Timbo,

what a good way to contribute to society, flying such missions! I really admire that!
When you say "a helicopter with an IR system", do you mean a thermal camera, an active IR system or a passive IR system? I just remember thermal cameras being superior in the early 90s while active IR was on its way out (in the army that was).
The old german Fieseler Storch sounds like the ideal plane for such missions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fieseler_Fi_156




About the boat. What a cool project. Essentially similar to the Bethwate (HPX?) prototypes but still a very cool thing to do and sail. Hope it is as fast as the builders envisioned?
One question: What is done with the retrieval line at the top? Looks like it goes from the top patch and then behind the jib.

Thanks for posting in the first place Robi. Stuff like this is always interesting.