I swear I was just grilling steaks (NGC & Pics)

[Gliderjohn]

This pair flew by this evening while I was grilling some sirloin. Usually it is Blackhawks but tonight it is Chinooks.






GliderJohn

[Guzzistajohn]

I live a couple of miles from the 1107th AVCRAD it's like the mr good wrench for Blackhawks  pretty common here

[Spuddy]

No markings... are we sure the UN isn't taking over?

Spud

[ITSec]

What can you say about a helicopter designed in the late 1950s - and that can't fly without a flight engineer to keep those weird mechanicals in motion? And that went into production in 1961 and is still being made?

The Chinook is the helicopter equivalent of the DC-3...

[ken farr]

What can you say about a helicopter designed in the late 1950s - and that can't fly without a flight engineer to keep those weird mechanicals in motion? And that went into production in 1961 and is still being made?

The Chinook is the helicopter equivalent of the DC-3...

C-47 - CH-47.....hmmmm...


kjf

[rocker59]

No markings... are we sure the UN isn't taking over?

Spud

Subdued US Army markings visible if you zoom in.

[beetle]

We had a couple of Chinook's buzzing our place on Saturday. Appeared similarly unmarked, but no doubt close observation would have revealed subdued ADF markings.

[Gliderjohn]

It is amazing the life span of some aircraft models and the short span of some others. For being an aviation buff I live in a great area for observing all kinds of aircraft. Everything from antique biplanes to B-2 stealth bombers.
GliderJohn

[Tobit]

Ten years ago I lived about 2 miles from the end of the runway at a local Naval Air Station.  The Missouri Air National Guard would fly in for touch-n-go practice.  Pretty cool.  I saw a lot of different aircraft from the worms eye view.  The most impressive by far was one that was heard long before it flew over the house.  The C-5 Galaxy.  The engines had the greatest mechanical shriek which was a signal for the neighborhood of retired military personnel to stand outside and watch.  The sound of freedom.

Fantastic looking up into the wheel wells of that massive aircraft as it lumbered by a couple hundred feet over the house.  The C-130s were like mosquitoes in contrast.

Tobit

[Thunderbutt]

"No markings"?  Must be Black-Ops preparing for the suspender snapping Guzzi Invasion

[trippah]

Westover Air Base in Chicopee Mass is home to C-5.  Seeing them as they lift above the trees or line up over the Mass Pike for their descent is amazing.  They are going so slow, and are so big you think they are just going to fall out of the sky.

[cruzziguzzi]

CH-47s... I love 'em.

A fella says he's coming to get ya in a Shithook... He's coming to get ya!

None of that mystical whirlybird nonsense of bus-burnouts, nebulous fluid leaks (if it ain't leaking on a Chinook - then you worry!) or anomalous vibrations causing a turn around. If there aren't contrasting and conflicting vibrations in a Chinook you start to think about the load's momentum in a crash.

47s and 53s... gotta love 'em both!

Old, completely known and demanding of a certain degree of love and respect by their crews and BOTH, bring a lot of guns along for the warm and happy landings.

Still though, a Huey in it's element is the pooh! And if the Marines are flying it, better still as they're nuts and have an extra engine.



Todd.

[Stormtruck2]

Love the CH 46 and RH 53.  ESO and the rotor wash off a 53 is something to behold. Especially if you just told the pilot to pull his head from his ass, and he comes in hot and flairs hard.  Will roll your skinny ass a long ways. Don't ask how I know. Still the sweetest sound is UH-1coming in to a hot LZ you pull your ass out.

[dguzzi]

No steak pictures?

[Gliderjohn]

Quote from dguzzi:

No steak pictures?

They disappeared to quickly. Our first fresh asparagus of the year and garlic mashed potatoes rounded out a great dinner.
GliderJohn

[Roebling3]

I smoked pork ribs, grilled asparagus and sweet pepper halves filled with mashed sweet potatoes and chopped grilled bacon.
Sunshine all the way 'round.  Accompanied by a quick westbound MV Agusta.R3~ 

[oldbike54]

 Nope , no how no way am I flying in a helicopter , they aren't supposed to fly  Served with an old Warrant officer that was probably in the first group of chopper pilots . At a mission briefing an LT stated this trip out was a simple and safe trip out , the old Warrant said , "LT , have you ever flown in an effin helicopter , it ain't never simple and safe" 

 Dusty

[pete mcgee]

Having spent 6 years as a flight fitter on uh1h's in the Australian airforce, helicopters were never boring.
The Chinook, just keeps getting better.
The only thing in common with the early models is the shape.
Everything else has been modernised and strengthened.
Faster, better performance at altitude and can sling more than twice the weight of the C model. Engines, blades, gearboxs and the SAS system all improved and a lot more reliable than they were when first released.
They are weird to fly in, 2 million bits in close formation is an apt description.

