Times seventy-two.
Which will give you the number of brand-new *fully*-qualified rotary-wing aviators the Flight Training School produced since January '09. Add twelve more who completed the instrument flight phase, twelve more who received the full block of academic instruction, forty-four "legacy" pilots I taught real-world IMC Survival Skills to, twelve former Mi-8/Mi-17/Mi-24 pilots we transitioned into the Huey II, and one trained-to-US-standards Instructor Pilot, and I call that a pretty decent start at creating a new fling-wing fighting force from scratch.
Ahhh -- ya say ya wanna see some of the results? My friends, you're in luck. For today, and today only* -- and because I like ya, and because John's bandwidth budget ain't nearly blown through the blogwall (yet) -- Denizennes and Denizens, Visitors and Lurkers, please allow me to present to ya just a small portion of the tactical exercise we put the kay-dets through as a requirement for final graduation.
I give you -- the Canyon Run!
The starched-wing drivers among you may now commence to either blubber inconsolably or mumble incoherently that that wasn't real flying because nobody went chumming for birds.
In the immortal (immoral?) words of DocLady Sly -- *snnnnnnnnnnnnicker*.
*unless you happen to drop in any time after today, of course...
Which will give you the number of brand-new *fully*-qualified rotary-wing aviators the Flight Training School produced since January '09. Add twelve more who completed the instrument flight phase, twelve more who received the full block of academic instruction, forty-four "legacy" pilots I taught real-world IMC Survival Skills to, twelve former Mi-8/Mi-17/Mi-24 pilots we transitioned into the Huey II, and one trained-to-US-standards Instructor Pilot, and I call that a pretty decent start at creating a new fling-wing fighting force from scratch.
Ahhh -- ya say ya wanna see some of the results? My friends, you're in luck. For today, and today only* -- and because I like ya, and because John's bandwidth budget ain't nearly blown through the blogwall (yet) -- Denizennes and Denizens, Visitors and Lurkers, please allow me to present to ya just a small portion of the tactical exercise we put the kay-dets through as a requirement for final graduation.
I give you -- the Canyon Run!
The starched-wing drivers among you may now commence to either blubber inconsolably or mumble incoherently that that wasn't real flying because nobody went chumming for birds.
In the immortal (immoral?) words of DocLady Sly -- *snnnnnnnnnnnnicker*.
*unless you happen to drop in any time after today, of course...
wait for it...
I-rock!
Cass calls me a *reprobate*...which makes no sense, 'cause I ain't been to jail in a loooonnnngggg time now.
And wikked kewl vid, Mr. DeBille! I wanna ride in the whirly bird machine!!
*stomps feet, watches high tops light up, stomps feet again.....*
0>:~}
Well, in deference to Dusty, he *could* have made that run faster.
Just not as deep into the canyon.
Or as close to the walls.
Or as close to the floor.
And watching him attempt a 120-foot OGE hover to peek past the rim of the butte would have provided an amusing several seconds...
That's way too much fun to be a job.
Note that the writers specified we could only engage the aliens with F-18s, so they'd appear more menacing to civilian theatergoers.
Also note that the F-18s were flown by starched-wing drivers...
Ok, now that I have that out of my system, thanks for the vid. A lot more tree's and a couple of 50 pits, and I'd have felt right at home.
Yup. The Loach is the only aircraft I've ever flown that would give you a nose-level 360 at a 90-degree bank and not lose more than a few feet of altitude. Aerodynamically improbable, but it did it.
*saunters off humming "Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)"...
*saunters off humming "Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)"...
I think I'll leave that right where I found it...
I think we could combine the two. I always wanted to fly with a beer in my hand. In my underwear. Just to say I did it.
Both the video and the 72 deeds.... Training 72 helo pilots.... Not to dirty :)
I did get to ride in a Huey out of Davis-Monthan with the doors off, once we were in the mountains, very seldom saw blue sky out the doors, just rock face. Would love to do that in an A10...
Thanks for posting the video
Jerry
Oh man... that was SWEET!!!!!!
Love the music selection, too. All season long, I told Kevin that was the song to keep in mind while crushing his opponent on the football field... and they went on to win the Super Bowl.
Outstanding, Twin!
(did anyone else have visions of Luke Skywalker, going in for the final shot that destroyed the Death Star?? "Use the Force, Luke... Use the Force!")
Oh, Sly -- there's a line for those helo rides. Right behind me :-) Been waitin' for a bit now ... heh.
@Bill, as I watched your video, I was thinking of the concept of of aerial dogfights, flying at a safe altitude, all below sea level. There are places that it can be done.
Welcome home.
I can wait. I had more than my fair share of helichopper rides in my previous life, compliments of the USFS. I can keep myself *entertained* in the meantime.
*stomps feet, watches high tops light up, takes a drink of beer, stomps feet, watches high tops light up, takes a drink of beer, stomps feet.....*
0>;~}
Welcome back! Well done! That looked like something I could try to do. Not fly, of course, but ride along. Impressive set of skillz you taught, Chief.
Congratulations, Bill, you've done far beyond very good! You can't be prouder of them than we are of you.
(One of my great regrets is that ended up with epilepsy instead of a pilot's license.)
and what Grumpy said :o)
Yeah, I'm back -- and halfway through Volume One of the Honeydew List.
*trudging off with toolbox in right hand and stepladder in left one*
There is only one real problem in what I wrote, BillT knows what the word, “SIR” means.
@htom,I have a better understanding of the “epilepsy”, then I would like. You just might want to explore it and what caused it. Whatever you do, take care. Good luck!
Welcome home
Jerry
This ain't nuttin like AP Hill. There's no trees!!!!!
Glad you guys are reliving your youth again!