RAF Merlin Helicopter with Underslung Load in Afghanistan
Defence Images posted a photo:
A Royal Air Force Merlin helicopter takes off with an underslung load in Afghanistan.
Landing sites in Helmand province vary dramatically between purpose-built, football-pitch-sized tarmac areas, to dust bowls which create 200-foot-high (61m) dust clouds, and the pilots regularly carry out the final stages of approaches with minimal visibility.
There are landing sites in the Green Zone which are surrounded by trees, and others on the pinnacles of mountains, resulting in few hovering references for the handling pilots whilst operating at the limits of the aircraft's performance.
This image is available for high resolution download at www.defenceimages.mod.uk subject to the terms and conditions of the Open Government License at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/. Search for image number 45154430.jpg
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Photographer: Sergeant Andy Reddy RLC
Image 45154430.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
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