ABOVE - EXTREME EXTRACTION: Kim Dotcom's bail conditions prohibit him access to a helicopter. But researching old John Wayne movies, Vaughn Davis found this scene that offers an alternative way to leave a country at speed. Although this is a dramatisation, the technique is real, said Mr Davis - a former Airforce pilot. (Fast forward to around 1 min 20 sec if you're impatient).
The Crown has cited Kim Dotcom's access to helicopters as one reason to oppose bail.
UPDATE: Dotcom freed on bail | Crown appeal against bail underway in High Court
A series of of leased helicopters - much hated by neigbours - have been the giant German's preferred method of transporting himself around New Zealand.
But could anyone escape our shores by helicopter - or light plane?
I put the question to former Air Force pilot Vaughn Davis, who replied, "Not many helicopters in New Zealand could make the distance without refuelling, and those that could are likely to be owned by larger operators [presumably not likely to accept Mr Dotcom as a client]. However, plenty of fixed wing aircraft (my own included) could make it to Norfolk from Kaitaia if they felt brave enough."
An aviation source who did not want to be identified added:
Norfolk Island is 460nm (nautical miles) from Kaitaia, although with a helicopter, of course, you wouldn't be tied to the airport so could possibly shave a few miles by refuelling further north [1 nautical mile = 1.15 miles or 1.85km.]
Unrefuelled range of popular helicopter types are:
- AS350 (aka Telecom Christmas Tree chopper) 357nm
- Bell 206 (Jet Ranger) 374nm
- BK117 (as used by Westpac Rescue) 336nm (figure for basic model; their mileage may vary)
- Waikato Air Ambulance runs a Bell 222 and that will fly 378nm
These are the choppers you mostly see around town.
There are a few higher performance machines such as the Westland AW139 (used for oil rig support in Taranaki) - this has a stated range of 675nm but that would depend on exact configuration.
Basically, the machines capable of such a flight are typically owned by bigger operators which should make them less likely to be involved in such shenanigans!
There are, on the other hand, hundreds of light planes in NZ that would easily make the distance. But you'd need to really want to make that long trip over all that water ...
Could the big fella get through Customs?
In terms of airline travel, prosecuters have also pointed to Mr Dotcom's alleged access to forged travel documents.
But even assuming this is correct, it's tricky to see Kim Dotcom (198cm or six foot six, and around 130kg) sneaking past a Customs Officer.
By sea
NBR reader Jonathan Brewer was quick to suggest that all the helicopter maths is for naught.
The giant German only has to get as far as a boat that, then cruise out of the country, Mr Brewer suggested.
Comments and questions
you *can* put temporary tanks in the passenger space etc, if the load capacity is sufficient.
standard range for a BK117 is 541 km on 697L of fuel. But it can lift 1600 kg. Could go quite a way with 1500 kg extra fuel tanks.
You'd have to allow for Kim Dotcom's weight though Bruce: he's not a small lad.
not much change out of 200 kg I bet.
And the fact he'd likely want to do a victory lap around the Skytower, that's going to burn a few extra litres
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who ever you are, you deserve your own tv show! thanks for the LOLs :-D
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wouldn't he just need to chopper to a yacht sufficiently far enough off shore?
[But could you imagine winching Kim Dotcom? Also, the sailing/boating leg would be pretty slow/vulnerable - CK]
It doesn't have to be a yacht or require winching either. There are some mighty large launches with heli decks.
As for slow/vulnerable - it did not seem to hamper Tony Mokbel escaping from Victoria via Western Australia to Greece. And he'd probably still be on the run if he hadn't made some dumb mistakes like using a previous alias and using a very bad hairpiece.
Yes, Dotcom's weight at the front of the craft to balance the temporary tanks at the rear of the craft...
Norfok Island to Queensland is 1400 km. Few helicopters cruise faster than 250 km/h, or can take more than 3 hours fuel.
1. Boat laden with gold in Tasman.
2. Take tunnel under Christo's to waiting copter.
3.15 mins flight.
4. Dropped onto boat
5. Couple of hours to outback!
Its all possible chaps but there are only about 3 operators who have the technology and experience at doing it. But why would he run he says he has done nothing wrong? The USA got Bin Laden, and Dotcom is a much slower and wider target.
Kim won't run - hes having too much fun up at Chrisco - burning round in super cars and having the odd party with a bevy of beautiful babes. I'd stay here, and pay Mr Davidson QC squillions to keep the party going.
The last place he'd go to would be Norfolk. The Aussies are even less sympathetic towards this group than the NZ authorities. He'd be on US soil before you could say "Guantanamo"!
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true dat :-|
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Bud Fox is right. He won't run. His family are here. And technically, I suspect the FBI and Co will have a few problems making the case stick even if the copyright issues are real. In the meantime, as the two or so years of legal wrangling pass while each side prepares their case, Mr Dotcom will enjoy himself right here in his NZ mansion I suspect. While he's waiting for the case to go to Grand Jury in the US, he might even get to resurrect his website and make another few dozen million. Innocent until guilty and all that I'm sure he'll argue!
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One can't help but feel NZ police are far too eager to please the FBI than is healthy.
Dotcom is gonna run. Oh yeah, think about it. The United States of America govt is screaming for his blood. He knows he's in knee deep shiate.
If Dotcom can run at all, it will not be very fast or for a great distance. I suspect he'd make a 30-40m dash at the most..
Hardly worth the NZ govt's kowtowing to the US.
If he was going to run why has that not happened in the past week? There has been plenty of time to plan it. The whole bail thing is stupid and smells of complete overkill. Perhaps this is just the movie length premier of CSI Coatesville. I plan to watch the full series when it's available for free online.
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