The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was buzzed by a plane as it passed by North Lismore Plateau yesterday while returning from a mission out west.
The helicopter had been tasked to a property at Torrington around 1pm where a 55-year-old man received a pelvic injury after coming off his horse.
As the chopper was returning to base a single-engine aircraft appeared to follow it from the direction of the Lismore Airport, gaining rapidly on the rescue helicopter, before veering off to the left and flying back towards the airport.
The fixed wing airplane appeared to have a large red dot on its side, with an enclosed bubble-type cockpit, similar to those flown by Japanese pilots during World War II.
The helicopter service has been asked for comment.
I saw the same (or very similar) plane doing exactly the same maneouvres over the CBD a few weeks ago (on the East Lismore side, with the chopper apparently headed for it’s Base). I looked like it was playing at a mock dog fight. I thought the chopper & the plane must be having a little high spirited fun between friends …. however, if a patient was on board this is a real worry not a joke.
I saw a mysterious plane whilst on the walking trail to the lighthouse at Byron Bay on Saturday afternoon between 2pm and 3.30. It was dark grey and appeared to be unmarked. It flew very close to the cliff and passed over a couple of times.
Can’t speak to the “red dot”, but the plane resembles one of the ‘Yaks’ flying out of Ballina.
You guys will print anything won’t you. Haha, that’s not anything like a Japanese Zero from World War II. It is a Russian plane. Either way I thought you would love the socialists. Slow news day I suppose.
Cheers,
Bruce