We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:02:09 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 6. “Sir? The world’s biggest tracer just came offa Nui Coto an’ -- geez, it’s following us!” -- my introduction to the game of helicopter vs. heat-seeking missile. I won. Barely. Might’ve guessed you guys would pick one of the longer ones… We were playing the usual Nighthawk game of lone Huey annoying the neighbors and had just finished beating up some infiltrators with more guts than brains. We’d picked them up while they were still in Cambodia, then lazed around at 1,500 feet until they crossed the border and made the particularly foolish mistake of skirting a patch of... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html Mon, 23 May 2005 01:00:21 -0600 NOTR - No Thrust Reversers? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25278 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25278 Tue, 24 May 2005 23:58:00 -0600 That was close. My palms are sweating and I was doing the math. Okay, so I get into a story. *grumping around for chocolate chip cookies* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25253 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25253 Tue, 24 May 2005 14:09:53 -0600 NOTR? Now Oblivious To Reason? NO Training Required? Naval Officers Transend Reality? NOt True, Really? No Obvious Training Requirement? National Order of Terrestrial Rodents? Cheers JMH http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25244 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25244 Tue, 24 May 2005 09:01:06 -0600 I think the answer to the question of the SA-7 is irrelevant. All I can say is wow! and holy crap! What an incredible story. So, those xenon lights can get you all the time. But I'm glad you were able to make rapid decisions that overall led the SA-7 from being a successful heat seeker. One, so glad you're here to tell about it. Two, you explained this so well to a non aviator butterfly. And I understood it all. Great job! Thanks for sharing that Bill. Can't imagine the heart pounding you must've experienced. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25233 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25233 Mon, 23 May 2005 22:43:44 -0600 McCart- It might be a while before you get a good answer to that. Bill's trolling the beaches of Omaha and Normany for a while. However... He did put up a post a while back which explained that they often outfitted their own helo's with all sorts of lighting systems and weapons that didn't actually "come" with the chopper. All of those guys getting dinged for "savaging" vehicles in Iraq... well, Bill said they did the same thing during Vietnam. He had a picture up at one point of a Huey with a B-52 light array attached to it. Anyway... it's a good question! I hope Bill answers you when he gets back. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25225 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25225 Mon, 23 May 2005 18:26:59 -0600 This story suggests you & I may have been "in country" about the same time. I was Class 70-40. You from that time frame by chance? SA-7's sure changed things in III Corps. All of a sudden the 1500 foot enroute rule was out the window! By the way, U doing VHPA in SF this year? Tell ya what though...I will buy you a beer in DC next year. We are passing on support of the Frisco economy this time. v/r NOTR (betcha you are the only one who breaks the acronym NO T/R down...its attempt at av8tor humor!) Always enjoy looking at my little bird "that could" on the site main page! :) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25224 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25224 Mon, 23 May 2005 18:26:03 -0600 D*mn, Bill - What a close call! Once again your brain and reflexes prove amazing! Lucky for us :-) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25223 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25223 Mon, 23 May 2005 17:33:11 -0600 Out of curiosity, when were combat helicopters first outfitted with flares and or chaff? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25222 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25222 Mon, 23 May 2005 15:04:43 -0600 damn Bill.... You really put the GA's through a workout that night! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25216 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25216 Mon, 23 May 2005 12:55:05 -0600 I can vouch for how quickly a Huey can hit the deck. Bottom collective, nose over and kick the bitch outta trim. I never had a missile fired at me, but after it had happenend a few times in that AO, I recall we were told to up the volume on the Fox Mike and listen for a series of beeps. When we heard them to turn 90 degs and hit the deck. Night Hawk never had a dull moment. Ask Bill to tell you about Moc Hoa Mary or was it Sally? 29 out. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25215 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25215 Mon, 23 May 2005 12:20:25 -0600 I for one am glad that we are not going to have a winnie roast anytime soon. Mine hat doth doff on to you. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25200 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/tins_you_picked_it.html#comment-25200 Mon, 23 May 2005 08:29:31 -0600