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Its been 56 years and yet just the sound of these birds can get the adrenaline going and the pulse quickening. Slick driversIf you've never sat on the floor of a Huey holding on to the pilot seat frame as your slick was running balls out a hundred feet above the jungle headed into a hot firefight, door guns, mini guns and rocket pods blazing. Well, then at 18 years old you just never experienced one of the most intense adrenaline dumping events in your short life.

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Air Force has selected Boeing to replace the service's aging fleet of UH-1N Iroquois helicopters, which are currently tasked with security missions as well as protecting America's nuclear missile arsenal. The long-awaited Pentagon contract is worth $2.4 billion for up to 84 aircraft. The service awarded Boeing approximately $375 million for the first four helicopters on Monday.

Las Vegas, Nevada - One thing you you’re sure to find at every SHOT Show is something new. A new trigger, new barrel, or new gun to set the shooting world on fire. Or, in the case of the National Rifle Association, a new bike. Designed by the world class production crew over at Orange County Choppers, the NRA debuted an OCC-styled Pro Street bike with bullet-like appearance adorned in a matte gunmetal and black paint job on SHOT Show 2015’s opening day . Donated by Century Arms, the bike is adorned with the NRA seal, Century Arms emblem, and...

For what it's worth, there is a big military chopper hovering over NYC for the last ten minutes.

Apparently America has too many jobs so Obama will be spending taxpayer money to support Russia’s defense industry on behalf of Afghanistan. And he’s doing so over the bipartisan objections of Congress from both the right and left and a ban on buying them written into the NDAA. The US Department of Defense said Thursday it plans to sidestep a Congressional ban to purchase 30 helicopters from Russian state-owned defense firm Rosoboronexport, despite objections from US lawmakers who allege that the firm has equipped the Syrian government to commit brutal crimes against civilians.

Swarming their way (gracefully) to a warzone: Amazing flying display by robotic choppers that could one day help our troops Like some epic computer-generated movie scene, futuristic aircraft swarm around in synchronised fashion and perform impressive mid-air stunts. But the spectacle is real and the robotic nano quadrotors – despite being not much bigger than your hand – could one day revolutionise warfare. The miniature helicopters, which have four propellers, are still in their infancy in development but have been extensively trialled in carrying items and manoeuvre through small gaps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQIMGV5vtd4&feature=player_embedded

Capping her career-long advocacy on behalf of the nation’s military veterans, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray announced Thursday that she has been appointed to chair the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

<p>In one of the worst chapters of their casualty-marred deployment in Afghanistan, Canadian forces earlier this year lost 10 soldiers in 90 days to improvised bombs on one stretch of highway in Kandahar province. Then a US Army helicopter crew stalking Taliban insurgents who plant bombs at night spotted a five-man team, watched the insurgents through sophisticated optical gear until it was certain that's what the men were doing and got permission to kill them.</p>

WHEREAS, Alaska has more registered motorcycles per capita than any other state, yet motorcycles are still the minority users of the Alaska road system; and WHEREAS, in 80-90 percent of all accidents involving a motorcycle, it is the other motorist’s fault. Motorcyclists everywhere face a constant threat to personal safety caused by a lack of alertness of the driving public. It is imperative all motorists operate with caution near motorcyclists; and WHEREAS, Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and Education (ABATE) is a nonprofit organization of motorcycle riders and non-riders dedicated to both education and preservation of freedom of the road. ABATE...

There is something indescribably sexy about an attractive brunette - in this case, the Governor of Alaska - reclining on a sofa made from a bear her father killed. It’s certainly attractive to men whose testicles are still intact. A woman like that - especially if she possesses all the best attributes of the fairer sex - invariably attracts men of strength and courage (dare I call them Manly men?) while intimidating those who - at least genetically - might still be referred to as “males” (dare I call them liberals?)

I don't see His High Coolness struttin' his "swagga" with motorcycle dudes! Sarah is so much cooler than Barack!

