Will the choppers have to come in hot ooops I mean will the Osprey have to come in fast and is there a lot of dust that might obstruct the cockpit causing "brownout" in order for the Osprey to determine it's rate of descent and forward velocity. ( I don't know if they've got the new "laser" measuring device on yet that was supposed to help with Vortex Ring State)
I guess I'd ask my medic to contact the field hospital doc, triage the patients, determine which are priority ones(need help within an hour or die) or just burns, belly wounds, extremity fractures, amputations etc that might be able to take the road out. I wouldn't want to lose any choppers or pilots landing in a hot LZ if a road trip is reasonable.
time is a priority with combat casualties but not if you've got to kill a pilot, crew and chopper to get them out.
My dad rode a Huey that landed on a dike in the middle of a rice paddy and was in the Philippines in 12 hours from getting hit at Chu Li. He stuck his leg back on, provided cover fire till the medic jumped on him and saved his life.
the chopper pilot had bowling balls for testicles cause my dad said he could hear rounds pinging around as they were lifting off. I don't know how he heard sh@t in a chopper but I wasn't going to question him.
My point is that it's a small, nimble, tough machine attached to a pilot with balls that makes a difference whether you live or die on insertion and extraction. I'd like for my brothers and friends to have the best machine. If the Osprey is it... great. If this is just a trough for officers, congressmen, and the Pentagon... I'm p#ssed.
Nothing I say about the Osprey is meant to disparage aviators or the men that have worked and died in it. I think we both want the best for our Corp and the men who serve, fight and die in the service of our country.
it's a small, nimble, tough machine attached to a pilot with balls
Honestly There was a time when guys like you said the same things about helicopters being too dangerous to fly Marines in.