Published: Wednesday, 1st March, 2006 09:57
Stopped by the pigeon
By Border Telegraph Newsroom
Print Article
AN RAF battle chopper has been forced from the Border skies – by a pigeon.
The feathered terror crashed headfirst into the Chinook helicopter’s windscreen as it flew up the Yarrow Valley, near Selkirk, on a training mission.
And the cracked shield forced its pilots to make an impromptu landing at Foulshiels Farm, two miles from Yarrowford.
An engineering team was scrambled from RAF Leuchars to come to the rescue.
But the Royal Air Force’s hardy helicopter was still grounded for over four hours.
RAF spokesman Michael Mulford told the Border Telegraph: “I can confirm that the pilot of one of our helicopters from 18 Squadron was forced to land after encountering a bird near Selkirk.
“There are strict rules which state that when a windscreen is cracked they must find somewhere safe to ground the helicopter until repairs can be made.
“Engineers flew down from RAF Leuchars by helicopter and they had the Chinook back in the air later that evening.”
Chinooks have been involved in combat all over the world, including the Falkland Islands, both Gulf wars, Sierra Leone and Northern Ireland.
The double-bladed choppers can take up to 54 troops or 10 tons of artillery into battle.
And are widely reputed to be one of the safest ways of transporting soldiers in conflict situations.
But it only took a doo to down the war machine last week.
The RAF spokesman added: “Birds are a well-known hazard for our pilots, and they regularly cause problems.
“Our pilots are trained to deal with situations when they hit birds.”
Around half-a-dozen Chinooks were taking part in the routine training mission over the Scottish Borders when the pigeon struck.
Foulshiels farmer Walter Coltherd told us: “It was quite a sight when it came down, they are big helicopters.
“It was in the field from about 4pm until another helicopter arrived with repair men.
“It’s not ever day you get a big Chinook helicopter in your field.”
All of the RAF’s Chinook squadrons are based at Odiham in Hampshire.
None of the four-man crew aboard the Chinook was injured in the pigeon prang.
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