The Georgia Peach

We visited this enormous helicopter at the Michelego Oval on the 25th of January, 2003. This is just one of the helicopters which has come from America to help with the fire fighting effort in NSW and the ACT. Randy - the pilot was very friendly, and quite willing to chat about his aircraft. The cost of purchasing and maintaining one of these things far outweighs the cost of hiring it from the US. We heard a story about a Duffy resident who was sitting on his back verandah, unaware the fires were so close, when one of these choppers hovered over his house, and in 40 seconds sucked up all of the water out of his swimming pool. The water was dumped on a burning house, saving from certain destruction.

More pictures of the Canberra Fires can be viewed here.

01.Looks a fair size.jpg	02.lets check it out.jpg	03.That rotor blade is big.jpg
04.Check the size of the exhaust.jpg	05.Maintencance required.jpg	06.Georgia Peach.jpg
07.Trainee Pilot.jpg	08.The dayshift Crew.jpg	09.That how you get out.jpg
10. Randy the pilot (white hat).jpg	11.Pump onboard 9000lt in 45sec.jpg	12.Lets Rock.jpg
13.Dont start it just yet.jpg	14.Oil leak.jpg	15.Beautiful.jpg
16.Preflight Briefing.jpg	17.Last minute pics.jpg	18.Lift off.jpg
19Buzzing the crowd.jpg