HELICOPTER PILOT

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Based on his stories at our Coláiste Mhuire class reunions I had been enourgaging Frank Russell (An Ruiséalach) to write a book.

Well now he's gone and done it and a fine read it is. It is full of adventure. Well, what else do you expect from an Irish Air Corps helicopter pilot in the Air/Sea Rescue Service who subsequently became an air accident inspector.

And then there is his beloved Blanchardstown ("Blanch") whose history and landscape he brings to life.

Even the book cover which you see above has deep resonances. I have posted about them here.

Frank first flew Alouette helicopters but as they became outdated the Air Corps bought the newer Dauphins. In both cases the helicopters were French. While I had no connections with Frank in his capacity in the air corps, I had a very frustrating connection with the Dauphins in the context of the EMS French Protocol.

Frank recounts how on his first SAR mission in one of the new Dauphins, the radar failed. Fortunately this did not have any bad consequences, but it was a bit much in a new craft. Following an inspection and contact with the manufacturers it turned out that the radar antenna was tilted up and had been incorrectly set in the production process and that was the reason the radar didn't work on the first SAR mission.

This reminded me of an experience of my own in my local library when they first introduced wifi. I complained about the ultra-weak signal to the desk. They claimed that it must have been my computer as the man at the far end of the room was getting perfect reception. When I quizzed the man he confirmed that the library signal was weak and his computer was fitted with some sort of booster as he travelled the country in his job.

Well I eventually convinced the desk to put in a complaint to HQ and some weeks later they told me it had all been fixed by some fellas who came. "Were they here long" I asked "No, just a few minutes". "So what did they do?" I asked. "Well, they just turned the router upside down. It had been incorrectly installed".

Frank has a whole chapter on the 1960 Niemba ambush, on which I posted myself. Frank knew one of the soldiers killed in that ambush. It's very personal.

There are lots of exciting flying tales in this book and some great reminiscences from Frank's youth. It's an absorbing read.

And, a teaser for the sequel? Shortly before the August launch of that first SAR mission there was a different type of first flight for the new Dauphin helicopter and that was to fly the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, from his Kinsealy home to his holiday home on Inishvickillaun one of the Blasket Islands.

"However", as Frank says, "that's another story".

Not forgetting that the book also has some fascinating photos, in addition to the one on the cover mentioned above.

The book is printed by Hayes Print in Ennistymon, Co. Clare, and copies can be obtained from the printers. You can contact them on 065-7071125 with your name and address/ credit card details. Cost is €20 +P&P.

I should mention that all the proceeds of this book’s sale will be donated to the LARCC Cancer Support Centre (www.cancersupport.ie) in Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath,of which Frank is a Co-Founder.