First time visitor to HeliOps (Portland)

[Seacat192]

Took the plunge, and headed off to the Isle of Portland, hoping to see the HeliOps Sea Kings flying.

As it turned out, only Damian (XV666) was outside, and then it only done a ground engine test, but a Royal Navy Merlin and Wildcat visited for a rotors running refuel.

Looks like I missed out on the Osprey later in the evening, but I'm happy with what I came away with, and hope to return later in the year during my next holiday period from work.


1. IMG_0034_Portland_06-08-2020 by Roger - Thanks for 2 Million Views, on Flickr

2. IMG_0133_Portland_06-08-2020 by Roger - Thanks for 2 Million Views, on Flickr

3. IMG_0172_Portland_06-08-2020 by Roger - Thanks for 2 Million Views, on Flickr

4. IMG_0265_Portland_06-08-2020 by Roger - Thanks for 2 Million Views, on Flickr

5. IMG_0393_Portland_06-08-2020 by Roger - Thanks for 2 Million Views, on Flickr

6. IMG_0458_Portland_06-08-2020 by Roger - Thanks for 2 Million Views, on Flickr


Finally, a former Black Cats Display Team Lynx is on display on Osprey Quay, close to the airstrip:

7. IMG_0007_Portland_06-08-2020 by Roger - Thanks for 2 Million Views, on Flickr

8. IMG_0011_Portland_06-08-2020 by Roger - Thanks for 2 Million Views, on Flickr



Thanks for taking the time to look at my efforts. C&C welcome!

Roger

[falconfighting]

Lovely to see. How to take a second glance at that last pic. Multi-storey boat park!

[Seacat192]

Lovely to see. How to take a second glance at that last pic. Multi-storey boat park!

Thanks.

Don't think I've seen a multi story boat park before!

[SW Sky Blue]

Good to see you briefly , sorry but I was distracted at the time as I was looking for my lens hood that the Merlin had blown away

Pity that you left before the main event....

Kev

[Seacat192]

Thanks Kev.

Not a problem, you seemed to be busy at the time.

[Cessna954]

Hi Roger,

It's good to see that you came away with something as these kind of locations can be hit or miss, always good to have different backdrops and locations for Merlin and Wildcat pictures.

The Osprey routed back over Frome in the evening having refuelled at Portland. They appear to have been regular Thursday evening visitors over the past few weeks.

I hope the Weymouth traffic wasn't too bad with all the grockles.

Neil

[Seacat192]

Hi Neil

Agree that it can be a chance at such locations, unless you're 'in the know', but it's relatively close to home so thought I'd give it a go, and I'm glad I did.

I saw the Osprey on Freedar around the Trowbridge area on its' way back to Mildenhall. Win some, lose some!


It was raining, and a low cloud base, on the A37 between Yeovil and Dorchester, around Clay Pigeon, and the only real hold up I had were the roundabouts on the Dorchester by-pass on the way down. Traffic was moving well last night.


Roger

[Phil Standfield]

Nice set there Roger, Never know what's going to turn up there, had the Historic Helicopter's Wessex Mk5 in the other week. In the first one you got the old tower from the Osprey day's in the image. Nothing wrong with the roundabouts on the Dorchester Bypass according to the Council

[paddyboy]

Hi Rog

Nice work, matey

Glad you had a worthwhile trip

See you on zoom soon

Paddy

[Seacat192]

Nice set there Roger, Never know what's going to turn up there, had the Historic Helicopter's Wessex Mk5 in the other week. In the first one you got the old tower from the Osprey day's in the image. Nothing wrong with the roundabouts on the Dorchester Bypass according to the Council

Thanks Stan.

Took me 20 minutes to travel between the roundabout on the north side of Dorchester to the one just down from the football ground on Thursday. Not sure if that was bad timing on my part, or f that's 'normal' in the summer months.

I hope to go back down later in the year (next holiday is October), unless I see a Sea King flying on the Freedar/ADSB sites on a Friday.

[Seacat192]

Hi Rog

Nice work, matey

Glad you had a worthwhile trip

See you on zoom soon

Paddy

Thanks Paddy.

I'd say it was a worthwhile trip down to the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast.

[Imac]

Top post Roger More nice shots from way down South, nice work

Will it be a local or general anaesthetic for the return to work on Monday Usually, get to lunch time and it's like you've never been away, could be a bit different this time

Thanks for posting and take care out there

Ian

[Seacat192]

Thanks Ian.

As for Monday, I think it will be case of making the best of it, and mentally planning up my next trip out with the camera!

[J8501254]

Great pics and thanks for the one of the 'black cat's lynx, I didn't know that was there and I've been there twice !

[Seacat192]

Thank you.

For the Black Cats Lynx, as you walk away from the heliport (start with the runway and hangar on your left, harbour on your right), you will walk past some industrial units. Keep going and next you will see a grass area with a cafe/take away on your left with another building immediately next to this.

At the end of the second building, walk down the side of this one, and you will find the Lynx behind this on Osprey Quay:

https://goo.gl/maps/h6g6VtDb4mbRkKiz6

If you use the What3Words app, the location is: openly.diets.indicated

The links above should give you a visual location for the Lynx which could be easier than the text above!

[Phil Standfield]

Great pics and thanks for the one of the 'black cat's lynx, I didn't know that was there and I've been there twice !

Bit late as it's end of the month but for the Blackcat Lynx just follow the signs for the Boat that Rock's cafe/bar its outside

[J8501254]

Thank you sir.