Eskies used as seats in ageing Chinooks

The Defence Force is using eskies as makeshift seats in its ageing Chinook helicopters because there is no other appropriate seating for door gunners on patrol in Afghanistan.
It says the eskies are secured with a ratchet strap and the gunners are attached to a safety harness.

"This decision was a practical alternative to the aircrew having to stand or kneel for lengthy periods when manning the guns," Defence said in a statement.

"This decision has been validated through the Australian Defence Force operational airworthiness process."

(ABC News)


And that's Australian ingenuity for you. I'd think the gunner was also wearing thongs so the hot shells didn't get into his boots.

The main thing about that which is very very Australian is how the Chinook G variant crashes due to software glitches, the Govt promised the H variant long ago and has not delivered.

Then P.M sheds a tear when another one crashes.

norcom said...

What the hell's an "eskie"?

Googling "eskies" brings up some Eskimo dog breed. I figured you'd use kangaroos, probably cheaper.

EDIT:

LOL so I went to google.com.au and searched for "eskies"... You mean a COOLER. :)

Hey Norcom, how did you go with the thong reference? Bad place to get a hot shell lodged

Mark _australia said...

norcom said...
LOL so I went to google.com.au and searched for "eskies"... You mean a COOLER. :)

No you mean an ESKIE.
We probably invented them, being hotter here, and we drink more beer than you folk so I reckon we claim the name.




Longwinded: classic! Lol I can imagine the yank soldiers feeling sorry for the Aussies forced to wear thongs and the Aussies say, nah I'd prefer it mate

You forgot our beer is stronger as well
Mid strength is for pregnent women and driving

^^^ I knew damn well it was not an Aussie invention

I think you'll find the sad reality is that those Chinooks are probably hand me downs from the US Army. They replaced the seats with some cheap Wallmart coolers painted black before they EBay'ed them to the Australian government.

I do wonder though how they got them certified to be attached to a rotary wing aircraft.

norcom said...


And it would seem that:
"The portable ice chest was invented by Richard C. Laramy of Joliet, Illinois."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooler

I haven't checked the Australian wikipedia though.

well it depends on what you are talking about . The "esky" was invented in australia .


The portable ice cooler was invented by an american . So technically both are correct .

But of course americans invented everything right

stehsegler said...

dusta said...
well it depends on what you are talking about . The "esky" was invented in Australia .

if you want to be precise Esky is a brand name owned by Coleman. yes the brand "Esky" is an Australian creation (wouldn't really call it invention). At the end of the day they are still ice cooler boxes.

NO (in a peter griffen voice)

its an ESKY

I may be simple in my way of thinking but how can it be an ice cooler?
I mean is there some magic device that cools down the ice?
Esky for me all the way as that is what I grew up with.
It's the same as stubbie holder v's stubbie cooler.
Ahh logic, it's all just a matter of perception.

Pugwash said...
Good point... When I lived in Tas, we used stubbie holders to keep our hands warm... There was little chance of the beer getting warm

Haven't they invented gloves yet in Tassie?

Pugwash,
I could not agree with you more.
I cop a bit of flack for always using the old stubbie holder in winter. I tell people excately the same thing about keeping the hand warm.
That way if I meet someone while at a party I don't give themn the old cold wet fish type handshake.
Works for me.

beermate said...

Pugwash,
I could not agree with you more.
I cop a bit of flack for always using the old stubbie holder in winter. I tell people excately the same thing about keeping the hand warm.
That way if I meet someone while at a party I don't give themn the old cold wet fish type handshake.
Works for me.

gotta switch it up and become a lefty

gotta switch it up and become a lefty.

Don't know about that.
Righty tighty, lefty loosey.

Now am I talking about my mind or my sailing.
Can't remember, better have another beer and just go with the flow.
Go you little Aussie battler
Cheers.