Helicopter Mountain Rescue In Snowdonia

When a female climber slipped and fell while scrambling on the cliffs of Craig Yr Ysfa below Carnedd Llewelyn in Snowdonia, the rescuers who were first on the scene recognized that her leg injuries required immediate treatment. Fortunately for her, help was at hand in the form of RAF 22 Squadron's Sea King helicopter, and she was in hospital in Bangor within the hour.

Snowdonia in North Wales contains some of the best mountain walking and climbing areas in the UK. Besides Snowdon itself, there are several other peaks above the 3000 ft mark, and these are surrounded by steep crags and sheer cliff faces which are often the site of accidents, either as a result of fallen climbers, or walkers who have slipped from a path. When accidents occur, members of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team are called out, and if they require assistance to move the casualty quickly to hospital, a Sea King Mark 3 SAR (Search and Rescue) helicopter from RAF Valley on the Isle of Anglesey can be on the scene within 20 minutes.

The Sea Kings are operated by C Flight 22 Squadron (C Flt), one of the busiest SAR flights in the UK, carrying out around 300 rescue missions every year, and since the Flight formed at Valley in 1956, over 6000 rescue missions have been flown. Sea Kings have been operated by 22 Squadron since 1997, replacing the Wessex which took over from the Westland Whirlwind in 1976, and provide increased range and load capacity, plus enhanced night and bad weather performance. Helicopters are on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and can be airborne within 15 minutes. Although their main function is to perform search and rescue missions for RAF aircrew, the bulk of their activity is centered on civilian rescues, often assisting mountain rescue teams across the UK.

The Sea King is manufactured by AgustaWestland in the UK, and is powered by two Rolls-Royce H1400 1T turboshaft engines, providing 2,700shp. It has accommodation for a 4-man crew, and up to 19 passengers, or nine stretchers and two medical officers. The Mark 3A is equipped with advanced all-weather radar, navigation and Global Positioning Systems, and when hovering can be controlled by the winch operator, who can position the rescue harness directly above the casualty. The winch operator also controls the hydraulic hoist, rated at 600lb. The Sea King has a range of 280 nautical miles, with a maximum speed of 143 mph at sea level, and helicopters from 22 Squadron, who are based at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall, carry out rescue operations all around the United Kingdom, as well as mountain rescues in Snowdonia.

The Sea Kings are a familiar sight to hill walkers and climbers, and its a comforting thought to anyone who ventures into the mountains that should the worst happen, the big yellow helicopter will quickly be on the scene.

Simon Kirwan is a photographer with a passion for the outdoors. He spends as much time as possible visiting the mountains and wild places of Britain and the world. After visiting Nepal and photographing the Himalayas in 1999, Simon was named 'Observer Outdoor Photographer of the Year 2000'. He has since travelled overland across East africa visiting Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe; in addition, he has photographed the mountain ranges of Europe including the Spanish Pyrenees, the French and Italian Alps, and the Polish Tatras.

Despite his love of travel and the excitement of visiting new destinations, Simon is equally happy to wander the hills and mountains of Britain's countryside, especially Snowdonia, the Peak District and the Lake District where he can indulge his love of mountain walking and scrambling as well as photographing the ever-changing landscape.

www.aerial-photographer.co.uk Aerial Photography by Simon Kirwan
http://www.the-lightbox.com Travel Photography by Simon Kirwan

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Wireless Security Camera - For Dick Tracy and Every Tom, Dick, and Harry

Have you seen the movie Dick Tracy? It was the 1990 blockbuster film staring Al Pacino and Madonna. It's based on Chester Gould's comic strip, which he wrote and drew from 1931 until 1977. The work featured Dick Tracy, the superhero of police detectives. He was smart. He could punch with an iron fist. Even more impressive, he had the fastest draw in the city. Dick Tracy had to face villains so ugly they could make onions cry. These bad guys and gals include B-B Eyes, who had the eyes of a frog; hairless Miss Egghead; The Blank, who literally had no face; and The Claw, whose hook replaced a missing hand. One of the comic strip's hallmarks was Dick Tracy's gadgets, which he used to help track down these evil villains. His most famous tool was his 2-Way Wrist Radio, which, beginning in 1946, allowed Dick Tracy and police force members to communicate easily. In 1964, the watch was improved to a 2-Way Wrist TV, and then to a 2-Way Wrist Computer in the year 1987. Today, a wireless security camera would certainly be included in Dick Tracy's arsenal of gizmos.

Cameras and Calendars
Before the wireless security camera, there was the television camera. Philo Taylor Farnsworth invented one that transformed the captured image into an electric signal. The U.S. dollar sign was the image that he transmitted. Farnsworth received a patent for his "dissector tube" invention that transmitted the image. Later, the first professional camcorder was put on the market, in 1982. And then during the following year, the first domestic camcorder appeared in stores. The first video surveillance system was installed in 1942, about a decade after Dick Tracy first appeared, to observe the launching of V2-rockets. Today, security cameras have come a long way. They are now digital, rather than analog; and even a wireless security camera can be used!

Pulling the Plug
While a home security system would probably not include a V2-rocket, today the wireless security camera has become instrumental in keeping homes safe. When considering whether or not a wired or wireless security camera is ideal for you, think about the benefits of the wireless security camera.

* They are ideal for the do-it-yourself kind of person because as they are easy to set up and are more portable.
* They are easier to conceal.
* They sometimes have motion-activated sensors that e-mail you after a person has walked into view!
* They can be accessed by logging onto your computer from almost anywhere.
* They do not require a power connector so they can be placed almost anywhere.
* They can save you money because you will not have to spend much money on wires and other electrical pieces.

Working Outside of the Home
The wireless security camera also has several applications outside the home. These include crime registration, monitoring of traffic, observation of industrial processes at factories, and compliance with safety requirements. Today's wireless security cameras are so tiny they are very difficult or impossible for the naked eye to detect. This makes them ideal for places where the camera must be concealed.

Technology has come a long way since "Dick Tracy" was introduced into the world of comic books in 1931. In fact, the wireless security camera has become so effective that the fearless detective might even use one if he were still prowling the streets for bad guys today.

Toying with the idea of getting a wireless security camera or other hidden video cameras? Discover the power of wireless video surveillance when you visit video-surveillance-guide.com now!

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