Thai Army's Airship Crashes, Hurts Four

[Thaddeus]

So Bt300,000 a month has been required to keep it filled with helium to prevent further leaks.

Why don't they fill it with hot air, there's an inexhaustible supply of that around these parts.

Whereas helium is a finite commodity that has much better uses elsewhere.

[Fozfromoz]

So Bt300,000 a month has been required to keep it filled with helium to prevent further leaks.

Why don't they fill it with hot air, there's an inexhaustible supply of that around these parts.

Whereas helium is a finite commodity that has much better uses elsewhere.

Isn't Super Chalerm down there? I am sure he could pump it up.

[Skywalker69]

What year is it? 1917?

2555.

[Ricardo]

Is it a bird ? Is it a plane ?

No, it's a total waste of money !

[Payboy]

So Bt300,000 a month has been required to keep it filled with helium to prevent further leaks.

With that much Helium, all those generals should squeaking like chipmunks now.

[transam]

So Bt300,000 a month has been required to keep it filled with helium to prevent further leaks.

With that much Helium, all those generals should squeaking like chipmunks now.

That was the problem, the Captain sounded like Pinky & Perky. Edited December 14, 2012 by transam

[Humbugged]

The thing is helium and air look exactly the same so who would know if they used the cheaper alternative ???

The Army has spent Bt25 million to maintain the Bt350-million blimp, which mostly involves Bt300,000 a month to keep it filled with helium to keep it intact and prevent leaks.

http://www.nationmul...s-30191291.html

I bet the 5 below were all sitting in there...sucking on a tube they bypassed from the main chamber....and making funny squeaky voices and having a right laugh....before realising the ground was upcoming.

[weegee]

This is so incredible, it's nearly unbelievable.......oooooh hang on.

[Crushdepth]

Why waste all that money on helium? They should fill it with hydrogen, much cheaper.

Problem solved, time for a smoko...

[Humbugged]

Why waste all that money on helium? They should fill it with hydrogen, much cheaper.

Problem solved, time for a smoko...

They should just hook it up to parliament.

[Bagwan]

I haven't laughed so much since Ma caught her tits in the mangle. The above posters have transformed a comic tragedy into a pantomime. I can hardly wait until the Navy gets a submarine.

[Artisi]

I haven't laughed so much since Ma caught her tits in the mangle. The above posters have transformed a comic tragedy into a pantomime. I can hardly wait until the Navy gets a submarine.

Problem with that is, when they crash downwards you can have big problems, then maybe they might fill it with helium to keep it afloat.

[Payboy]

I haven't laughed so much since Ma caught her tits in the mangle. The above posters have transformed a comic tragedy into a pantomime. I can hardly wait until the Navy gets a submarine.

Problem with that is, when they crash downwards you can have big problems, then maybe they might fill it with helium to keep it afloat.

For a billion dollars, I know just the guy who can refit the aircraft carrier and convert it into a submarine.

[Humbugged]

That airship is shaped just right for a submarine.

[edwinchester]

Why waste all that money on helium? They should fill it with hydrogen, much cheaper.

Problem solved, time for a smoko...

They should just hook it up to parliament.

Nah wouldn't work, swamp gas is heavier than air.

[EyesWideOpen]

I am fairly sure some perspicacious TV poster predicted this outcome.....

[Sayonarax]

WTB Slightly used zeppelin. PST

[yoshiwara]

One would think there is at least sufficient hot air in Thailand to keep that thing permanently afloat.

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Army blames weather for airship's 'emergency landing'

The Nation

The military says bad weather forced an "emergency landing" of its airship in the South on Thursday, disputing media reports that it had crashed.

"It was an emergency landing, not a crash as widely reported by mass media," the Army's deputy spokesman Colonel Winai Suwaree said yesterday.

PATTANI: The airship was assigned to provide surveillance during a visit by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. But the weather was bad as it took off from a military camp in Pattani's Nong Chik district, so officials called for an emergency landing from an altitude of around 20 metres.

According to media reports, the crew, consisting of two pilots and two technicians, leapt from the cabin before the airship landed and sustained slight injuries.

The landing was hard, and caused damage to the cabin and rotary system as well as some equipment inside, Winai said.

The surveillance camera system, which is the most expensive equipment on the airship, was undamaged because it wasn't installed on Thursday, he said.

The Army will ask the aviation safety committee to evaluate the damage, the spokesman said, adding that it would be some time before the full details of the incident are known.

The airship's systems were working properly during a flight that morning, but it had difficulties with the bad weather in the afternoon, Winai said.

