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New simulator training helicopter door gunners
ARNEWS ^ | Jan 17, 2006 | John Reese

Posted on 01/18/2006 3:33:47 PM PST by SandRat

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 17, 2006) – A new virtual helicopter door-gunner simulator, used to train deploying Soldiers and capable of interacting with its ground-convoy counterpart, is now being demonstrated at military installations.

The simulator -- which was on display Jan. 11-13 at the Institute of Land Warfare Aviation Symposium and Exhibition in Washington, D.C. – is providing the first door-gunner training since Vietnam, said Raydon Corporation reps who were demonstrating it.

The simulator provides a safe, cost-effective environment to practice helicopter door-gunner training by engaging assorted targets in settings based on a “virtual Baghdad,” said Raydon’s director of military marketing Brian Hunt.

A Soldier using the simulator wears a helmet and visor with a 360-degree spherical view from the vantage point of a UH-60 Black Hawk or CH-47 Chinook crew chief. Targets appear as the simulator pilot flies over a virtual city based on geo-specific imagery.

The pilot and gunner communicate and cooperate with each other as targets are revealed. Tracer rounds help the gunner engage and destroy targets, a difficult challenge as both the target and the helicopter are in motion.

“More than 100,000 Soldiers have trained on our combat convoy simulators, mostly National Guard,” said Hunt. “About 1,000 pilots, crew chiefs and Soldiers have trained on the door-gunner simulator at Fort Hood and Fort Rucker.”

One of the simulators was at Fort Hood, Texas, from September to early January. It was at Fort Rucker, Ala., Sept. 25-30.

The simulators are rented to the Army to fit into a commander’s budgets.

“It’s like a buffet line,” said Hunt. “You take what you need.”

The trainer comes in different arrangements, from classroom models to large trailers with mock-up door positions and interchangeable weapons, and follows on the heels of the virtual convoy simulator. The two simulators may be linked, Hunt said, so that Soldiers in the convoy version can interact with air support.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: door; gunners; helicopter; new; simulator; training
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1 posted on 01/18/2006 3:33:50 PM PST by SandRat
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To: 2LT Radix jr; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; 80 Square Miles; AlaninSA; A Ruckus of Dogs; acad1228; ...

OK all you Door Gunners! This ping is for you!


2 posted on 01/18/2006 3:34:28 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

Sweeeeeet!


3 posted on 01/18/2006 3:35:07 PM PST by andyk (Fear my strategery of misunderestimation.)
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To: SandRat

About time...


4 posted on 01/18/2006 3:36:25 PM PST by TADSLOS (Right Wing Infidel since 1954)
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To: SandRat

Just don't lead em as much.


5 posted on 01/18/2006 3:36:51 PM PST by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
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To: SandRat

Nothing like OJT!


6 posted on 01/18/2006 3:38:19 PM PST by Redcitizen (When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk. -Tuco)
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To: SandRat
Private Joker: How do you know who to shoot?
Door Gunner: Anyone that runs, is a VC. Anyone that stands still, is a well-disciplined VC.
Private Joker: Are there any women or children?
Door Gunner: A few.
Private Joker: How can you shoot women and children?
Door Gunner: Easy. You lead them less.
7 posted on 01/18/2006 3:38:37 PM PST by Yo-Yo
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To: SandRat

My three picks for hairiest things to do; tunnel rat, door gunner and noodlin'.


8 posted on 01/18/2006 3:39:30 PM PST by printhead
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To: printhead


Don't forget being point man on an S&D mission through the jungle or urban area.


9 posted on 01/18/2006 3:41:24 PM PST by in hoc signo vinces ("Houston, TX...a waiting quagmire for jihadis. American gals are worth fighting for!")
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To: SandRat
Why didn't they have these when I was doing this, damn, just damn.

CH-53 Heavy Haulers

10 posted on 01/18/2006 3:42:29 PM PST by Taylor42
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To: SandRat

http://users.rcn.com/sitzkrieg/war/gatlinggun.wmv


this guy is good


11 posted on 01/18/2006 3:49:51 PM PST by Doogle (USAF...8thAF...4077th TFW...408th MMS...Ubon Thailand..."69"..Night Line Delivery,AMMO)
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To: SandRat

Wish this was available when I found out that I had to be a door gunner FIRST before the 101st would let me be a Flight Engineer on my Chinook in 1970 :) the pucker Factor would have been slightly lower.As it was, the landing gear got shot out from under my feet while I was O.J.T-ing. Wonder how they "simulate that? Still, bet it is fun.


12 posted on 01/18/2006 3:52:04 PM PST by contrarian (Contrarian....well, I just have my own way of thinkin..)
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To: SandRat

They ought to put these in the malls for recruiting.


13 posted on 01/18/2006 4:32:05 PM PST by wildbill
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To: wildbill

The howls of angst that would raise from the Fresno Mother Silly Sh******S that would raise. I like it!!! heheheheheheheheheheh


14 posted on 01/18/2006 4:34:14 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SAMWolf; alfa6; Valin; Iris7; Darksheare

Ping


15 posted on 01/18/2006 4:51:54 PM PST by Professional Engineer (If courtesy pays, why are you in debt?)
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To: Professional Engineer

I want one.


16 posted on 01/18/2006 4:53:11 PM PST by Darksheare (Tagline subverted for nefarious plans of nefariousness.)
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To: Darksheare

And I thought Call of Duty 2 on the Xbox 360 was cool.


17 posted on 01/18/2006 4:57:44 PM PST by Callahan
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To: Callahan

Yeah, we're getting cheated!
*chuckle*


18 posted on 01/18/2006 4:59:11 PM PST by Darksheare (Tagline subverted for nefarious plans of nefariousness.)
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To: Yo-Yo
"Private Joker"

Being very hard of hearing these days, I missed the Door Gunner line in FMJ when I saw it on TV. But the first time I read it was in Michael Herr's book "Dispatches", which somehow, incredibly, was apparently made into a musical.

19 posted on 01/18/2006 5:04:58 PM PST by 19th LA Inf
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To: Doogle

I've been looking for that video! Thanks!


20 posted on 01/18/2006 5:17:49 PM PST by JDoutrider
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