Aviation BS and Photo Thread

100% agree. Apaches are ugly, bulky and not at all cool looking. Cobras, especially the original single engine ones, are way cooler.

 

Single engines cobras are gorgeous. The Z models always look puffy to me though.

And they look absurd with sidewinders on the end pylons.

 

...^^^... Looks like they are operating off a LPH with a BLT ? ... (( Do they still call them a LPH? with a BLT and MEU ? ))

Been there and done that gig in the South China Sea ... was OK until the sea got rough with fog and rain ...

 

Yes we were the MEU that has a BLT on board. We were operating off of an LHD I believe the LPH's are the smaller ships in the group. I never really paid attention to what they were called. But some of the pictures where taken on departure from the ship into Afghanistan for Operation Anaconda, Some are from Operations over Iraq and some are land based in Iraq.

 

I will take a Cobra over an Apache any day. From my experience the Apaches are maintenance heavy and the Cobra is more reliable.

 

Maintenance heavy for sure but I don’t know if the SuperCobras and especially the Vipers are any better off in that regard. Though it might take more maintenance the Apache is a better option in a convention war. Fighting dudes in Toyota’s they’re both equally capable.

 

...^^^... We operated as a BLT ... LPD Duluth (ship with landing craft for beach landings) and LPH Okinawa (looks like a mini carrier with helicopters on it for air assault troop transport and gun ships). The 2 ships were consider the BLT (complete battalion). I did CAS off the LPH and we would kinda act like the "911" in northern sections of RVN (DaNang to the DMZ).

It was a tough job for the grunts because they had only a poncho as shelter and an air/land assault operation could last 4-21 days (no showers and only cold C-Rats). The grunts were always going into a hot area and had to be constantly resupplied with ammo and food. Most of the time, water was too heavy to fly in and they got water where they could (no bottled water in those days). The helicopter pilots were really flying by the seat of their pants with limited electronics back then and lots of low level flying even in fog and rain. Really a different kind of war than the Middle East.

Thats seems like a different life now and I haven't thought about it in years.

 

Me in the Aft belly of 747 cargo aircraft

 

St. Elmo’s Fire this morning, and nice view of downtown SF yesterday.

 

Wish i had photos of what i did in Kuwait over the past 11 months.

 

Sweating and questioning your life choices?

 

Na it was an experience not an adventure like others thought. Im sad im not with my friends, but happy to be stateside with my family.
Heat didnt bother me as much as other thought, i was more worried about staying hydrated. Constant battle staying hydrated while i was there for 11 months.

Actually enjoyed my time and job, disliked Kuwait as a country.
Come 28 December ill be unemployed again. But I am in a better state of mind, body and health after 11 months.

 

Thank you for your service.

 

I was not in military, just supporting the military. I should be thanking you.

 

Naw, there’s several options before ANC. Cold Bay is nice and several other options before Dillingham, King Salmon, and Kodiak. Still pretty far apart regardless. Been on plenty of weather diversions that were 1+ hours.

 

I’ve flown a 152 with two up into there. Don’t recommend it.

Shutdown VBT with a flat after leaving trigger gap in a 172. Figure I must have got a rock on takeoff.

 

Folks supporting the military are important too. The military machine could not function without civilians.

 

Ah that’s no fun!

 

Christmas Eve in Aspen