Flight with Alouette III helicopter

On Monday (Mar 14th) was the day of the Red Bull BO 105 show. We started early and went to the airport where the helicopter was to do an interview with the Flying Bulls pilot Reiner Wilke. We needed to go through security check to go in the restricted area.

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It really was special permit.

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Reiner Wilke explaining rigid rotary sisyem of Eurocopter BO 105.

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Isida in front of Eurocopter BO 105.

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This was our transport. Sud-Aviation 319B Alouette III.

Alouette III was kindly lend to us by Albanian Ministry of Health and piloted by Albert Xhafaj, Chief of the Medical Transport unit. Helicopter was manufactured by Aérospatiale of France. It is recognised for its mountain rescue capabilities and adaptability.

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Powered by a 649 kW (870 hp) Turboméca Astazou XIV turboshaft engine, derated to 447 kW (660 hp) - source Wikipedia.

Knowing that I would be the one shooting from the helicopter I mage a special vibration dampening rig from Manfrotto Hi Hat and a loosely inflated football. It also helped that I had a image stabilized Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS lens.

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Headphones on, Canon EOS 7D w/ Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS lens and Fader ND filter on Manfrotto Hi Hat improvised vibration reduction rig

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Here you can see the beauty of my vibration rig (©2011 Samo Vidic with an iPhone).

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I was almost hanging like that from the helicopter (©2011 Samo Vidic with an iPhone).

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Reiner approaching the city (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

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Our helicopter above the BO 105. I am seating behind on the bench with open doors (photo taken from video stream recorded by Martin Smerdel on Sony EX1).

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Passing the crowds celebrating the Summer day few meters below us (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

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Flying over Top Channel building (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

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Approaching the University (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

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Flying over our five star hotel Rogner (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

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Upside down (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

The whole flight only lasted 30 minutes. The time sure flies when you are having fun (no pun intended). The experience was indescribable. It will be hard to top it. It certainly is my favorite spot for recording until now. But not only that. People were fantastic, kind, helpful. I made some photos from the ground when we were returning from the airport to the hotel, but I will put them in another post. I will also do a post for the clip when it will be on albanian Red Bull site.

For now I just need to tell another story. When Samo and me were escorted from the airport premises, our taxi driver in the follow me vehicle asked us if we can stay with him for five minutes longer because he has to do some work before he takes us to the exit. He kindly asked me, if I can take some pictures of him during his work, because they don’t have any time to take them during work hours. Here are a couple of him posing in front of the plane.

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Jari, I hope you are not mad, because I posted the photos of you on the blog.

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The photos were already send to you by email.

Enough for now!