comments on Chilcot's Cheating Us: The Death of David Kelly - PQ about the helicopterAndrew Watthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03829322263100808179noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713282434144514700.post-38919554636203087262010-11-15T13:59:53.700+00:002010-11-15T13:59:53.700+00:00Ffrank,
A very interesting observation about the ...Ffrank,<br /><br />A very interesting observation about the time that the helicopter search was stood down.Andrew Watthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03829322263100808179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713282434144514700.post-23431484811009054602010-11-14T14:37:21.128+00:002010-11-14T14:37:21.128+00:00Felix,
I have already done this exercise a couple...Felix, <br />I have already done this exercise a couple of years ago, I will have to dig out my notes! From what I can remember I used the information from Hansard as to when the flights started and finished and I used information off the internet to find out what type of helicopter was used, what speed that helicopter was capable of and also what the duty cycle was.<br />To the best of my memory this was what happened:<br />1. The helicopter used was a Eurocopter 155. It was stationed at Luton Airport. (The one at Benson went off duty earlier that night and base they now use at RAF Henlow was not open in 2003).<br />2. Luton is about 47miles from Longworth and although this type of helicopter has a top speed of just over 150mph they don’t normally travel at much over 100mph. The flight started as you say at 2.50am. at Luton. Allowing for take off etc. it would take about 1/2hour to get to Longworth arriving therefore at about 3.20am.<br />3. It then started searching.<br />4. It was then sent back to RAF Benson where it re-fueled.<br />5. It then returned to Luton.<br />I will check my notes, but I am pretty certain it had ceased searching for DK well before 5.30am. The helicopter would have left Luton full of fuel. The duty cycle for a Eurocopter 155 was I think over 7 hours. Re-fueling at RAF Benson would be standard procedure as RAF Benson was much closer to Longworth than Luton.frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14515029724043555921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713282434144514700.post-76339670191218193082010-11-14T02:23:50.389+00:002010-11-14T02:23:50.389+00:00Frank
Agree entirely about the flight crew - bri...Frank <br /><br />Agree entirely about the flight crew - brilliant professionals always.<br /><br />Norman Baker had the question answered in Parliament with written answers (2006).<br />5.10am was the stand down time. (just as ACC Page was about to call a search meeting at Abingdon). From the first flight data, the helicopter would have been able to fly at least until at least 5.45 am , assuming the 1.25 hrs flight is the maximum between refuelling (I assume a "FULL TANK" at the first 2.50am flight which may have included a flight from Luton (or Henlow).<br />From <a href="http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/oxford.html" rel="nofollow">this table</a> dawn c 4.30am ,sunrise c 5.15am approx BST mid July in Oxford.<br />Do you know how long a police helicopter can fly between re-fuelling?felixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12363991252776819712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713282434144514700.post-247545363487904332010-11-14T01:53:38.933+00:002010-11-14T01:53:38.933+00:00I think the important issue with the helicopter is...I think the important issue with the helicopter is not where it came from or even what time it arrived, but at what time it was stood down, and why? No matter happened whilst it was in the air I would have total faith in the crew to do their very best to find the missing person. Any suggestions that they failed to use their infra-red cameras etc is just nonsense.<br />However it does seem very strange to me that sometime before it got light (about4.00am in mid July) and over 5 hours before the body was found the helicopter was sent away.<br />Remember we are talking mid July and the fields over which they were searching were mostly arable crops yet to be harvested. <br />I dont think someone wanted that helicopter about once it got light.ffrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06770590934458696927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713282434144514700.post-58022557685295861092010-11-10T17:44:56.720+00:002010-11-10T17:44:56.720+00:00Felix,
The Kelly disappearance was not a normal d...Felix,<br /><br />The Kelly disappearance was not a normal disappearance.<br /><br />So, it's plausible, that a Police sergeant would act in ways which are unusual for such a short time after someone disappeared.Andrew Watthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03829322263100808179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713282434144514700.post-67228648352714865262010-11-09T14:53:51.099+00:002010-11-09T14:53:51.099+00:00Would a Sergeant from the local police station be ...Would a Sergeant from the local police station be responsible for calling out a search helicopter?<br />I have no idea.felixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12363991252776819712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713282434144514700.post-40500160366668440962010-11-08T14:07:01.924+00:002010-11-08T14:07:01.924+00:00PS
Of course, the above relates to the present, n...PS <br />Of course, the above relates to the present, not 2003.felixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12363991252776819712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713282434144514700.post-71011476523555676112010-11-08T14:01:06.467+00:002010-11-08T14:01:06.467+00:00We are all very familiar with the TVP Tactical Su...We are all very familiar with the TVP <b>Tactical Support</b> Major Incident Policy Book: Operation 'Mason'.<br />The <a href="http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/aboutus/aboutus-depts/aboutus-depts-ts/aboutus-depts-casu.htm" rel="nofollow">Chiltern Air Support Unit</a> comes under the Thames Valley Police<a href="http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/aboutus/aboutus-depts/aboutus-depts-ts.htm" rel="nofollow"> Tactical Support</a>.<br />As you see, two helicopters are shared with other forces the other being based not at Luton, but RAF Henlow, also in Bedfordshire. Perhaps the Benson machine was out of commission during Operation Mason?felixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12363991252776819712noreply@blogger.com