Deployment

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by cloasters

The Army flies rotary wing machines exclusively, ejecting from them is impossible.

Ever been in one that had to do an auto-rotation? THAT'S not fun, but it beats the daylights out of falling like a rock, which is what usually happens.

[cloasters]

They probably still fly a few fixed wing machines, C-12's come to mind. But the Mohawk surveillance twin turboprop was the only one with ejection seats, IIRC. I wonder if the Army graduated to OV-6's? Impressive birds they were. Yes, I've experienced autorotations--but not unexpected ones, thank goodness, I was a crew chief on UH-1H's.
Hold on, this thread's supposed to be about fantomfreq!

[Redroar]

If I have a reasonable amount of choice, I never get into a heli. I've seen way too many end up in tiny pieces.

[fantomfreq]

Originally Posted by cloasters

I hope that the crew of the bird that's now in pieces got away from the aircraft in time.

The photograph is simply of the remains of one of the unmanned aircraft that I work on. There wasn't really any danger to anybody; there was simply a mechanical failure and the operator put it down in a safe location. The only thing lost was about $600,000 of taxpayer dollars.

[PorPorMe]

Originally Posted by Redroar

If I have a reasonable amount of choice, I never get into a heli. I've seen way too many end up in tiny pieces.

My father, who has been a pilot since he was in the Navy in WWll, told me something about helo's that I've always remembered. He said you can go to any airport in the country and you'll find many old fixed wing aircraft. You won't find any old helo's.
I think I remember him saying it because it took all of 30 seconds for me to pan through the many airports I had been to and he was right. There are no old helos, except for the military.
I never did fly in a helo agian.

[danrok]

I think some choppers are very safe, such as those used by coast guards. I think it comes down to the age of the plane, and the owners willingness to keep on spending large sums of money on maintenance.

Tourist ones are best avoided.

[cloasters]

Thanks for checking in, FF! Glad to hear from you!

[Daniel ~]

A quoate from a song I was listening to as I read this thread:

"Like smoke, beyond all repair.."

Now, is that a great simile or what!? ":O}

[fantomfreq]

I've got a picture of what it looks like when a sandstorm rolls in. The white balance is correct in this photograph; everything really looks that orange. It's more like a fog that rolls in than anything else.

[danrok]

Looks like something out of the movie Dune!

[Daniel ~]

Or butterscotch some thing... How good are your shelters when the sand gets up and comes after you?

[cloasters]

Wow, it looks like LA's smog was exported in concentrated form. Sorta. Is this called a Simoom or Haboob?

[cloasters]

Originally Posted by Daniel ~

Or butterscotch some thing... How good are your shelters when the sand gets up and comes after you?

Guessing from the standard of standards of many years ago..I honestly don't know. Perhaps aircraft are well protected, dunno about people?

[Daniel ~]

Scary when you think this could be the future of the American Heartlands...

[cloasters]

Hoo boy, another Dust Bowl? That would go well with our not-Recession. How you getting along, FF?

[fantomfreq]

I'm doing well. Nothing much has been going on, with the exception of a few minor incidents. Spending more time at the gym than I ever have in my life, partially because there's not really a whole lot to do.

Just today I realized that I miss the states, though. I was looking through an issue of Backpacker magazine that I picked up in the store, which has some really nice photographs of their locations. The color palate here spans from brown to tan, and I kind of miss the greens and wild colors of fall from home. Not only that, but the only wildlife we've got here are birds and bugs (with the occasional mouse). I'll have to plan some kind of hiking trip for when I get home.

[Daniel ~]

Dude! You like greens!? Stop off in Seattle on your way home and I'll show you some greens! ":O}

Good your staying fit and keeping busy at the same time! Be well and please check in as often as you might! ":O}

[cloasters]

It's great to read that you're keeping your excrement together and doing well! I've noticed that many flags of Arab nations prominently feature the color green. I'm glad that your MOS helps you keep your comrades alive! A meaningless job is much harder to take day after day. Be well, and thank you for taking on such a rough responsibility in our stead!

[PorPorMe]

Originally Posted by cloasters

Be well, and thank you for taking on such a rough responsibility in our stead!

I'll add a great big sloppy full on kiss to that!

[dsio]

Originally Posted by PorPorMe

I'll add a great big sloppy full on kiss to that!

That'll cure his homesickness right there.