Hokitika Rotary Oddballs

The last couple of trips home I have caught a couple of helicopters equipped with rather unusual equipment...



Aerospatiale AS 350B2 ZK-HQG of Southern Lakes Heliopters equipped with a large camera. Photo taken at Hokitika on 17 March 2012 by S Lowe

McDonnell Douglas 500N ZK-HDN of Central South Island Helicopters looks like it is going to a jousting tournament...  Instead it is involved in geophysical survey work. The helicopter is equipped with a large stinger which has the sensor at the end of it. This allows it to detect the magnetic variances without interference from the aircraft. There is also gear inside the helicopter to measure and record the magnetic signals from the earth and rock below picked up by the sensor. Photos taken at Hokitika on 18 April 2012 by S Lowe