Coastguard/RNLI Exercise in Mounts Bay

Witnessed another Coastguard/RNLI exercise in Mounts Bay. Unfortunately the wind direction meant the Helicopter and Lifeboat were travelling away from my position. A few shots of the Penlee Lifeboat and Coastguard Helicopter were gained before the exercise elements disappeared almost over the horizon. In fact checking the radar on the phone it looked like they were four to five miles off the coast adjacent to Praa Sands!!! So here are some images I did manage.

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen"

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter C-MCGY

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen"

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter C-MCGY

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter C-MCGY

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter C-MCGY

Day time Exercise with the RNLI/Coastguard

This latest exercise took place in Mounts Bay off Newlyn, although is was quite far off shore I still managed to get some images.  The training exercise seemed to run smoothly for both the RNLI and Helicopter polishing their skill-set for real emergencies. The helicopter G-MCGY is based at Newquay and the lifeboat is the Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen"

RNLI and Coastguard Night Exercise

Our rescue services often train together to hone/polish their skill set, this was one such occasion. Problem for me was this time it would mostly be dark and I would have no idea where the lifeboat/helicopter would be positioned, hence I set up with my 500mm lens. Exercise commenced and the Penlee Lifeboat and Bristow SAR helicopter from Newquay positioned themselves to close to me during their first pass (aargh!!!!) Could of done with a 200-300mm lens not a 500mm!!! Still had to make do with what I had. This was going to be testing as it soon got dark, very dark.  The ISO was soon being turned up the scale from 20000-51,200 ISO. (sure the camera can see in the dark better than I can) As a result of pushing the ISO images are somewhat noisy but on the whole not bad for a night shoot full of action.

Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGY

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen"

Coastguard Helicopter winching to lifeboat

Coastguard Helicopter hi-line transfer to lifeboat

Norwegian SAR Aircraft at Newquay Airport

Paid a visit to Cornwall Newquay airport where the Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter (NAWSARH) is temporarily based. Here aircrews are training/familiarising with their new helicopters . 

The helicopter is the most advanced SAR Capable helicopter in the world today. The aircraft has two rescue hoists, a large cabin area, automatic flight control system, newly developed Osprey radar giving a full all round 360 degree view for aircrew, all weather capability, anti-icing protection,  a mobile telephone detection system, integrated  dual redundancy avionic/mission systems, power plant consisting of three engines, a thirty minute dry run gearbox, a laser obstacle avoidance system and an obstacle proximity system which provides warning of wires and other obstacles that may be a danger to the aircraft. So that is a brief description of the aircraft, now onto some images