That's Bankstown For 2008

[Grahame Hutchison]

I thought I would pop out to Bankstown before year end on the off chance that the Ambulance Service of NSW would have their new Agusta 139 out on the apron. As I approached the hanger Rescue 23 VH-SYV was being towed out of the hanger and prepared for departure. I have taxied bast it a few times but never actually seen it operating.

They had two crew up front and three in the back, one in diving gear. After a long run up they taxied straight out to the Runway 29R holding point like a fixed wing aircraft, had a short hold, then departed on the Runway heading for Sutherland.

The winch on Rescue 23 is huge, as is the cabin space in the rear. The undercarriage looks too small for the size of the aircraft.


Rescue 23 VH-SYV taxing for a Runway 29R departure.


Rescue 23 climbing out from Runway 29R for Sutherland. Note the searchlight is mounted on the port side down low but not under the
fuselage like on the Bell 412EP because of the very short undercarriage.


Robinson R22 VH-HZP parked outside Heliflite.


Robinson R44 II VH-YDL being prepared for departure. This is definitely Tweetie Pie yellow.


Robinson R44 VH-RSU parked outside Heliflite.


Bell 412EP VH-EPH Rescue 22 arriving back at base.


Eurocopter EC120B VH-VCC parked on the northern apron. This is a new machine (Oct 2008) with a beautiful paint job.


N178AC Air-Crane being maintained by the Erickson engineers.


N217AC Air-Crane being maintained by the Erickson engineers.

[NickN]

Awesome photos Grahame, love that Eurocopter what a ripper.

[Brenden S]

Grahame did you manage to go and see how the guys were going with the DC-3 restoration?

[Grahame Hutchison]

Brenden, the hanger was all closed up yesterday but I will have another look next time I am out there. When I spoke with them last time they were planing a move to a larger hanger so they could attach the outboard wing sections.

[Jethro H]

Thanks for the good rotor shots again.
Do we know what the CHC plan to roll out other new aircraft for Ambulance Service is in time?

[Jayden Laing]

Fantastic photos Grahame. The photo u took of VH-EPH, is that a Convair in the hangar in the background of the photo (Right hand side of the photo)??

[Grahame Hutchison]

Jayden, Convair 340 VH-PDX is the one in the hanger, and there were two more on the apron. Pionair have five in total, three 340s and two 440s.

In November I lined up on Runway 29R in the Archer just after a Pionair Convair departed, the tower gave me a one minute hold for wake turbulence. They have huge props when you are up close.

Jethro, I have only seen Agusta 139 VH-SYV operational, the sister ship VH-SYJ has been in the hanger each time I have seen it. I will ask next time I am out if there is someone around.

[Matthew Chisholm]

VH-SYV looks nice, it was going into and out of the helipad down at Wanda the other day and also doing low level flying and orbits over the beach. Looked like they were practising.