Posted on 02/03/2020 10:33:45 AM PST by Red Badger
The Army's helicopters have a number of names you recognize immediately: Apache, Black Hawk, Kiowa, Lakota, Comanche. They are also known as the names of Native American tribes. This is not a coincidence.
According to GlobalSecurity.org, this was originally due to Army Regulation 70-28, which has since been rescinded. Today, while the regulation is gone, the tradition remains, and there is a procedure to pick a new name. The Bureau of Indian Affairs keeps a list of names for the Army to use. When the Army gets a new helicopter (or fixed-wing aircraft), the commanding officer of the Army Material Command (the folks who buy the gear) comes up with a list of five names.
Now, they can't just be any names. These names must promote confidence in the abilities of the helicopter or plane, they cannot sacrifice dignity, and they must promote an aggressive spirit. Those names then have to be run by the United States Patent Office, of all places. There's a lot more bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo to go through, but eventually a name is picked.
An OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter from the 1st Infantry Division takes off on a mission from Forward Operation Base MacKenzie, Iraq. It is armed with an AGM-114 Hellfire and 7 Hydra 70 rockets. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Then comes something unique the helicopter or aircraft is then part of a ceremony attended by Native American leaders, who bestow tribal blessings. You might be surprised, given that the Army and the Native Americans were on opposite side of the Indian Wars and those wars went on for 148 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Three UH-60 Black Hawk (Blackhawk) helicopters prepare to touch down next to the Point Salines Airport runway during Operation URGENT FURY. (SUBSTANDARD)
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Don't be. The fact is, despite the 148 years of hostilities, Native Americans also served with the United States military. Eli Parker, the only Native American to reach general's rank, was a personal aide to General Ulysses S. Grant. Most impressively, 25 Native Americans have received the Medal of Honor for heroism.
Gen. Abidin Ünal, Turkey's Air Force Chief of Staff, waves during takeoff in a UH-1N Iroquois at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 6, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ryan J. Sonnier)
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In other words, the Army's helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft bear names that reflect fierce and courageous warriors who also have fought well as part of the United States Army. That is a legacy worth remembering and honoring with some of the Army's most prominent systems.
PSB for short
many forget that many indians also fought along side us against the French and the British.
Snake
I was from the “Huey era” of Army aviation. The saying then was that there were two kinds of soldiers in the Army - those who have crashed in a helicopter, and those who are going to crash in a helicopter.
;>)
I'd rather ride in an aircraft whose wings have never been broken--Bob Hope
I was just outside burning some trash when I heard a helicopter. Probably from Ft. Rucker and he was really high. Surprising how much noise they can make.
Before I went back indoors, I heard another familiar sound. Finally saw it. An AC-130 or some other type Hercules. Definitely headed to Eglin or Hurlburt.
Pretty unusual to see one in bright sunlight and not near dusk.
Those were the days!
Are we talking helicopters here or HTTP servers?
It will make a lot of noise, be over budget and won’t fly.
You never know, there is USNS Harvey Milk. Get this, it is a John Lewis (yes, that John Lewis) class ship.
Ah yes, the gallant Sikorsky tribe.
:-)
Chinook is from the Native American Chinook people of modern-day Washington state.
Yeah, I know. I’ve ridden and jumped from dozens of them. They really aren’t supposed to be up there.
Cobra?
Huey was a nickname, it was the Iroquois.
The Huey was nick name for Hughes Aircraft as in Howard Hughes. It had Hughes and Utility in the name.
They are related to the Fukawis................
That is the nickname tagged on it by troops. Offical name is Iroquois
Fukawi Tribe............
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