Documentary about a rescue helicopter crew on their tour of duty in Afghanistan.
September 8, 2008 12:05 PM Subscribe
Above Enemy Lines (youtube 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) is a BBC Documentary about a RAF Chinook crew on their tour of duty in Afghanistan. Part 4 and 5 of the film deal with the crew attempting to rescue a wounded 19 year-old soldier from a combat zone.
This reminded me a little of the book Chickenhawk by Robert Mason, about flying helicopters in Vietnam. I think it takes particular bravery to fly comparatively unarmed and unarmored helicopters into a firefight for medevacs. I know I couldn't do it, at least.
Neat documentary, thanks.
posted by Forktine at 1:49 PM on September 8, 2008
Neat documentary, thanks.
posted by Forktine at 1:49 PM on September 8, 2008
This reminded me a little of the book Chickenhawk by Robert Mason, about flying helicopters in Vietnam. I think it takes particular bravery to fly comparatively unarmed and unarmored helicopters into a firefight for medevacs.
Agreed. I've read more than one book in which the authors (infantry, mostly) stated that they considered the dust-off pilots to be the bravest people in the entire war. Copters tend to be pretty dangerous even outside of combat -- the Border Patrol and Kirtland air base here in NM have both taken casualties due to helicopter crashes. And somebody actually shot down the ABQ Sheriff Department's helicopter a couple of years ago!
That's a neat-looking documentary, good post!
posted by vorfeed at 2:17 PM on September 8, 2008
Agreed. I've read more than one book in which the authors (infantry, mostly) stated that they considered the dust-off pilots to be the bravest people in the entire war. Copters tend to be pretty dangerous even outside of combat -- the Border Patrol and Kirtland air base here in NM have both taken casualties due to helicopter crashes. And somebody actually shot down the ABQ Sheriff Department's helicopter a couple of years ago!
That's a neat-looking documentary, good post!
posted by vorfeed at 2:17 PM on September 8, 2008
there is another documentary called "straight up!" that highlights some more amazing flying skills: power line maintenance being performed on live wires by a man outside a helicopter, using a type of Faraday cage. I didn't include that in the original post because I think it has been linked to before.
posted by krautland at 2:25 PM on September 8, 2008
posted by krautland at 2:25 PM on September 8, 2008
jourman2 - they'll also more than likely be shooting either on very high-def digital video, or using Betacam, which is very clear. Plus British TV programmes use a lot of filters such as the famous Top Gear effect which can give a very filmic feel to footage.
Thanks for the post, look forward to watching it.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:06 AM on September 9, 2008
Thanks for the post, look forward to watching it.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:06 AM on September 9, 2008
Excellent post, thanks. Interesting illustration of a particular Brit attitude. Doing a difficult and dangerous job in a quiet* and self-deprecating way.
*Apart from swearing all the time.
posted by Dr.Pill at 12:43 PM on September 9, 2008
*Apart from swearing all the time.
posted by Dr.Pill at 12:43 PM on September 9, 2008
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Anyone have some insight?
posted by jourman2 at 12:56 PM on September 8, 2008