Posted on 01/21/2005 11:31:45 AM PST by Mr. K
WASHINGTON – NASCAR windshield tear-offs will soon provide Army helicopters an extra layer of protection from sand, rocks and debris thanks to two National Guard Soldiers.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Kagi and Sgt. Michael Mullen, Virginia Army Guard helicopter mechanics, submitted the idea to use windshield tear-offs to the Army Suggestion Program after discussing the idea at a Christmas party five years ago.
Their unit went to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., with brand new helicopters. However, when they came back, they had to replace about 80 percent of the windshields due to sand damage.
“Sand will eat up a glass window. It gets so pitted you can’t even see out of it,” said Kagi, “that’s where Sgt. Mullen got the idea. He said, hey, they put tear-offs on racecars at Daytona and Texas for that very reason—to protect them from sand and debris.”
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
PeelOff BumPing
Without the civilian sector, our military would be nothing. That's probably a big reason all these communist countries have such crappy militaries.
Great idea. However, the government will probably pay as much for the tear offs as for the actual windshields.
Yeah, I need those for my sunglasses for everytime that I get a nick or scratch on the lenses.
The whole world hates a smartass...
You can wedge your coffee cup in the radio mount, or build your own cupholder like I did.
"I can't say enough about the job my guys back in the 305th Batallion Mechanic Crew did to get the Coca-Cola - Mars Bar - Viagra - Apache in tip top fighting form today. We had some trouble with the Coca-Cola - Mars Bar - Viagra - Apache pushing into the turns back there, but we dialed in some more rotor and she just flew like a dream."
Considering that the home of Army Aviation, Ft. Rucker, is in Alabama, it's amazing that somebody didn't think of this a looooong time ago. There are probably a lot of things that ground crews can learn from pit crews. For that matter a NASCAR garage can probably teach military maintenance depots a lot about supporting expeditionary warfare. Heck, that's what NASCAR is all about -- Where we racin' next Sunday?
yeah, but it will always spill on you...usually right before you have to meet with the SGM!
There are a LOT of military improvements that have happened because of enterprising military members using that suggestion program. I hope these guys get the full $25,000.
yeah- how about changing the tires and getting it back in the air too
Quote: Where we racin' next Sunday?
Iran :)
At the time, they used 2 layers, max, since more affects the view.
And it saves about 50% the cost of a new windshield.
When's qualifying? Is it on TV?
"The helicopters will only be able to turn left. And every square inch of them will be covered with advertising."
the Viagra Apache would offend the Islamofascists
Live coverage on Cnn and Fox starting at 3:45 am Iran time and 9:45 pm our time. Nuke sites are Irans qualifying event.
The FMTV has cup-holders/boot-mudscrapers/button guards on the dashboard.
And power steering, and automatic transmission.
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