Chinook Pilot's lucky escape

Nforce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_1Dyh6UWaM

In 2010, Bravo November was involved in another incident while on service in Afghanistan when pilot Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune was hit by a ricochet from a bullet fired by Taliban fighters during an extraction of injured soldiers.[15] Flt Lt Fortune landed the helicopter in a "hot zone" that was under heavy Taliban fire. After landing the aircraft was hit numerous times. One round ricocheted and hit Fortune's helmet at the attaching point for the Night Vision Goggles (NVG's) and smashed the visor. He stayed in control of the aircraft and continued to rescue his wounded colleagues and land his damaged helicopter. For his actions he was awarded the fourth Distinguished Flying Cross in the history of the aircraft.[

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravo_November

CaptainSkidmark

i remember that, its the oldest Chinook they have if im not mistaken?

EchoIndia

It is one of the initial batch acquired, but by my reckoning there are 20 still in service with earlier serials than ZA718 (BN). You can look up details here under the "ZA" serials pages:
http://www.ukserials.com/

Tenger

CaptainSkidmark wrote: »

i remember that, its the oldest Chinook they have if im not mistaken?

Definitely one of the oldest but it is also the most 'decorated' of the RAF Chinooks. It was the only Chinook to survive the Falklands War, the other 3 were destroyed when their ship was hit. It also hit the sea during operations at this time. I believe it also airlifted the first UK troops into Iraq in 2003.

Here it is in Glasgow a few years ago,you can see the BN on the tail:

RAF Chinook HC.2 at GLA by tearbringer, on Flickr

Sterling Archer

Ah i remember when that happened, i thought to myself that cockpit must be awfully big That's from a special on Bravo November, it has an extraordinary history. Loved the bit about loosing it's door, and then it turning up years later.

Stovepipe

I remember seeing the rpeort on the news about this incident and wondering what part the copilot played in it. what was the point in him being there if the wounded pilot insisted on continuing to fly the aircraft?

regards
Stovepipe

Nforce

I'd have thought that the Chinook would at least be fitted with bulletproof windscreens, especially considering the fact that they operate into hot zones.

TW Mr Tayto

I remember hearing that the hydraulics had been shot too.
That's no joke.
A R44 could be a bit of a work out with no hydraulics, I can't imagine a dual rotor beast like that.