And a H-65 Dolphin. Pure electric sex on a rotor, this machine is. (sorry, but its true). Really sweet. Really fast. Flys like a dream.
And a CH-47. This thing doesn't even *look* like it should fly, especially from the inside. The scariest moment I have ever had in an aircraft was in one of these. Landed (sortof) in the fog on the USS Ogden after a 90 minute flight, with less than ten pounds of fuel left on board. Ten pounds. That's about thirty seconds of fuel. No thanks. :-)
Those Chinooks fly over our house occasionally...now that is one loud thunking chopper! You can hear it coming for like five minutes before you see it. I love 'em! I can feel them thunking in the inside of my brain and my jawbone! (Being slightly deaf makes you more aware of vibrations).
Yeah, I'd go up in one of those too if somebody would let me. Heck, I'd go up in any of them, but I guess if I had my pick I'd choose a Black Hawk...just 'cause of my fondness of the ones that fly over the house.
That last one - the CH-47 - that looks like the one helicopter I've ever ridden in. It was like a flying bus. Really long - had benches on both sides inside for troops. Is that it?
It was still a thrill. It was a test flight to check...something, I can't remember what, and they let a few of us go along. The back was open, so you could see out and down. We had to wear a web belt with a line that connected to rings in the floor...so we couldn't fall even if we were stoopid enough to walk out the end.
It was just as the sun was going down, right along the coast of Italy. Only about a twenty minute flight, but I'll always, always remember it.
At least they were thinking ahead! ;o)