<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EstiloCorreioElectrnico17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=PT link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Sydney radio hams help search for lost aircraft VH-MDX <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>A group of amateur radio operators from Sydney, Australia, recently took part in a multi-agency search and rescue exercise in a remote area of New South Wales. This, to help in the continuing search for a small plane that is believed to have crashed some 30 years ago with its pilot and four passengers on board. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>The single engine Cessna aircraft had the tail identification of VH-MDX. It had taken off from Queensland for a flight to Sydney's Bankstown airport when its pilot identified as Michael Hutchins radioed that he was experiencing severe turbulence. Also that the plane had been hit by lightning and he could no longer determine its orientation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>To make matters worse, the wings were icing up and despite his best efforts, the Cessna was losing altitude. The aircraft then disappeared from radar and all communications ceased a few minutes later. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>For thirty years since the accident, teams of volunteers have returned to the area to walk and climb their way through every piece of unsearched landscape in the hope that somebody will discover a piece of wreckage or spot something that helps to ends the riddle of VH-MDX. The regions that have been searched are marked off on a large map, so further unsearched areas can be checked the following year. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>For the safety of the volunteer searchers, each of the six teams carried one vhf or uhf handheld radio and a portable 2-way High Frequency transceiver. Packed in a rainproof canvas box, the H-F sets included a short wire antenna that would work using skywave or NVIS propagation. This, to contact any of several radio command posts set up and manned by WICEN of New South Wales. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>WICEN is a volunteer organization of licensed Australian amateur radio operators who donate some of their time and expertise to emergency communications to benefit the community much the same way that ARES members do here in the United States. Other groups helping with the search this year included the Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad, the New South Wales Police Rescue Squad, the New South Wales Volunteer Rescue Association and several others. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>At the time of its disappearance the Cessna's four passengers were New South Wales Police Inspector Ken Price, who was travelling with Noel Wildash, Phillip Pembroke and Rhett Bosler.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Search aircraft sent to the general area could find no sign of wreckage, and there was no smoke or fire to guide them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Several intensive land searches were also lunched but to date, no wreckage of the plane and the remains of its five occupants have been found. At airtime, the search is expected to resume sometime next year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Main story <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>http://www.walkietalkietwowayradios.com/1549/<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>sydney-radio-hams-help-search-for-lost-aircraft-vh-mdx/<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Our thanks to Paul G4MWO for spotting this item<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>