Aerial Fertilising by Helicopter- Ariundle, Sunart
Autair helicopter possibly piloted by Peter Nutting switching buckets. Having just dropped the empty one he is now lifting the one which was the filled by a team of 4-6 men cutting open the 25 kg bags of rock phosphate and then pouring them through a seive (to remove stones etc)into the bucket. With a 2-3 minute turn around time it was hard dirty work. Prior to this system the Bell helicopters had side hoppers attached to the frame and they landed amongst the loading team as they crouched down. The loaders then emptied the bags into the side hoppers, the blades still turning and then crouched down on their knees as the filled machine took off again. Very very dusty, noisy and draughty.
Groups: Aircraft in Forestry Work, Forestry in Action, Sunart Ardgour and Morven