Chinook pilot flies to safety after being shot.

BigglesPiP said:
Bluff, or they were not engineers.
Click to expand...

I rather suspect journalistic hyperbole here rather than the engineers being incompetent or unaware of how the helicopter can fly with bullet holes. It's probably also just an expression to show how lucky it was that nothing more vital was hit when it was shot.

Well done to Mr Fortune for managing to deal with such a situation.
 
Hes a professional that's what people do, if he didn't fly it back him and all his chaps might be killed. when your life is in danger you do what you do to live.

old story too, but im sure there are 100s more like it just not caught on camera.
 
He survived because he has a big head! Seriously. its similar to my brothers and its a retort in the arguements we have at times. "pfft, atleast my heads a normal size" So mature i know.

Awesome stuff that he survived. I'd be confused sat in the back..

"Just so you guys know, i've took a bullet to the head, and we've got quite a journey back to base, also the helicopter took a few rounds"

*Everyone in the back simultaneously drops a brick*
 
Very lucky man.

landing the helicopter aswell and saving more lives - Excellent

Just wish this country had more resources to further protect these guys.

Especially at at time when the MOD will have to slash 10% off the defence budget.

We have the training, The Yanks have the equipment
 
paulh said:
"ok chaps just to let you know I've taken a round through the windscreen and hit me in the head"


+ 8,000,000 man points for that line!
Click to expand...

i genuinely want to know what was going through his head (pun unintended) when he said that. seriously, if i had just realised id been shot in the head at the controls and survived, I wouldnt have a clue how to tell the others. Although tbh, i doubt that would be particularly high up on the priority list.

fantastic job nonetheless.
 
Viper² said:
Why didn't the co-pilot take over?
Click to expand...

Because the pilot wasn't really hurt basically, bar a few small nicks & tiny cut between his eyes (1 butterfly stitch) where a small piece of the shattered NVG rail nicked him (the bit of the helmet the bullet deflected off after it had been deflected around the instrument panel 1st). The co-pilot offered to take control but the pilot said no need he was fine.

The engineers weren't "shocked it made it" as they've had much worse damage which still made it back fine (RPG strikes etc). The only damage was caused by the deflected round through the instrument panel. That was the cause of the MayDay as it knocked out the AutoStab, making the controls more sensitive (so it's easier to lose control), something they train for constantly. The actual controls themselves were fine and undamaged and the other 11 rounds only poked holes into the airframe and underside (small temp repairs req'd) without damaging anything.

He was incredibly lucky but there is a bit of "hype" around this.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom