Helicopter Warfre - Heros All...

[shropshire 0]

There's a great T.V documentary on in the U.K - Helicopter Warfare.

Last week they covered the lads in the Falklands war, who flew and saved an SAS troop in a snow storm - Amazing

But todays was incredible, During the Vietnam war, a couple of Hueys flew into danger multiple times and saved over a hundred soldiers (against orders!!) by 'Weed Wacking' their way into a battle.. Stunning stunning blokes

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[ryoder 1,590]

I had to find out what you meant about the "Weed Wacking":

http://www.sidereel.com/Helicopter_Warfare

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Vietnam War veterans recall one of their most traumatic missions when they had to fly deep into enemy territory to rescue more than 100 American soldiers who had been ambushed and were outnumbered six to one. Armed with a single machine gun and with nowhere to land, they had to use their helicopters' rotor blades to cut through 40ft-high bamboo and accomplish the mission.

Holy shit! Is there film footage of them doing that?

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[shropshire 0]

I believe that they were a touch bussy at the time, so weren't able to take any piccies..... what with the bullets and bamboo flying around them

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[ryoder 1,590]

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I believe that they were a touch bussy at the time, so weren't able to take any piccies..... what with the bullets and bamboo flying around them

You're telling there wasn't even one free-flyer on any of the choppers?

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[shropshire 0]

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[SARLDO 0]

Early in my military career, I had the opportunity to fly with some old school Huey pilots who could do things with that aircraft that just absolutely amazed me. They know what that aircraft was going to do before it did. Of course, flying around for hours on end lent to hearing some pretty amazing stories too. Much respect here.

"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest" ~Samuel Clemens

MB#4300
Dudeist Skydiver #68

[riggerrob 643]

"Weed whacking" was invented by Huey pilots in Viet Nam. It involves deliberately cutting foliage with main rotor blades. Usually restricted to desperate medevacs.
Back at base, techs give you dirty looks as they replace rotor blades.
Try that with a tail rotor and you die a dishonorable death.
Try that with any earlier model of helicopter and you die a dishonorable death.

[greybeard 0]

Heros? Yes Sir, HEROS!

[greybeard 0]

And with the new 'penetrator chair' lives were saved.

[monkycndo 0]

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And with the new 'penetrator chair' lives were saved.

I had the privilege of talking to a PJ that had a few rides on the chair. From the stories he told, that guy must of had a BIG set of brass ones.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[diablopilot 2]

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"Weed whacking" was invented by Huey pilots in Viet Nam. It involves deliberately cutting foliage with main rotor blades. Usually restricted to desperate medevacs.
Back at base, techs give you dirty looks as they replace rotor blades.
Try that with a tail rotor and you die a dishonorable death.
Try that with any earlier model of helicopter and you die a dishonorable death.

There was a huge amount of inertial energy in those rotor blades, I believe they had 42 lbs weights in the tips. One of the things that makes an engine out so survivable in that craft. The lack of them makes an auto rotation in a Robbie a dicey thing.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[JohnMitchell 16]

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Early in my military career, I had the opportunity to fly with some old school Huey pilots who could do things with that aircraft that just absolutely amazed me.

It was no coincidence that after the Vietnam war, some of the helicopter stunts in movies were insanely amazing. There were some pilots coming home that had done it all. I had the pleasure to work for years with a couple of those guys. Heroic is barely enough praise for what they did.