Posted on 01/19/2016 12:14:05 PM PST by LeoWindhorse
All four life rafts from the two choppers that collided off Oahu's North Shore have been recovered on Monday but with no sign of any survivors, according to an official with the U.S. Marines.
In spite of this, rescuers on Tuesday will continue searching for the 12 Marines who were on board the two helicopters when they crashed late Thursday. This would be the fifth day of search-and-rescue operations.
(Excerpt) Read more at hawaiinewsnow.com ...
today’s Day 5 local news updates :
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/30995717/12-marines-were-wearing-sophisticated-life-saving-gear
http://www.staradvertiser.com/breaking-news/search-for-missing-marines-continues-into-5th-day/
http://khon2.com/2016/01/16/all-marine-helicopter-life-rafts-recovered-no-sign-of-survivors-2/
http://khon2.com/2016/01/15/marines-undergo-survival-training-in-case-of-sinking-helicopter/
http://khon2.com/2016/01/15/former-marine-pilot-shares-insights-on-helicopters/
https://www.facebook.com/MarineCorpsBaseHawaii
12 Marines. I know I missed the WH official statement saying how sad Obama was and he shed tears for these fine Marines?
I am not very aware of the normal configuration of Marine choppers. Can someone make a comment on auto deployment of life rafts?
Sincerest of regrets from and OAG. (Old Army Guy).
Not sure, but I know that back in the 80s Boeing had a successful program to build an auto deploying raft for the 46.
The thinking being that upside down, sinking, usually in the dark by that point even in daylight, its hard enough for people to egress, much less physically deploy a raft that’s stowed inside.
Id like to hear from an up to date 53 man, but hard to imagine it doesn’t have a self deploying system of some sort. But I guess it could have been the result of disintegration too. Waiting for someone with the straight dope.
Was that the hexagonal one with floor centered on midline of perimeter tubes with cross tubes at 90 degrees to one another, so that no matter how it hit, a floor was always available. No upside down needing righting. Self inflating of course.
Hmmm,,, not sure. I read about that Boeing system being successfully tested. But don’t know if they ever deployed it.
Never had an encounter with one. Im thinking someone here might know and be up to date.
No need...pure curiosity on my part, having seen and used one of the prototypes submitted as per RFP from Boeing at the time.
Wouldn’t the crew and passengers all be wearing life preservers?
Dazed, shocked, trapped, and sinking fast.
Bump to top.
Collision, propellers, rotors, hot metal engine parts, hot oil, burning fuel seen in the air - the Marines were dead before they hit the water.
It was a blessing that they died instanteously.
Johnny Weissmuller couldn’t survive five days in those swells.
Pray for them and their families.
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