Colonel Pramote Prom-in, the Internal Security Operations Command deputy spokesman based in Pattani, said a report from the pilots indicated that they lost control of the airship due to the bad weather before the decision was made to make an emergency landing.

Purchased for Bt350 million in 2009, the US-made Sky Dragon airship has been among the Army's more controversial procurements. It has been criticised for its high cost and poor performance. Since being commissioned, more than Bt25 million has been spent on repairs.

The airship has only occasionally flown, and after being mostly grounded for the past two years, the Sky Dragon took flight again just last month on surveillance missions in the skies over Pattani.

-- The Nation 2012-12-15

[arthurboy]

As predicted the Blimey, the Blinky Blonky <deleted> Broken Blimp Show returns for yet another rib shattering episode.

Quote: But the weather was bad as it took off from a military camp in Pattani's Nong Chik district, so officials called for an emergency landing from an altitude of around 20 metres

So why go up in the first place? Technical readiness aside, surely the prevailing weather conditions would be the clincher in deciding to fly.

I can just imagine some military type (circa 1916) standing on the ground with a megaphone shouting to the pilot to get his arse back on the deck double quick.

And the best joke of all: The surveillance camera system, which is the most expensive equipment on the airship, was undamaged because it wasn't installed on Thursday, he said.

So what was the point of sending it up then? Ah yes, Yingluck was down there, so a big face exercise? Justification of this complete waste of money? Who knows?

More to come...I hope.

[Pimay1]

PATTANI: The airship was assigned to provide surveillance during a visit by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The surveillance camera system, which is the most expensive equipment on the airship, was undamaged because it wasn't installed on Thursday, he said.

LMAO. You can't make this stuff up.

[seadoo]

why don't they use drones?

They can't get them to leave walking street

[Thai at Heart]

since the camera wasn't installed the plan was to tether it to yinglucks motorcade and drag it around with spotters looking out if the window.

[Humbugged]

why don't they use drones?

They can't get them to leave walking street

If they used drones, they fear they may take over the country.

[Payboy]

The airship has only occasionally flown, and after being mostly grounded for the past two years, the Sky Dragon took flight again just last month on surveillance missions in the skies over Pattani.

Dam_n, those mobile phone pics are grainy.

[Fozfromoz]

PATTANI: The airship was assigned to provide surveillance during a visit by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The surveillance camera system, which is the most expensive equipment on the airship, was undamaged because it wasn't installed on Thursday, he said.

LMAO. You can't make this stuff up.

Post operation debrief.........problem..........airship not stay up, and camera not work. Sorry, camera work but we not fit. Gentlemen, any feedback how we can improve on the next deployment of the Zepplin?

Well sir, next time we want to hit a nail, perhaps we should use more than a headless hammer without a handle.

[Pimay1]

From the Aeros home page describing the 40D Sky Dragon.

Aeros Airship Division is focused on the design, manufacture, delivery and support of some of the most advanced airships in the world certified by the U.S. FAA, as well as in Europe and Asia. Our Aeros-40D Sky Dragon is designed to accommodate a market demand for an airship capable of multi-mission applications ranging from advertising and broadcast camera work, to serving as a sensor platform — all while maintaining low operational costs.

The superior design of the Aeros 40D ensures the safety during operations. The airship provides exceptional maneuverability and control, utilizing a minimum number of ground handling crew.

[steveyinasia]

So instead of trying to save the airship from further damage by actually piloting the thing, the crew jumps out to leave it to land itself. Better to train some monkeys to fly as I think they would be better at it.

[12DrinkMore]

The Blimey, it's a Blinking, <deleted> Blimp Show! proudly presents...

The initial outlay of Bt350 million, plus the 300,000 Baht a month bill for helium, plus the cost of the last repair job, plus the cost of general ground maintainance, plus the daily running cost of the base where it is stationed, plus the cost to pay the 'soldiers/ airmen' stationed there to service and guard it, plus the cost of training the pilots and crew, plus the cost of the onboard surveillance equipment, plus the brown envelops....

Tune in next week, so you don't miss another exicitng installment of this pathetic charade.

The comedy continues...

You can leave out the pilot training. It surely wasn't a significant expense at the time.

Rather more costly now, I suppose.

[bigbamboo]

The latest from the Army is that the blimp did not crash land after all. It was an emergency landing due to 'turbulence' encountered when the airship reached an altitude of 60 feet (sic).

Unfortunately the insurance has expired so that's another hefty bill on the way.

Maybe they should try a hot air balloon instead?