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 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:58:29 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Apache pilots from the 1st 'Attack' Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, stand next to one of the AH-64D Apaches they used to evacuate two downed helicopter pilots in Baghdad July 2. The pilots are (left to right): Chief Warrant Officer 3 Allan Davison, Tumwater, Wash.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Micah Johnson, Del Rio, Texas; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Seung Choi, Fairfax, Va.; and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Troy Moseley, Montgomery, Ala. That's a little cross-section of 'Murica... Air Cav Pilots Complete Daring Rescue By Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert 1st Air Cavalry Brigade,... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html Tue, 10 Jul 2007 07:14:21 -0600 Ok, good to know somebody was ahead of the game for a change. Kind a like "Flight of the Phoenix" - but in the real world. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html#comment-62126 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html#comment-62126 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:10:34 -0600 You wear a D Ring and a strap on your survival vest. There are several hand holds on the outside of the aircraft beside where one would sit on the EFAB to hook yourself into. Even though Micah was strapped in...he still held on, just like I would if I were out there. Good job all around! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html#comment-62123 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html#comment-62123 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:35:49 -0600 There is a harness system, but it's still one hella ride, and I'd be hanging on for dear life too- even with the straps. At 130mph, straps are nice but probably won't hold your entire body down as much as you'd like it to. *impatiently waiting for Bill to show up and describe the system* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html#comment-62118 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html#comment-62118 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:30:55 -0600 Critics, never happy with success.(shakes head) ;) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html#comment-62117 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html#comment-62117 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:26:45 -0600 Pardon me for sounding stupid here, but IF this sort of "hitchiking is something that is discussed during training, why doesn't somebody do a "Pappy Boyington" mod and put a couple of eyebolt/hooks on the fusalage next to where the poor slubs are expected to sit. And maybe the birds could carry a small harness like a repelling harness for them to slip into to and hook to the eyebolt. Just saying. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html#comment-62105 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/anybody_else_wo.html#comment-62105 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:54:22 -0600