Helicopters

Okay, so I know helicopters fly a bit differently then airplanes. Beyond that, I don't know a lot about them.

Here's what I'm hoping to do -- People on the helicopter would be pilot and co-pilot, two flight medics, two armed guards, and one or two individuals who have been captured. Medical condition of the captives is iffy and the plan is to have them lying down and maybe being worked on during the return flight.

Flight will be to Kasan, Syria (very, very small town located in northeastern Syria. Takeoff location is Baghdad, but can be changed. I'm not thrilled with Baghdad, but it's about 300 miles away and seems to be within range of a helicopter.

It looks like the Eurocopter EC155 would work, but as I said, I don't know a lot about helicopters.

Money for anything isn't a problem, as it's all stolen anyways.

Does this work or do I need to make some adjustments?

Thanks for any help and rep points to anyone who helps.

Jim Clark-Dawe

Calder -- Thank you for your help.

I don't fancy Baghdad because it seems cliched. But Baghdad is ideal as a base. It's close to the oil fields, where these type of copters are used, it's got a major airfield where a good size corporate jet can get in and out of, air space issues are solvable, fuel and parts are available, and it's in range of the destination.

Flight is an in and out, so it looks like I need to use one of the two choices for auxiliary tanks for this copter (which cuts down on the load but I wasn't at the max so that should be able to work). Destination is going to require two hot landings because of the possibilities of IEDs. The copter will have ten to fifteen minutes to hang around between landings.

Flight time one way I'm figuring at 110 minutes. It will be safer at altitude from enemy fire. I'm also thinking it's farther from the sand, which I'm assuming it a good thing.

Jim Clark-Dawe

MANPADS are a pain in the butt everywhere. Fortunately the number of them available are coming down steadily. The US has bought a bunch of them back. Small arms fire is a risk anywhere in a war zone, so flying a certain height is always a good idea. You forgot to mention getting clearance to fly from the various air forces in the area. That area has a lot of people flying in jets who'd love to shot you down if they can come up with an excuse. Another little problem for my character to solve.

I think the approach here would be to get down to the deck below the horizon and come in the last couple of miles on the deck at speed. But since my character is paying the pilot to be old and wise and won't be on the helicopter, I don't have to worry about this.

Thanks for making sure I mention the MANPADS. My character is well aware of the Stinger problems in Afghanistan and is selling missiles he says are a lot more reliable then those Stingers were.

Jim Clark-Dawe