Turns out the hockey mom is also a motorcycle maven. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin recently welcomed the crew from Orange County Choppers – whose custom motorcycle business is featured on TLC's American Chopper – to Anchorage where show star Paul Teutul Sr. researched building a bike to honor Alaska's 50-year anniversary of being a state. "It means so much to the state of Alaska that these guys are building this bike that will honor statehood here," Palin says in the episode, airing April 30 at 9 p.m. Paul Sr. hangs out with the Governor in her office and talks about...

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani jets and attack helicopters bombed Taliban positions in a district near the capital Tuesday, the military said, in an expansion of an offensive against militants seemingly emboldened by a much-criticized peace deal. Troops and heavy artillery also joined the operation in Buner, which follows urgent calls from the United States for Islamabad to step up its fight against the militants, who moved into the region this month from the nearby Swat Valley. They set up checkpoints, patrolled streets and warned locals to abide by strict interpretations of Islam. The offensive will cause major strains on an already...

TLC American Chopper's Episode guide indicates that next week (April 30) Governor Sarah Palin will be featured in the show (don't know how extensive): American Chopper Unique Machine Bike TV-PG Apr 30, 9:00 pm & 11:00 pm (60 minutes) Season 6Ep 4: Sr. takes a trip up to Alaska to research a bike and ends up meeting with Governor Sarah Palin. Then it's off to Finland in an attempt to bring OCC to Europe.

Midland, Texas - It was a big night at Midland International Airport where marine helicopter units and a local soldier were welcomed home.

ussia has launched mass production of the Ka-52 strike helicopter nicknamed ‘the Alligator’. Based on the Ka-50 ‘Black Shark”, the new version is designed as a commander’s vehicle and has several features for combat coordination. Ka-52s will be manufactured at the Progress factory in the city of Arsenyevsk in Russia’s Far East. The producer hopes up to 30 Alligators will be completed by 2012 and says the aircraft has great export potential. The series was launched 10 years behind the initial schedule. The Ka-52 made its maiden flight back in 1997, but lack of finance stopped it from production.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2008 – Pakistani soldiers manning a border checkpoint fired on U.S. helicopters flying in Afghan airspace today, Defense Department officials said. The aircraft were on a mission as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. The OH-58 Kiowas never intruded on Pakistani airspace, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. The Pakistani fire did not hit the choppers and the American aircraft did not return fire, Whitman said. “U.S. forces always maintain the right of self-defense,” he said. “In this particular case, my understanding is they just broke off and didn’t return fire.” The incident occurred near the...

Video: Orange County Choppers Owners Paul Teutul Jr. and Michael Teutul Open Up McCain/Palin Rally in Media, PA. Are these the "bitter gun-clingers" Obama speaks of? Would the Democrats let them into one of their wine and cheese tasting parties?:

Excerpt - Many FOMHs (Friends of Mike Huckabee) have been buzzing about the former governor’s new dental work. In fact, one longtime Huckabee pal, who asked not to be named, confirmed yesterday that Huckabee has traded in his God-given smile, which left a lot to be desired, for porcelain veneers. “It’s no secret that his (Huckabee’s) teeth were in bad shape,” the Huckabee friend said. “But, make no mistake about it, his new blinding-white grill will make Jessica Simpson jealous.” There is now visual evidence of Huckabee’s cosmetic dentistry. Here’s the before from Nov. 2007: ~ snip ~

REFILE-China offers to sell military choppers to Manila 05 Sep 2007 09:11:46 GMT Source: Reuters MANILA, Sept 5 (Reuters) - China has offered to sell 8 utility helicopters to the Philippine military as it seeks to replace its Vietnam War-era aircraft, a Philippine air force official said on Wednesday. Defence ties between China and the Philippines -- a longtime U.S. ally -- have grown steadily since 2004 when the two sides launched an annual security dialogue. Beijing has since donated $2.5 million worth of engineering equipment to the military to help it carry out development projects in areas where communist...