Thread: 36 trapped on the old bush road

I last did that track three summers ago. It was a definite "3 truck" track. We each of us required a pull at some point.

My point is this; we did the journey for the location and the scenery. The road was an incidental challenge that added to the experience

I feel now that some folks have little understanding of the geography, it's history or scenic grandeur, BUT want to do the trip because the (several now) 4WD books list it as pretty well the toughest track to complete.

As a farmer mate said last night to me, he wouldn't attempt that track now even on a tractor, in summer.

The "right" to attempt to drive that track has overtaken the responsibilities of those who do use it and similar tracks like it.

Unless drivers focus on their responsibilities, they will condemn us all lose any rights of access to that and similar roads......

https://www.facebook.com/Heliview/vi...3757805973722/


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That puts it in perspective . Hope they got good antifreeze

Yep and good batterys, or they need new ones after the go flat and freeze,
They need a bulldozer, to open up the snow driflts, and a week of fine weather to get them out, that's if the track is going to be in any kinda condition to drive on,

Those new helicopters look pretty sweet, pity they need a flat surface like an airport to land. Not as versatile as the old iriqouis.

Originally Posted by stug

Those new helicopters look pretty sweet, pity they need a flat surface like an airport to land. Not as versatile as the old iriqouis.

And they just don't have that distinctive sound either.

Originally Posted by stug

Those new helicopters look pretty sweet, pity they need a flat surface like an airport to land. Not as versatile as the old iriqouis.

Of topic but if you ever want to read a very good book on the capabilities of the Iriqouis and their pilots in the Vietnam war get a hold of a copy of Chickenhawk by Robert Mason (conscripted pilot).
Things like taking off totally overloaded, lifting out of clearings with the rotors smacking small tree branches, flying in close formation at night lights out using the instrument lights of next chopper slightly ahead of you for guidance/clearance. A real good read.

Originally Posted by zimmer

Of topic but if you ever want to read a very good book on the capabilities of the Iriqouis and their pilots in the Vietnam war get a hold of a copy of Chickenhawk by Robert Mason (conscripted pilot).
Things like taking off totally overloaded, lifting out of clearings with the rotors smacking small tree branches, flying in close formation at night lights out using the instrument lights of next chopper slightly ahead of you for guidance/clearance. A real good read.

I liked Chickenhawk and if you liked it then I recommend Firebirds by Chuck Carlock. "Gunship - Spectre of War" by Harry Zeybel is also a very good / highly entertaining account of the early C130 spectre gunships in Vietnam.

i enjoyed chickenhawk too ,but the last chapter was a bit jarring with his vivd descritions of his personal aftermath of his vietnam experiences.
Agree about the old green junglebunny "woka 09".typically in NZthey did a lot of things one suspects the designers never thought of.
had a cousin who did a stint as a crewman back in the 70s-they did a few "coast' trips in support of TFjungle training and he reckoned with a couple of SLR's on board a payload of deer would cover costs nicely.It was a also rumoured,that they periodically carted coal from greymouth to wigram!very adaptable types those airforce blokes.

ChickenHawk was a great book.

Did these people pay for their rescue?
I heard something about them paying for rescue costs on the radio but didnt catch all of it due to grinders/hammers etc

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Did these people pay for their rescue?
I heard something about them paying for rescue costs on the radio but didnt catch all of it due to grinders/hammers etc

Last I heard the cops said they were not going to send them the bill

Originally Posted by Pengy

Last I heard the cops said they were not going to send them the bill

While that is good I thought/hoped they had offered to pay the bill? Which would be nice.

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I (sort of) agree.
If however, the party were aware of the forcast etc etc, then I think their arrogance in going ahead makes them liable

A possible side issue is that these 4WD enthusiasts are quite likely to be the same who in different circumstances, would be called by Police to assist in another S&R operation.

Having said that, we should all learn that there are consequences for wrong, or ill-thought decisions.

That their own vehicles will be wintered up there is a personal consequence obviously....... But the fact remains that someone's S&R budget will have been dented. Frankly I'd be confident that any Police decision re allocation of costs was based on all the facts; not conjecture and opinion which so often fill our media, and forums like this.