EXERCISE COLD BLAZE - RYGGE NORWAY

 

EI1 OF 3   Dutch Aviation MEDIA 2012      PAGE 1 OF 3
 
Cold Blaze is the name for an exercise held in Norway to practice landing in snow where the sight and awareness of the pilots can be totally blocked by the upflaring snow, same effect as sand in for instance Afghanistan. Snow however does not affect the engines, while the experience for the pilots is equal to sand and dust.
   
The Dutch 'Grizzly' 298 Sqn of DHC (Defence helicopter Command) practised the White-out in Rygge Norway
'PTISI' magazine Greece reports about this cold experience
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WELCOME TO RYGGE AFB NORWAY - EXERCISE COLD BLAZE

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EARLY MORNING START IN A FREEZING COLD: 'PREPPEN' 
298 Sqn Royal Netherlands Airforce (RNLAF) on exercise at Rygge Norway. Practicing: White-out.
We give you the article (page 3) and light comments by these photographic impressions
 
It's an early start in the hangar where the Dutch Chinooks are parked, working in about minus 24 degrees !
The Chinooks are as cold as that, so improvised heating the helicopters inside (through windows) by generators is a must !
   
The last details are fixed, and the heating inside has been done. Preparing the Chinook is called 'Preppen'.
Here you see the improvised adapter between generator and window of the Chinook.
 
Details: Porcupine ('Stekelvarken') logo on the fuselage, and the 'safety-corner' in the hangar.
Detail on the ski, four of these 'feet' can carry the whole helicopter while landing on snow !
 
Hard to imagine that these 'Donald Duck' beaks are enough, but it works ! 
Quite a construction, because the machine has to ride as well. So far some details, let's see what's coming up today.
INTERVIEWS AND BRIEFINGS OF THE COMING DAY
A 'foldable'container is transformed to a more or less cosy room where briefings are held or coffe can get you warm
Today februari 13th 2012 we first witness the briefing of this day for a certain group
 
As said, some coffee, and next as press we get our information for the coming day, and the ' do's and dont's '
We could give our preferences what to see, where and in what stage, lead by local maps of the environment
 
Major Robert de Jong and others gave information about the character of the exercise in total
Every specific person provided us with specific information for the specific magazines to be published later on.
Surprise was that Air Commodore Theo ten haaf visited the compound to see how his men and women were doing outhere !
 
The Commodore was also benevolent to give a ahort interview as well 
After all the information we got it was about time for some action in the freezing cold outside  :-))
     
     GO TO PAGE 2:   Rolling out the helicoptersi    
 
Article in and in on page 3
   
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