A fun visitor from last week...

[Boss_BlueAngels]

... As promised, here are some of the pictures from when the S-61 visited the airport I work at.

Prior to taking these pictures I loaded this beast with 260 gallons of Jet-A fuel! Certainately a record for me. lol

I spoke to the pilots and this bird was on its way back to its homebase in Medford, Oregon from Alaska. It spent the last several months up there for logging operations. During the summer this same bird is used for firefighting as well.

^^This picture just makes me smile. I love my Sigma 10-20mm. The fuselage (body) is shaped like this to allow for water landings--thus the hull shape. Navy variants have huge floats where the main landing gear is located.

^^The Naval variant (N version) is a bit smaller than this "L" or "Long" model.

^^Yup, it's THAT huge!!

^^That same crewchief stands outside during engine startup.

^^Away they go! With our wonderful little airport in the background!

I hope you enjoy the pictures!

 

[SoapySam]

Nice photos.
I used to fly on S61-N s in the North Sea, which, as you say, had retractable undercarriage fitted within external floats.

\I haven't seen one for at least ten years. It's mostly Super Pumas up there these days.

I'm on a rig in the Caspian right now, where we use the smaller, but sleeker Si-76.

No security restrictions on photography at your airport, I take it? Where is that, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

thank you, I'm glad you like the pictures.

Oh wow, that's really neat! I've never seen a Super Puma (in person that is) but sure seem like incredible machines

Actually at this airport I am security. I'm the lineman/do everything guy there. It's a privately owned airport (Harvey Airfield, KS43) as is this helicopter. And I did ask the pilots if they minded if I took the pictures before hand.

 

[SoapySam]

Sounds like a good place to work for a photographer. So many airports these days are incredibly security conscious-with some reason, I suppose- and seem to view cameras as highly suspicious. And of course there's no way you get near the aircraft, far less get to climb all over them!

Actually, I find since the switch from film to digital started and pictures began appearing more or less instantly on the internet, I think a lot of people are getting camera shy, especially at work.

Maybe because they're not doing much? Like me, right now, for example!

 

[cristianna]

Great pic Boss. I also really enjoy the first one!

And Soapy... better be careful!

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

Well how about fueling this chopper here?

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Dude, that would be sa-weet! I love helis. I've seen Apachee's dozens of times on static display and FINALLY was able to see some in flight a couple summers ago over Yakima Washington. There were about 16 helis flying through to one of the training areas around here... of the 16 4 were '64s. It was quite an incredible sight, and unfortunately it was long before my current camera.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

Close to Ft. Lewis maybe?

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Just one quick onramp to I5.