Brave Chinook pilot who saved five after Taliban attack awarded highest military flying honour

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 26th November 2010 | Ian Drury

[naturalman1975]

A Royal Air Force pilot has received the highest military flying honour for picking up five seriously-wounded soldiers despite his helicopter being badly-damaged in a Taliban attack.

Flight Lieutenant Tim Pollard received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroics on the battlefield in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

His twin-rotor Chinook was hit by an insurgent's bullet which damaged the rotor brake cylinder, spraying him with highly flammable hydraulic fluid.

Ignoring the risk of the cockpit bursting into flames, he courageously landed the helicopter to pick up the severely-injured troops.

His selfless bravery and coolness under pressure during the incident earned him the gallantry award.

[naturalman1975]

[Trueblackman]

Bravo Zulu to this brave pilot and ally, who put the safety of those wounded above his own.

[flowerplough]

Highly flammable hydraulic fluid? Why?

[17th Miss Regt]

Highly flammable hydraulic fluid? Why?

Sometimes they are simply excellent hydraulic fluids. The M-60 series of battle tanks used 'cherry juice', a red flammable fluid, for the turret traversing system. The Israelis found that it caused several fires during the 1973 war and replaced it. In about late 1975, the US Army replaced the cherry juice with a yellow fluid we called 'apple juice'. Didn't burn, so problem solved.

[blackdog]

Aviation hydraulic fluid has an incredibly high flash point compared to other oils. Same with the brake fluids.

For obvious reasons. Having hydraulic fluid spraying from a piston hydraulic pump @ 1,500PSI however could complicate cockpit management a bit. It's a pump with a series of rotary arranged pistons which open and close at a precise point in rotation. They generate incredible pressure.

[AndyJackson]

Wow! How refreshing to read that human beings can act honorably! BZ to a brave airman. And God grant we may once again deserve allies such as this.

[niteowl77]

Having family in rotary wing military aviation, we pay more attention than many to what these aircrew and technicians have done during OEF and OIF. Flight Lieutenant Tim Pollard is a tremendous example of the kind of men and and women who drive the birds.

Mr. niteowl77

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving to 4-4 ARB.