[68skylark]

Boeing employees observe the company's newest aircraft, the MH-47G Chinook helicopter, during the aircraft's rollout ceremony May 6 at Ridley Park, Pa. Walter Sokalski

Maybe the Chinook is a really under-rated aircraft design. It sure has been flying a long time.

[Orblivion]

I hear it gets to 1000 feet faster than anything. Cept maybe the new joint strike fighter. :)

[Riley]

Have any Freepers flown a twin-rotor? I was a student pilot in R-22s (which got expensive in a job market glutted with military veteran pilots).

I am curious how it handles differently from a single rotor helicopter in terms of control input.

[RightWhale]

There are a lot of these here and they fly all the time. Most of the gear we see is war-surplus hand-me-downs, so I assumed the Chinooks were out of production. Many are used in medical and rescue which is appropriate since there aren't decent roads to most places.

[contrarian]

I have 450 hours as flight engineer in the "Old" CH47C,and enjoyed every minute (well,"cept" when they wuz shootin at me, anyway). Really makes me feel old when they talk about the "OLD" D models. Anyway, the firepower has been upgraded anyways from the 2 M60's we had (plus my handy 38 6 shot pistol). If you want to see a real piece of work, do a search (engine of your choice) on "Guns a GoGo" These were some early HOOKS that were so heavily armed that one actually shot its' self down (oops).....101 Airborne!!!! ALL THE WAY

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The military’s newest rotary-wing airframe, updated and better equipped than its Chinook predecessors, will be flown exclusively by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Campbell, Ky.

...The MH-47G has capabilities not found on any other rotor-wing aircraft in the world. Its specialized mission equipment includes:

· Multi-mode radar that permits terrain following and terrain avoidance in all climatic conditions

· Next generation forward-looking infrared, or FLIR

· M-134 Gatling “miniguns” and M-240D machine guns for increased defensive firepower...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~     ><

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)

 

Night Stalkers Creed

Night Stalkers Don’t Quit!

"The Lord knows the way I take, and when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" JOB 23:10

~  ~

Night Stalker Prayer

Father of the heavens and the night; Stretch forth Your almighty arms to strengthen and protect us. Even as You gave Saint Michael, Your angelic warrior, power to do spiritual battle in the heavens, so give us power to command the darkened skies.

Guide and direct us in the defense of our country and in the maintenance of justice among the nations. Give us the courage to face all obstacles that might keep us from our time on target. Send Your holy Angels to protect the precious cargo which we carry; the elite Special Operations forces of the United States. Sustain us in the hour of danger with the knowledge of Your mercy and return us safely home.

Watch over our families when we can not. May Your presence give them comfort, and Your love lend them the courage to face each day, confident in the knowledge that You will never leave them nor forsake them. Protect them with Your unfailing mercy and grace. Grant that wherever we serve, we may be loyal to our proud heritage. Make us to choose the harder right over the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won. May we ever embody the principles upon which the Night Stalkers are founded and serve proudly with the memory of those who have gone before. Give us the courage to fight to win and the faith to die rather than quit. Because, Night Stalkers Don’t Quit!

Amen

http://www.nightstalkers.com