French chopper @ South China Sea

[smallaperture]

Got this to share. Just done up this first pic. Got a few more to post later. Please do not ask me for more info becos I cannot tell. However, exif data is left intact.

Nikon D70, Tamron 28-200XR, Shutter priority, AWB, ISO200


I muz say that this cam and lens combo is so very light and handy that I can just carry it around and din feel the weight at all day in day out. Just simply love it as compared with my D200 and those so-call Big, Heavy and attention grabbing Pro lens.

[melvinchen]

Erm. this doesn't look like a French Chopper.

Its an Eurocopter Cougar, also known as Super Puma. This is a Republic of Singapore Airforce's rescue helicopter, complete with floatation gear and emergency equipment.

Photographically speaking....because the white metal on the chopper is very reflective, I think your metering was abit off...its underexposed by about half stop.

Since you used shutter priority, I thought it may look better if you use perhaps 1/125 or 1/60, so that the rotors doesn't look freezed in the air...

[cmeptb72]

Isn't the Superpuma a product of & designed by Aerospatiale?

[smallaperture]

Originally Posted by melvinchen Erm. this doesn't look like a French Chopper. Its an Eurocopter Cougar, also known as Super Puma. This is a Republic of Singapore Airforce's rescue helicopter, complete with floatation gear and emergency equipment.

OK, RSAF's Super Puma. This is Frenchie Technologie - I say French chopper becos it is made by Aerospatiale in Toulouse, France.

This is unlike those French caps you find in 7-11 and Shell petrol-stations are made by Durex, England.

[jmmtn4aj]

Originally Posted by melvinchen Erm. this doesn't look like a French Chopper. Its an Eurocopter Cougar, also known as Super Puma. This is a Republic of Singapore Airforce's rescue helicopter, complete with floatation gear and emergency equipment. Photographically speaking....because the white metal on the chopper is very reflective, I think your metering was abit off...its underexposed by about half stop. Since you used shutter priority, I thought it may look better if you use perhaps 1/125 or 1/60, so that the rotors doesn't look freezed in the air...

Originally Posted by cmeptb72 Isn't the Superpuma a product of & designed by Aerospatiale?

That and that when FA and DASA merged to for Eurocopter, the consortium's headquarters was located in France anyway.

[smallaperture]

Originally Posted by melvinchen Since you used shutter priority, I thought it may look better if you use perhaps 1/125 or 1/60, so that the rotors doesn't look freezed in the air...

If I had used a much slower shutter speed, I wouldn't have got this pic at all - not only the main rotors would show motion, the entire chopping would be blur! The ship's engine got some vibration on the deck, the wind was at like 30 to 40knots and I was trying to stand steadily to shoot. I zoomed out so that the chopper was only occupying like half the VF so that I do not get any part of the chopper got erh chopped off. BTW, I din have any IS or VR [wonder if IS/VR could help under such conditions when you're not only having small hand shake movement, but more like trying to keep the subject in the VF]

BTW, it is the white clouds that clips first before the body of the chopper.

And come to think of it, I was a wee bit kiasu in using such high shutter speed. Probably 1/500 or thereabout would have been enough. But then, I dun get to shoot such things often, so I told myself to be kiasu and make sure I nail the shots. Stay tuned, a few more to come......

[smallaperture]

Originally Posted by jmmtn4aj That and that when FA and DASA merged to for Eurocopter, the consortium's headquarters was located in France anyway.

Wah, bro, you beri knowledgeable in terms of Defence and Aviation. Din know there are so many of such folks around here. Me just happened to be there where the action was, so just snap, snap lor.

BTW, I got a few other pics, but they are somewhat disappointing, so trying to learn some DI to try to salvage them to make them at least presentable. The problem is with backlighting, ie, sky too bright with the clouds and the chopper too dark.

[Lumiere]

You were on a cruise izzit?
this was taken on Friday morning?

[raincool2005]

Originally Posted by smallaperture Got this to share. Just done up this first pic. Got a few more to post later. Please do not ask me for more info becos I cannot tell. However, exif data is left intact. Nikon D70, Tamron 28-200XR, Shutter priority, AWB, ISO200 I muz say that this cam and lens combo is so very light and handy that I can just carry it around and din feel the weight at all day in day out. Just simply love it as compared with my D200 and those so-call Big, Heavy and attention grabbing Pro lens.

Super Puma from RSAF...rescue team.

[cervello]

See the stylized Lionhead on the rear end? Can't miss that!

[smallaperture]

Originally Posted by Lumiere You were on a cruise izzit? this was taken on Friday morning?

Hey Lumiere, you got it spot on! This pic says it all.

[Lumiere]

hahahah because there was a scramble on friday morning and u post it up today LOL
ya that's Super Puma, RSAF Search and Rescue.

Old man having heart attack on the cruise i think

[smallaperture]

Originally Posted by Lumiere hahahah because there was a scramble on friday morning and u post it up today LOL ya that's Super Puma, RSAF Search and Rescue. Old man having heart attack on the cruise i think

Hahaha, Lumiere, were you part of the team on 24/7 stand-by and the "scramble"? while I was having a morning stroll on the top deck after breakfast when I heard the chopper.....

[raincool2005]

Originally Posted by smallaperture Hahaha, Lumiere, were you part of the team on 24/7 stand-by and the "scramble"? while I was having a morning stroll on the top deck after breakfast when I heard the chopper.....

guess someone on board was evacuated. sad hor... cruise holiday kenna heli-evac ?

[smallaperture]

Originally Posted by raincool2005 guess someone on board was evacuated. sad hor... cruise holiday kenna heli-evac ?

The oldman who got heart-attack laughing too much becos he won $5000 in the Casino! That's what I heard from people in the casino

[Michael]

Originally Posted by cmeptb72 Isn't the Superpuma a product of & designed by Aerospatiale?

yup, the Super Puma is a French Product

[raincool2005]

Originally Posted by Michael yup, the Super Puma is a French Product

yes.. it is french made. Model type is AS332M

in fact, many industries are using Super Puma for domestic use, especially the oil companies with offshore oil rigs. Hong Kong Airport Rescue unit uses Super Puma.

[raincool2005]

Originally Posted by smallaperture The oldman who got heart-attack laughing too much becos he won $5000 in the Casino! That's what I heard from people in the casino

won $5000 ? hey.. do u know ? a heli-evac can cost up to $30k, not counting in the medical services and treatment yet.

[Tetrode]

Originally Posted by raincool2005 yes.. it is french made. Model type is AS332M in fact, many industries are using Super Puma for domestic use, especially the oil companies with offshore oil rigs. Hong Kong Airport Rescue unit uses Super Puma.

I believe Indonesia has a licence to build them too. So not all Super Pumas are made in France.

Correction - Indonesia has the licence to assemble them, as does South Africa. But Romania also manufactures them apart from France.

[smallaperture]

Originally Posted by raincool2005 won $5000 ? hey.. do u know ? a heli-evac can cost up to $30k, not counting in the medical services and treatment yet. :

Wah, $30k, so jialat ah. Maybe, I will use my picture to sell medical insurance, travel insurance and health products as well.

BTW, can you confirm that figure $30k ? I tot RSAF does that as a service like national service and paid for by our corporate tax, personal income tax, GST, gambling tax, vehicle tax, ad infinitum...... Anyway, this is good training for the pilot, navigator, medics and great for the operational readiness as well. Also, good to know that we have that Medivac on stand-by 24/7. I have done my tour of duty, finishing my 13yr cycle a few years ago leh.