Author: Francis Meyrick
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Of Helicopters and Humans (15) Things that go “Klunk! ” in Flight
Just when you thought things couldn’t possibly get any WORSE… f@#k’n SHARKS… Of Helicopters and Humans Part 15 – Things that go “Klunk!” in flight Have you ever had something unexpectedly go “Klunk!” in Flight? Or even “Klunkety-Klunk-BANG!” Or something suddenly set up the Rattle from Hell? An unexpected series of explosive pops? Have you…
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Hitting the Vertical
Hitting the Vertical I love(d) aerobatic flying. Give me an aerobatic fixed winger, preferably a biplane, a full tank of gas, a quiet sky, and I’m in Heaven. Mind, it won’t be quiet much longer. The propeller tips, reaching almost supersonic speeds in a screaming, balls out dive, combined with the vibrant hum of wind…
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Old Zeke
the day started with the Assumption of Normality Old Zeke based on… truth and also “Maybe conceited Electricians should think twice before judging an old Plumber…? “ A long time ago, somewhere in this small and insignificant world, there were some offshore Oil and Gas installations. They were serviced by helicopters. The choppers would come…
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The Little Bird off Slea Head (Part 2)
I once wrote a story called “The Little Bird off Slea Head “. There is a certain allegory involved, a symbolism, but I’ll let you decide how and where. If you haven’t already read Part 1, I would recommend doing that now, or this second part will not make sense… The Little Bird off Slea…
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One Midnight in the Departure Hall
One Midnight in the Departure Hall Luanda Airport, Angola Some stories are better left untold. I’ve been telling myself that about this story for years. However, it’s like a bed bug. It keeps reminding you that it’s around. You can pretend all you like, but it’s there, and it likes biting you. So I wrote…
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On the Back of the Drag Curve
On the Back of the Drag Curve Up in the mountains. Colorado. Summer. High and hot. I was doing my Con-Air Air Taxi thing. Cessna Turbo 210. Retractable, fast, three bladed constant speed prop. Serious tool. Sheriff’s Office. Picking up two prisoners. Along with the Corrections Officer flying along, that made four of us returning…
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Our New Dog
Sinner, 13 years later, on the right. Recent arrival Madame ‘Lucy’ on the left. OUR NEW DOG Brenda and I were living in Guam back in the nineties’ when a new dog came unexpectedly into our lives. As it turned out, he was kind of “the price of peace”. The alternative… wasn’t good. War. Mama…
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Of Helicopters and Humans (12) “African Near Miss “
Of Helicopters and Humans Part 12: African Near-Miss Flying in Africa, in my case, in Angola and the Congo, was… interesting. Of the many experiences, several spring back vividly to mind. One of these, involved my imperturbable Buddhist friend Phuk. Known as Phuky-baby to most of us. Phuk hailed from Vietnam originally, and is long…
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Bad Decisions
Photo: Francis Meyrick Bad Decisions People make bad decisions. Even good people have bad days. Or just one bad moment. Unfortunately, sometimes these split second decisions have life changing, long term consequences. Mix the human spirit, in all its volatility and occasional dark confusion, with helicopters, and you get the possibility of unutterably tragic consequences.…
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Of Helicopters and Humans (11) “Near-Miss over the Gulf “
Of Helicopters and Humans Part 11: Near Miss over the Gulf Given the colossal amount of helicopter traffic that beeps and honks its way noisily along the myriad Freeways over the Gulf of Mexico,it is astounding how relatively few mid air collisions have taken place in the last fifty years. The sky is indeed a…