Northern Ireland Aviation Enthusiast's Forum

General Aviation Discussion => General Aviation Discussion => Topic started by: Angry Turnip on March 27, 2009, 12:07:23 AM

Title: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: Angry Turnip on March 27, 2009, 12:07:23 AM

A large and noisey Heli just passed over my house near Ballinderry at 12.03am,very loud sounded like a SeaKing or S-61 possibly.

Didn`t sound like a Puma or the police EC135-nice thud to it ;D

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: casper on March 27, 2009, 08:57:18 AM

Nice one. Pity it was in the dark :(

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: vortex003 on March 27, 2009, 04:48:12 PM

The Irish Air Corps AW139 could be another possibility.M-ERIT (AW139) is a noisy beast when it is close by (i'm not complaining though :D ;))

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: Angry Turnip on March 28, 2009, 03:43:37 PM

Not the AW139,your right they are kinda noisey,but this was a big heli,was hoping somebody might have known from a SBS or AirNav.

Seaking,Commando,(Special Forces ?)or S-61 still the most likely I think.

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: vortex003 on March 28, 2009, 04:08:49 PM

None of the Irish Coastguard S61s' show up on the SBS/Airnav,and mine is switched off at night so i can't help further.You'll have to get yourself a cheap scanner Angry - and you'll hear them talking to Aldergrove / Dublin / Shannon ;) ;)

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: Angry Turnip on March 28, 2009, 08:51:34 PM

I have a very cheap scanner but it doesnt pick up military stuff unfortunatly :(

The heli I heard was very low and sounded a bit like a Chinnook,made the windows vibrate,but when I looked out I couldnt see anything which makes me think it was a military type-no anti-collision lights were visable.

A freind of mine still works at Aldergrove so I will pick his brains and see if he knows what it was.

Will let you all know if I find out what it was.

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: vortex003 on March 28, 2009, 09:13:12 PM

The last Wokka i saw was out of Grosvenor and overhead my house back in 2005 i think :'( :'( :'(

I've a ball of footage on various camcorder tapes which i'd like to transfer to digital some time,(when i figure out how to do it)  ;)

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: String on March 30, 2009, 10:25:37 AM

This is the system i use to convert video to digital
the software is called Instant DVD Recorder by PINNACLE.
Here is some photo's
Image 1&2 are the connection stuff.
image 3 is the program running.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: String on March 30, 2009, 10:28:10 AM

I hope this helps here is the web link.
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/uk/Products/Consumer+Products/Dazzle/Dazzle+Video+Archiving/Dazzle+DVD+Recorder.htm

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: vortex003 on March 30, 2009, 11:19:46 AM

Thanks Stu  8)- i'll have a look at it ;) ;)

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: greglloyd on April 23, 2009, 12:42:23 PM

Somebody in NI flies a Bell 222 (Airwolf). I've seen it fly over Banbridge before. It sounds very similar to a Chinook with the two big fat rotors!

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: vortex003 on April 23, 2009, 03:02:25 PM

It's more than likely N901RL which is a black Bell 430 (which looks much the same as the 222 from a distance).There are a few pics of it on my website if you enter the reg in the search box.

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: String on April 23, 2009, 03:09:43 PM

fantastic looking beastie.

Title: Re: Big Helicopter over Ballinderry now!
Post by: greglloyd on April 23, 2009, 07:14:13 PM

That's her! The exact one.

I see it actually has 4 rotors - yet it has such a Chinook / Bell UH-1 type of thudding from the rotors on it's approach!