Lucky

[joltan 0]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3538937.stm

Quote[/b] ]Rescuers in helicopters have plucked 12 Russian scientists from an ice floe in the Arctic Ocean.

A Mi-26 helicopter performed a risky manoeuvre to land on the ice and rescue the men after four days adrift.

That's what I call lucky:

Quote[/b] ]The range of the Mi-26 transport helicopter - about 1,600 km - has left almost no room for manoeuvre.

Just in range...

[Balschoiw 0]

They were pretty lucky as parts of the station sunk.

I mean imagine you sleeping in a container and whoosh the container tilts and you sink to seabed

[llauma 0]

They were pretty lucky as parts of the station sunk.

I mean imagine you sleeping in a container and whoosh the container tilts and you sink to seabed  

What's so special about that? It happened to me last week.. twice!

[Gollum1 0]

I think a pic of the Mi-26 is in order.

Edit: CNN pic of the actual op?

[joltan 0]

That got me thinking a bit. What's the usual range for choppers? I mean 1600km is quite an impressive range (especially if you consider the payload this monster can carry), but how does it compare to other choppers?

[norsu 180]

I don't think you can really compare Mi-26 to other choppers as it's unique in its class. But in this mission it was used to rescue only 12 people and when you think about the size of this thing, I'm quite sure there's plenty of room for some extra fuel .

[Gollum1 0]

I don't think you can really compare Mi-26 to other choppers as it's unique in its class. But in this mission it was used to rescue only 12 people and when you think about the size of this thing, I'm quite sure there's plenty of room for some extra fuel .

Of course, it probably also needs that extra fuel for even lifting its huge ass off the ground.

[joltan 0]

Full article updated - looks like they manged it! Actually it was a Mi26 and a Mi8. So whats the usual range of these choppers?

Quote[/b] ]Scientists rescued from ice floe

Rescuers faced the possibility of not being able to land on the floe

Twelve Russian scientists have been flown to safety after a dramatic rescue operation on an ice floe in the Arctic. After flying about 800km (450 miles) from the nearest dry land, two helicopters landed on the shifting ice to pick up all the stranded men. The party, including two dogs, were flown to Norway's Spitzbergen island, where they were said to be well.

Part of the floating ice shelf sank on Wednesday, destroying most of Russia's North Pole-32 research station. The ice beneath it cracked, then rose up in a terrifying wall 10m (30ft) tall, which crushed the base and swallowed supplies and equipment.

"All of a sudden... a huge wall of ice appeared that kept growing and growing," station chief Vladimir Koshelyev earlier told Russian television. "First it was three metres high, then five, then seven and finally over 10... In the course of a half-hour it practically swallowed up to 90% of the station," he said. Four of the station's six buildings sank into the icy seas and the scientists were left with food for only five days.

Weather has reportedly been favourable for the rescue operation, with good visibility and temperatures reported to be -25 C (-13F), slightly warmer than forecast.

The men had been studying climate change when their base was destroyed. None of the researchers were hurt and they sheltered in the few structures that did not sink into the icy water.

The range of the two helicopters - Mi-8 and Mi-26 - left almost no room for error in the rescue operation. However, the Mi-8 could have landed on other ice floes en route, should weather conditions have deteriorated. A nuclear powered icebreaker also set off towards the station on Friday to back up the rescue operation.

The station started work in April 2003 and has travelled about 3,000 kilometres on the ice floe in the last 11 months.

The scientists are expected to be home in time to celebrate Monday's International Women's Day - a popular holiday in Russia.

[EiZei 0]

FAS claims that the range for Mi-26 with auxiliary fuel is 1200kms and 950kms for the Mi-8 with auxiliary fuel tanks.

[Konyak-2 0]

Of course, it probably also needs that extra fuel for even lifting its huge ass off the ground.  

Actually, a friend of mine knows a guy who flew one, and the Russian pilot suggested they put about 2 tons in the back since they were just going out for a spin, and it didn't have a payload at all.

Reason was, that once airborne, it's hard to land even if you press the collective all the way down!

Of course, it's exaggerated, but it seems awfully willing to lift stuff, be it extra fuel or a frozen mammoths

Konyak

[raedor 8]

They were pretty lucky as parts of the station sunk.

I mean imagine you sleeping in a container and whoosh the container tilts and you sink to seabed

did this already happen to such a base?

[SpecOp9 0]

that is one big ass helicopter

[Assault (CAN) 1]

Quote[/b] ]The scientists are expected to be home in time to celebrate Monday's International Women's Day - a popular holiday in Russia.

What? That doesn't make sense....

Isn't March 8th Russia's version of "Labour Day"?

[Balschoiw 0]

This kind of helo is very very loud and heavy

I´ve flown in one in Somalia. It´s a flying house.