‘But WHY’

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Originally Posted by 4bee

Felt quite strange looking at the ground through the open door while banking sharply, realising that it was only centrifugal force that held you in. No, not enough seat belts on my flight, just a joy ride.[bighmmm]

The next year (1976) one slammed into a hill at Cultana & I think 5 or six persons died. I was at Adelaide Airport when the remains of those killed were brought back on a flat top truck & unloaded out of a C-130.

Have never found an online reference to that accident. Curious.

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There is a memorial at that site. Still wreckage of the Huey everywhere. It's quite a steep area only directly accessible on foot. The story told to us was that there was heavy low cloud and they completely miss judged the height of the hill. Was within minutes of take off.

Saying that, it was the story being told for a few years and without a doubt something else happened.

More interestingly though, it was a RAAF Huey. Happened before they were moved to the Army.

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Originally Posted by Homestar

Yeah... Maybe a few issues with that... Maybe my fitness level and not being an Australian Citizen would preclude me to start with. Then there’s that whole taking orders thing - I’m a bit old to be putting up with all that guff to be honest...

Any other ideas? [emoji16]

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Strongly recommend you apply for Australian citizenship ASAP. Many benefits are denied to non citizens.

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Originally Posted by Konradical

There is a memorial at that site. Still wreckage of the Huey everywhere. It's quite a steep area only directly accessible on foot. The story told to us was that there was heavy low cloud and they completely miss judged the height of the hill. Was within minutes of take off.

Saying that, it was the story being told for a few years and without a doubt something else happened.

More interestingly though, it was a RAAF Huey. Happened before they were moved to the Army.

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Thanks Kon, now I know a bit more. I was with RA Signals the previous year & a Remote Relay Station was established on a hilltop & I attended a Routine Battery Change or whatever they called it then, by Huey, but can only assume it would have been the same hill that overlooked the Cultana Trg Area (makes sense to me).

I "heard" there may have been a bit of "showing off" involved but I guess we will never know & dead is dead.

I knew about the crash from the media, but coincidentally I was at the airport waiting for 'er indoors to arrive home from OS when I saw the unloading of the remains & asked the question why a C130 landed & was parked well away from the terminal. In my mind's eye it was a Herc but I suppose it being 42 years ago it can play tricks with one's memory & it could easily have been a 'bou. No matter, they were all dead.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Strongly recommend you apply for Australian citizenship ASAP. Many benefits are denied to non citizens.

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I wholeheartedly agree as Govts come & go & Resident Rules change overnight & you could find yourself without a Visa to get bck into OZ, so who you gonna call?

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Originally Posted by Konradical

Another rough, noisy and vomit inducing ride was in a Huey.. they would fly faster if they didn't shake so much.

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I've just been (re)reading Bob Mason's book 'Chickenhawk' about his time flying Huey's in 'Nam. He talks about them being silky smooth - compared to the pre-turbine engined choppers they'd been training on before the Huey!

Highly recommend the book.

And if you like flying videos - checkout the Flying Cowboys in the US - eg these channels.

Jason Sneed - YouTube

Trent Palmer - YouTube

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Originally Posted by carjunkieanon

I've just been (re)reading Bob Mason's book 'Chickenhawk' about his time flying Huey's in 'Nam. He talks about them being silky smooth - compared to the pre-turbine engined choppers they'd been training on before the Huey!

Highly recommend the book.

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Yes, a good read but I found the latter part of the book depressing.

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Originally Posted by 4bee

I wholeheartedly agree as Govts come & go & Resident Rules change overnight & you could find yourself without a Visa to get bck into OZ, so who you gonna call?

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The rules sure do change and even retrospectively! Completely unfair but that’s Governments for you.

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Originally Posted by p38arover

Yes, a good read but I found the latter part of the book depressing.

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I suspect you're not alone in that. I reckon it's because Bob did a good job conveying how he was feeling.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Strongly recommend you apply for Australian citizenship ASAP. Many benefits are denied to non citizens.

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I'm getting there, not sure what benefits you mean unless you're talking about the Pension? Not sure if i'll be entitled to that anyway - I'm trying very hard to make sure that I won't be a burden on the tax system later in life. But yes, I do see your point.

Fill out a huge long form to prove who I am even though they happily take my tax every month, pay them $100's of dollars then sit and wait for up to 2 years while it is processed.

Probably should get onto it hey?... [emoji16]