CLICK THE LINK ON THE RIGHT FOR THE AERIAL PHOTOS OF SUFFOLK, TAKEN FROM THE HELICOPTER>> It was with slight trepidation that I set off for RAF Wattisham to go up in a helicopter, as it’s not something even reporters here in Suffolk get to do everyday.  | | Morwenna gets ready. |
The mission was to check out the new technology being used on the RAF Sea King rescue helicopters. Ironically enough I got completely lost on the way to the base and nearly required rescuing myself! When I finally got there a number of journalists from the newspapers, radio and television were settling down to try and take in as much as they could about this snazzy new equipment before the fun really began. The new technology on board two of RAF Wattisham’s Sea King helicopters is an infra red system that detects a person’s heat - showing them up as either black or white on a screen inside the chopper.  | | Approaching the Sea King |
The new technology will mean the rescue teams can search more easily, day and night. The new camera allows the RAF crew to zoom in on boats from 15 miles away and even identify the shape and colour of a craft in trouble. After finding out about the lifesaving equipment we went out to see helicopters for ourselves, and the frenzy for interviews began. Then back to the office to be kitted out in the RAF gear, which consisted of a green jumpsuit, white leather gloves, and the most enormous helmet. It must be the silliest one I have had to wear in my career as a journalist so far! After struggling with the helmet we were finally ready to head back to the helicopters and up in the air - and yes I did take my microphone with me despite it being one of the noisiest things I’ve ever been in.  | | View from the helicopter |
I’m glad to say that as we rose up into the air we didn’t have the door open, but as we reached 500 feet the doors were slid open and the cameraman for BBC Look East promptly hung out of the aircraft to get great shots (see the photo gallery).
I was surprised how similar taking off felt to an aeroplane, it was only when we got up in the air that we’d get the occasional jolt. As we flew over the river we picked out individual boats with the camera that Sergeant Will Harrison was operating. There are two screens in the helicopter - one shows the radar, the other displays the camera's view.
The radar had detected many boats in the sea off Felixstowe - all of which looked the same from a distance. But using the camera, from about 15 miles away, we could zoom in and see clearly the shape and colour of each boat. Some of the highlights on the flight from RAF Wattisham to Woodbridge and back were flying over the Orwell Bridge, and flying over Ipswich - especially over Portman Road and the roof garden on the Willis Building.  | | Portman Road, viewed from the helicopter |
As we headed back to base the weather began to improve. You’ll have to take my word for it that there was at least one rainbow shining in the skies over Wattisham as we touched down. All in all an exciting trip and what looks like a great leap forward in technology. Thanks to the search and rescue teams, who were all brilliant on our flight!
CLICK THE LINK ON THE RIGHT TO OPEN THE PHOTO GALLERY>>
All photos used in this article were taken by Geoff Parselle and are Crown Copyright.
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