…are usually, as Sam Clemens said after reading his own obituary, “greatly exaggerated.”
Over the past couple of years, I must’ve seen three or four articles each year reporting the Final Retirement of the UH-1H, usually worded to give a casual reader the impression that the unit doing the obligatory Photo-Op Flyby was the last unit flying the last Huey in the Army. After several months, another article from another unit reporting the Final Retirement of the UH-1H, again worded to give the impression that the unit doing the obligatory Photo-Op Flyby was the last unit etc., etc., etc., followed several months later by yet another article from yet another unit etc., etc., etc…
Kudos to the Hohenfels PAO – he got it right because he was *specific*.
When the Army fielded the UH-60 in ‘79, it projected the gradual retirement of the Huey (two ‘Hawks would replace three Hueys*) to be complete by -- *heh* -- 1994.
We all know how that worked out -- us old Hubert drivers have been snarking for decades that, when the last Black Hawk flew to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan, there’d be a Huey waiting to ferry the crew to the snack bar.
I drove past Fort Belvoir yesterday.
There was a Huey on left downwind for Runway 32 at Davison AAF…
__________________________________________________
*because the UH-60 is capable of carrying more passengers than the UH-1H, don'tcha know.
Theoretically.
With the restrictions DA put on the 'Hawk in the '90s, you can only load ten troops in it -- the same number a Huey normally carries.
Theoretically.
A loooooong time ago, I groaned my way out of one LZ -- in a Huey with a new, freshly-tweaked engine -- with 22 people on board...
Over the past couple of years, I must’ve seen three or four articles each year reporting the Final Retirement of the UH-1H, usually worded to give a casual reader the impression that the unit doing the obligatory Photo-Op Flyby was the last unit flying the last Huey in the Army. After several months, another article from another unit reporting the Final Retirement of the UH-1H, again worded to give the impression that the unit doing the obligatory Photo-Op Flyby was the last unit etc., etc., etc., followed several months later by yet another article from yet another unit etc., etc., etc…
Kudos to the Hohenfels PAO – he got it right because he was *specific*.
When the Army fielded the UH-60 in ‘79, it projected the gradual retirement of the Huey (two ‘Hawks would replace three Hueys*) to be complete by -- *heh* -- 1994.
We all know how that worked out -- us old Hubert drivers have been snarking for decades that, when the last Black Hawk flew to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan, there’d be a Huey waiting to ferry the crew to the snack bar.
I drove past Fort Belvoir yesterday.
There was a Huey on left downwind for Runway 32 at Davison AAF…
__________________________________________________
*because the UH-60 is capable of carrying more passengers than the UH-1H, don'tcha know.
Theoretically.
With the restrictions DA put on the 'Hawk in the '90s, you can only load ten troops in it -- the same number a Huey normally carries.
Theoretically.
A loooooong time ago, I groaned my way out of one LZ -- in a Huey with a new, freshly-tweaked engine -- with 22 people on board...
We were part of a chase crew for a Forbes balloon and the Vets looked at each other and then turned back to the noise. Not too many smiles but a lot of hugs of wives, kids and grandkids. And it was just the noise. Nobody ever forgets the noise.
Which is why all the two starts fight over the -47s.
When they've mothballed the last of the Hueys and the 'hawks, it'll be Chinooks lifting 'em around D-M.
But I'm old enough ('cuz I was an Army Brat) to remember Choctaws and the Flying Banana, too.
Oh - wait, not true. Rode in a Bubble at the Missouri state fair - back in the 70's!
Of course, my very mostest-favorite rotary beast was the Loach. The Hiller looked ungainly, but it'd turn on a dime and give you seven cents change -- the Loach would tell you to keep the dime, and then add a nickel to the pot...
Since my two buds weren't due back for ten minutes, it was either leave half of 'em to die or throw everybody on board and try to lumber outta Dodge.
I think I left 200 feet of skid marks dragging Hubert through the dirt before we got into translational lift...
A Vietnam Helicopter pilot is the reason I am alive today. My sons and daughters Thank you whoever you were.
Holograms are getting better these days, aren't they?
Cheers
There's an Ag spraying outfit near Haysville, NC still flying a Bell 47. They trailer it to the sites they are going to use it, but 'tis still perking away. The Hiller Killer and Bell Bubble were both gone when I got to Rucker. The TH-55 was the only trainer then. I hated the sound of the thing.
I don't clank when I walk...
Spit coffee all over my kybd, MAC and CAT!!!
Was walking accros the ramp at DM to take a ride at O'Dark hundred in 81/82 and first saw a pair Blackhawks. It was dark, and so none of knew what they were, I mean why would anybody put WHEELS on a heilcopter????
Jerry
There's something about going off to work, skimming over the treetops with your legs out, cooling in the breeze that's unforgettable. God's motorcycle.
Did that once when they shot my chin bubble out.
Unforgettable doesn't even begin to describe it...
Doing away with the sea-story embelishments; An Alpha Boat advsisor told of a Huey busting out of the mangrove across his bow near the mouth of the Ong Doc, altitude expressed as a fraction and loaded with VNs like the "A" Train at rush hour-there may or may not have been a pig involved...... ... _._