Siem Reap to Phnom Penn via military helicoptor

Recreational travel,

"with these came freelance journalists who had no money, no nothing....

"Anlong Veng,just up the road from Siem Reap"

Have you heard of ANYONE in the world who entered ANY country with no money. "no nothing" I think not.
Journos are a pack breed and certainly were in 1991. To come to Cambodia with no money would be too weird, would it not?

Anlong Veng is a bit longer than just up the road. YOU TRY WALKING IT.

I took the chopper service in '95 and had a pretty good time with the flight crew my first night
in Siem Reap, but all the journalists had money in their pockets. And shirts and shoes etc....

hankor, do you want to see the pictures from the first freelance journalist to get back into Phnom Penh after the Paris Peace Accords?

His name was Stefan Ellis. See

http://www.stefanellis.com/</a><BR><BR>Click on the word Cambodia and then start clicking around on the pictures at the bottom of the page.

As part of the Paris Peace Accords in October of 1991, a representative for the Khmer Rouge was allowed to return to Phnom Penh in an official capacity, as if that representative was a member of the government. That representative was Khieu Sampan. However, when he arrived in November of 1991, common people in Phnom Penh rioted in front of the building where he was staying, got inside and beat Khieu Sampan. He survived only because Hun Sen's soldiers came to rescue him, as per the Paris Peace Accords.

Stefan Ellis was there in Phnom Penh that day in November of 1991. If you haven't seen his picture of Khieu Sampan as he "wore an army helmet with a pair of underwear for a bandage after being clubbed by an angry mob", the picture is on the web site above. That same picture was on display at the FCC in Phnom Penh for many years afterwards.

For readers thinking about using that old "Army Helicopter Tourist Service", their helicopters do crash sometimes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/72367.stm</a><BR><BR>Wednesday, 1 April, 1998, 12:22 GMT 13:22 UK

Helicopter crash in Cambodia

A Cambodian army helicopter carrying a group of journalists and a British diplomat has crash-landed in a minefield near the former Khmer Rouge base of Preah Vihear in the north of the country.

Several of those on board were injured when two mines exploded under the helicopter as it attempted to land.

The army flight was arranged after government forces took control of Preah Vihear from Khmer Rouge rebels last weekend.

Military sources said that three of the wounded had been flown to the capital Phnom Penh for treatment.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

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<hr>That representative was Khieu Sampan. However, when he arrived in November of 1991, common people in Phnom Penh rioted in front of the building where he was staying, got inside and beat Khieu Sampan. He survived only because Hun Sen's soldiers came to rescue him, as per the Paris Peace Accords.<hr></blockquote>

Yeah, Ive read all about that debacle, I think it was international news at the time. I know a few journalists and other people who were here in those days. Im too drunk to post a decent reply but you have some great information.

Don't see the relevance in talking about pre-2000 Cambodia on any of these topics.
It's certainly a different place today than it was back then.

If you're looking for the pre-2000 Cambodian experience, try Africa.

This is my first time on this web site. I've luckily find it. Have you guy ever heard about the helicopter Mi-17 crash in Cambodia airport in April, 1, 2002? That crash killed 3 and injured 1. One of the guy who was killed was my dad. I have been on those helicopter for maybe 15 times. While my dad alive I used to ask him that did they fix the helicopter? because it look new. But did you know what did he say to me. He said sometimes they take the helicopter to Vietnam to paint it and just fix little thing, so they can get some money for their own. That was shock to me. On the day my dad die I was so angry and I said to myself that I hate those guy. My dad is a really careful guy. He always check the engine before he fly. but on that day he got to transfer the helicopter so he have no time to check on the engine. When he took off the tail rotor was broken, he can control nothing, and the helicopter just drop down and explode.

Any question just reply back

Suorsdey sethy. Sorry to hear about your Dad. I think readers here have understood now that using these helicopters is not a good idea.

---------------------

3 killed in Cambodian military helicopter crash

PHNOM PENH, April 1 Kyodo

Three Cambodian military pilots died when a helicopter crashed Monday morning at a military base adjacent to Phnom Penh's international airport, military officials said.

Se Vong Sotha, deputy chief of the Cambodian Air Force, told Kyodo News that besides killing the three pilots, the crash of the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter also injured a mechanic who was on board.

The accident occurred at 9:20 a.m. at the base located next to Pochentong International Airport, which lies some 8 kilometers west of the capital, he said.

Defense Minister Tea Banh blamed the accident on pilot error, saying the pilots changed direction too quickly while the chopper was less than 3 meters off the ground, causing it to crash and burst into flames.

He added that the chopper had been about to head for Prime Minister Hun Sen's residence, some 13 km south of Phnom Penh, where it was to pick up five members of a Vietnamese military delegation and fly them to Vietnam.

The Mi-17, recognizable because the tail rotor is located on the starboard side instead of the port side, is a multipurpose helicopter capable of carrying either cargo in the cabin or up to 30 passengers.

Cambodia's military has 12 helicopters in its fleet, but only four of them were in service, including the one that crashed.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo News International, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group

Sethy I’m sure you know your dad died doing what he loved to do. Helicopters crash often even if they are maintained very well, there are too many parts and many of them are crucial. I too like helicopters and sometimes put photos of them on my blog, I used to have a room mate who took good photos. I spent years riding in and under helicopters and still miss them. Here are a couple of my favourites.
Above Indian Creek
638 headed downhill

Well I have learned a lot of these and I also get the information from my friends in the USAF(United States Air Force), They also said like what Somsai said to, but they also mention that the Tail Rotor is pretty hard for them to get loose of locate on the wrong side.

Very sorry about your father sethy. I am sure that he was a fine and responsible pilot. But in regard to tourists taking military helicopters, it's not an option any more and so a moot point. And in regard to poor maintenance and shoddy workmanship, TIC, and is probably not limited to military helicopters.

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<hr>...but please consider the carbon footprint of using a helicopter! <hr></blockquote>

Maybe you should try walking to Siem Reap from Europe or America or wherever.

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<hr>Don't see the relevance in talking about pre-2000 Cambodia on any of these topics.<hr></blockquote>

Why not? Its interesting.