[beetle]

Nope , no how no way am I flying in a helicopter , they aren't supposed to fly 

I'm looking forward to my first ride in a helicopter in August. Woohoo!   

[oldbike54]

I'm looking forward to my first ride in a helicopter in August. Woohoo!   

 Oh , I took few helicopter rides in the early 70's , even now when a military chopper flies over it causes a wave of nausea  Have fun Mark , just make sure the Jesus nut is good and tight .

 Dusty

[pete mcgee]

Iroquois UH1H Jesus nut torque 520 to 780 ft lbs.
Go to 520 and creep it up until the locking segment fits in usually around the 600 to 650 ft lbs or until your pooper valve failed. We didnt have torque multipliers just a 6 ft long torque wrench that weighed 60 lbs.
No wonder both my shoulders are stuffed, I used to be able to torque them up on my own.
Oh and helicopters dont fly, they beat the air into submission

[Cool Runnings]

No markings... are we sure the UN isn't taking over?

Spud

Actually the UN has taken over. This year we have seen foreign troops on America soil (not sayin' anymore). 

[cruzziguzzi]

Nope , no how no way am I flying in a helicopter , they aren't supposed to fly 
Dusty

The first several-few times I even got into a helicopter, I was wearing a parachute and settled back to Earth autonomously, with due forbearance to winds and not a few trees.
The first time I made it back to the turn-in point, I had to ask my Team Sergeant: "Is that thing OK?"

It was worse the first time I actually landed in one. All that shaking and stuttering and me not having a parachute was a mite unsettling.

I sure did learn to love them and eventually developed a difficulty even staying awake in one... a good one.

Every now and again, Mike Dillon's - Dillon Aero Huey which he uses for toting and testing min-guns will clatter-slap over our house. A mini-thrill every single time!


Todd.

[oldbike54]

The first several-few times I even got into a helicopter, I was wearing a parachute and settled back to Earth autonomously, with due forbearance to winds and not a few trees.
The first time I made it back to the turn-in point, I had to ask my Team Sergeant: "Is that thing OK?"

It was worse the first time I actually landed in one. All that shaking and stuttering and me not having a parachute was a mite unsettling.

I sure did learn to love them and eventually developed a difficulty even staying awake in one... a good one.





Every now and again, Mike Dillon's - Dillon Aero Huey which he uses for toting and testing min-guns
will clatter-slap over our house. A mini-thrill every single time!




Todd.
[/quo
te]

 You mean they will actually land 

  Dusty

[Nic in Western NYS]

Small plane - engine dies in flight, you find some long flat area and glide down.  Helicopter - engine dies in flight....

Imagine if when you lose power with your motorcycle (like when my clutch went, or when I broke a throttle cable) you don't glide to safety at the side of the road (plane-like) but rather you automatically crash into a bridge abutment at 100 mph.

Choppers seem pretty unforgiving to this casual observer.

[Gliderjohn]

The auto-rotate option is helicopter gliding, just a very poor glider ratio! About two years ago a medvac chopper did a auto rotate emergency landing onto a wheat field a mile west of my house after engine failure on a check flight after some maintenance work. Both occupants had minor injuries when it went over on it's side. Seems like several Nam vets that I know all don't care for anymore helicopter rides.
GliderJohn

[John A]

Ten thousand moving parts that all hate each other.....

[Stormtruck2]

Helicopters don't fly.  They are so ugly that the earth repels them.  Flown in many, crashed in three,  no more flying in helos for me.

[stormshearon]

Oh heck, flying in them is not so bad. Flying in one out to a DLG in moderate seas (no helo pad) and getting winched down to said DLG (no helo pad) an d retreived from said DLG several days later - now that's entertaining 

DLG - small, guided missile destroyer, '70's era Navy, no helo pad, so you get to winch down to the deck just forward of the stern while the SH-3 pilot hovers just clearing the radio mast with the rotors by a foot or two.

[Stormtruck2]

You want fun with a helo?  Try a SPIE rig out.  For fixed wing fun ride a Fulton  rig with a C-130. Yeehaw!