Posted on 08/25/2012 3:42:46 PM PDT by llevrok
as to fixed-wing VS. fling-wing.....Give me the fling-wing every time!!!!....(if nothing else, its good for the heart rate and adrenal gland)
I flew Hueys in Vietnam 1971-72. Stayed on flight status in reserves until 1986. Came back as a ground warrant in 1994. Retired last year. My wife is a CW5, outranks me. Now we’re both retired. Life is good.
I’ve only made two Huey flights in my life. Flew from Tan Son Nhut up to Nui Ba Den. Anybody who says that he wasn’t scared shirtless on his first flight over Injun Country is either lying though his teeth or has balls the size of pumpkins.
Don't fool yourself!!!.....lose the power in a fixed wing...You're TOAST!
Lose the power in a helicopter and u have any altitude...you can safely land on a dime!...Helo Pilots practice that all the time...AUTOROTATION is your friend!!!...(of course you only get one shot at it!)
This guy is pretty good..but I've seen better!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2a9H8Xw8Mo
Still driving 60’s. A’s, L’s and now M’s.
-55’s and Hueys way back when.
Many thanks to the Vietnam Vets who taught us.
WOFT class 83-37
Who could forget flyby’s every two weeks on grad day at Rucker?!?!?!!
YOU GOT IT!.....Cav Ho...Scouts out!
I knew I was gonna sleep fairly securely!!
as one old “higher up” explained.....Men are expendable...Helicopters are not!....(I got to go with the Bird) and BTW....Welcome home Brother.......
(It's kinda funny now...but crew-members actually did use the pucker factor when discussing the days events)
Pucker factor was off the charts, bro. But then I’m afraid of spiders, too.
Oh jeez you brought back my biggest regret flying in Vietnam we had an add-on mission to Nui Ba Den the mountain of the Black Virgin. I remember climbing toward that big peak it was like a pyramid I tried to get some photos but just then I ran out of film! We landed on a platform there were like stone building ruins around. Took off & went from the summit right down the mountainside & there were no foothills, old Nui Ba Den just rose out of the level ground around it.
At night in our AO we could see the threshhold lights of the active at Tan Son Nhut. Came back forty years ago this month August. All seems like yesterday.
Yes, our wives outrank us & we love them for it. Only when my `she who must be obeyed’ gives me a “directive”, instead of “yes, dear” I say “OK Chief, I’m on it”. Then I get reminded we’re not in the military anymore. Love it, just love it.
;^)
Your friend was one to be much admired. While all Marine officers have qualities to be respected, none so much as a Marine helicoptor pilot. So much of what I learned of leadership and truly being a man, I learned from the pilots of MAG-16 at Marble Mountain. Their bravery was unmatched and they treated those who rode in the back with respect.
Had a neighbor when I was a kid that was a 7th air cav huey pilot....then later on instructed at Fort Rucker. Ray Cole. Coolest Dad on the block. Could whip me in chess within 25-30 moves with his knights....everytime.
Dad flew Caribou in VN, then came back and learned to fly rotary so he could be XO of the warrant battalion at Rucker. We lived across from the parade field, and as kids we would count the helos in the graduation formation flights across the parade field.
I’ll put in a plug here for a cool organization, the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation. They do some awesome airshows with lots of rotary wing elements. Recommended.
They’re based at the airport in Hampton, GA, next to Atlanta Raceway (the NASCAR track, whatever the official name is). They do shows all over the place. A buddy who is involved with the group says they are the 3rd most requested air show group, behind the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, but ahead of the Golden Knights.
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