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Well, I just flew my last day flight in the workhorse and beloved machine which changed aviation, the way helicopters are viewed, utilized and respected worlwide.

As of 24 Sep. the Army is divesting itself of all Huey interests, at least at Rucker, and putting them in moth balls.

This is a hush hush topic and is not being publicized anywhere but it is what it is.

Just thought I would share with all that a piece of Americas history is being put to sleep......quietly.

Tomorrow I get my 2nd to last night flight and Thur. is it, she's gone.

CD

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 8:03 pm Post subject:

I know how you feel, especially if that is the first helicopter you flew with... Rolling Eyes

What are they replacing it with?

*Maxell*

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:24 pm Post subject:

I know how you feel man. I entered the Army as a tanker on the M60 MBT, one helluva machine, although it's replacement (M1 Abrams) was the baddest tank in the world, I sure hated to see the M60 go.

The Huey has certainly earned it's place in military and aviation history, definately my favorite helo.

My first flight in a Huey was on our CG's bird leaving PLDC from Fort Benning going back home to Redstone *beep*, AL.

(The beep above is covering the remainder of the name of the army base...not a bad word.)

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 1:32 am Post subject:

Here's the "BRILLIANT" part of the Army, now they are looking for an "off the shelf" aircraft to replace the Huey. A light-medium utility A/C to replace this beautiful fully functional machine because the Hawk is too much some places and not enough at others when compared to the Huey.

Absolutely brilliant...aren't they?

BTW now I get stuck flying that POC instead of the Horse

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:31 am Post subject: Now I am going to cry....

What a testament to the toymen at the top! It would have been relatively cheap to retool, lighten, modernize the mast and blades and upgrade the powerplant, but nooooooooooooo, we want a new toy! It is incredible how style over substance has invaded our military decision makers, but seeing what is being taught to our younger generation I am not very surprised. I guess they didnt "feeeeeeeel" that the Iriquois was representative of our modern military fighting machine. Okay, rant over.

As for an off the shelf replacement, about the only thing out there I can think of that there are still prduction facilities for is the JetRanger, while capable they have some payload and durability issues that might preclude them from choice. We have seen what happened with Buck Rogers' chopper ( the Comanche). They wasted billions on that boondoggle. Good research, however it doesnt address real world needs. I mean stealth is fine to a point, but when you're the baddest military machine on the planet why cant they all be red, white and blue with flames and pinstripes? I am the first to admit that a camo paint job looks cool, but does anybody really think that makes them invisible? Better to use the "zebra" method and confuse the eye to make targeting more difficult, the German navy experimented with this effect in WW2 with some success.

I will close with this thought: Tactical nuclear device. Twisted Evil

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 12:50 pm Post subject:

Sad to hear about the Huey...my first memory of choppers was the UH and the sheer enormity of its role in the Vietnam conflict was tremendous... I remember seeing this video where a lot of these fine machines were literally dropped off ships to bury themselves in the deep blue sea just because US was then facing the problem of plenty at the end of teh conflict.. still makes me sad!

But GS you gotta agree that the camo job, although not really so useful on a heli, what with all that noise and low speeds, still is something all defense pilots and crews would insist upon. Considering the fact that a single life saved owing to a good camo job is worth the expense, effort and design..

BTW, why would anyone spend over a billion on a machine like the comanche when the primary purpose of an attack chopper would be to blow up tanks and troops (fat chance that they are ALL gonna be equipped with state-of-the-art radars...esp in places like Iraq and Afghanistan!)? Wont the F117's take care of the installations?!

All the best CD with your new mean (!) machines...hope u enjoy the glass cockpit and seatbelt warnings!

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 7:57 pm Post subject:

Its not so much the vehicles I would think, but SAM sites and other early radar detection systems. Not sure though.

Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 1:28 am Post subject: Just a little clarification,

The reason the birds were dumped overboard so unceremoniously was due to lack of deck space and the need to clear the deck for more incoming aircraft during the evacuation/pullout. Also, I reiterate: Tactical nuclear device Twisted Evil