Defence jets join Abby Sunderland's rescue (yes, I *know* - I didn't write the headline)

news.com.au ^ | 12th June 2010

[naturalman1975]

THE Australian Defence Force has deployed two aircraft to Cocos Island, in the Indian Ocean, to assist in the rescue of US sailor Abby Sunderland.

A French fishing boat was on its way to rescue Abby on Saturday afternoon, following a rescue crew making brief contact with the 16-year-old on Friday afternoon by air.

On Saturday afternoon the Australian Defence Force joined the rescue by deploying two Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C aircraft.

"If needed, one of the AP-3C Orion will fly to Mauritius to refuel and will then fly south and provide coordinating support for civilian ships that have responded to the yachtswoman's emergency beacons," a Defence spokesman said.

"Despite the fact that Abby Sunderland has been found, the Royal Australian Air Force has continued to deploy its AP-3C as a contingency.

"If required, the aircraft will also be able to drop emergency supplies to the yachtswoman."

[naturalman1975]

Australian 'jet' (at least according to news.com.au)

[sten]

do jets usually have the spinny things on the outside?

[cookiedough]

Here’s the link for the article:

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/defence-jets-join-abby-sunderlands-rescue/story-e6frfku9-1225878810713

[naturalman1975]

Thanks - I thought I’d pasted that in.

I guess my exasperation at the knowledge of reporters distracted me.

[ThomasThomas]

They are fans to keep the jets cool.

[naturalman1975]

But where’s the flames. Don’t jets shoot out flames?

[21twelve]

LOL!

I just had a thought as I figured I would see a bunch of posts about “have the girl pay for this”, etc.

I imagine these guys have to fly around all the time on training missions anyway. Like pretend missions to find and coordinate a pilot rescue, pretend to drop supplies, etc. Coordinate flight plans, refueling, working with allied naval ships (French in this case), communications, etc. These guys would probably love to put this training to real use, and it is still “training”.

I imagine they will find some real-life glitches in the system too. (”What do you mean no one on board speaks French!!??”)

[meadsjn]

The media’s always wrong. It’s a semi-auto.

[21twelve]

“I imagine they will find some real-life glitches in the system too.”

Naval Ship: “We still don’t see your jet.”

Austalian Command: “It should be circling your ship”

Naval Ship: “Nope. The only thing out there is some prop engine plane.”

[The Cajun]

Well you see it's like ThomasThomas said, the fans keep the jet engines so cool a fire can't start, therefore no flames.
Don't you know nothing about aeronautics ;^)

[21twelve]

Yeah - they spelled Defense wrong. Idiots. ;)

[Star Traveler]

Where’s the link to the story?

[naturalman1975]

Somebody placed it in in reply 4. I was too annoyed at the ignorance of reporters and forgot it.

[naturalman1975]

I’m not convinced the girl should have been allowed by her parents to go, but the people going on about the cost do annoy me.

If your neighbour’s house is on fire, do you rent them your hose?

Australia rescues those in danger if we’re in a position to do it - and other countries do the same for us.

If the Sunderland family want to make some sort of donation after they make a lot of money selling their story, that’s fine with me - but you help where you can. That’s the way it works.

[balch3]

they do if they’re a turboprop.

[PA Engineer]

The media’s always wrong. It’s a semi-auto.

No. I distinctly heard them say these were white assault jets with bald middle age pilots. A Katie Kouric look alike reported it while getting a colonoscopy.

[Star Traveler]

Yeah, those Australians don’t know how to spell English words ... LOL ...

[Star Traveler]

[Star Traveler]