Post by Husky23 on Jun 27, 2005 18:15:59 GMT -8
A retired Engr Col I worked with at the USACHPPM spoke highly of the most spectacular thing he ever saw. While in Vietnam, some 155 piece breeched with a round and had to be evacuated for repair. They had it under a CH54 at about 2000 ft when a strap broke. Vern would always laugh as he described the piece falling, falling, falling, and sticking barrel first 8 foot into a rice paddy.
I posted this little anecdote on Mikes board a good while back - I'm not sure if you ever saw it. I imagine they were all getting tired of me posting these. It's along the same lines as your Engineer full birds story. little stories.
Anecdotal Times I
Army Training is Priceless
Ya, so it’s like 1987 or 88, but I’m thinking 87. Yakima Firing Center, Washington (which by the way, is a balls of a place to fly with three mountain ridges and some deep canyons to zing around in) - Our unit has been assigned to validate the external load capabilities/limitations/and procedures for the Army HUMMVW (Hummer) that is beginning to show up in units. So here we are, our flight of six UH-60 (Alfa) models, three disk separation in a staggered formation, heavy as shit slinging this 8000lb truck under us, 50 ft above the high desert and milking power and airspeed to clear the ridgelines. We are enroute to our LZ on the sloping plains of the north ridgeline - LZ in sight, tighten the formation up, complete the before landing checks, line up for a landing into the wind as best as possible (which was fortunately parallel to the ridgeline). All is going well, near picture perfect procedures, no real issues discovered, except vigilance on power management will be required on short final because how heavy this freaking truck is.
Approach to a 5-foot hover, the aircraft groans and both turbine engines are screaming - then very slowly straight down.
“Load on the ground – continue down - slack in the sling.”
“Clear to release load” – I press the cargo hook release button on the stick - Click
“Load released”
“Copy, load released …clear the load?”
“Clear sir.”
Ahhh, about time to get that heavy hunk of shit out from underneath me – now I’m a slick Hawk again, with power galore – yum yum.
All our birds are hovering in formation looks like chalk two has a problem releasing their load. My flight engineer gives me a holler;
“Ahhhhh…Sir, the hummer is rolling.”
“Say what?”
As I maneuver the helicopter so I can take a look; “Really? Doesn’t the external load manual say the supported unit supposed to put the parking brake on?”
“Yes sir.”
The Hummer begins rolling driver free at a walking pace, down the gentle slope. I call out of formation on company internal FOX-MIKE, then slide out of formation and hover sideways with the hummer as it picks up speed keeping my nose pointed at the vehicle. Hmmmm, I’m thinking this thing ain’t gunna stop. I glance to my right and begin chuckling, thinking this rig is going into this canyon about a half mile to my right– this fucker is gunna go right over the edge! I depart the Hummer and dash to the edge of the ridge – Ummm yeppers, near vertical drop of 1000 feet. I look back to the Hummer – it is really hauling ass now, maybe 45-50 MPH, bouncing left and right, front end coming into the air some.
I trace a visual line of where I think it will launch over the ridge and maneuver my bird for the best viewing. Damn I need some popcorn – this is gunna be cool.
Sure enough, one brand spanking new $50,000 Hummer, over the edge.
“Whoa! - just like in the movies.”
Over on its back it went like in slow motion to the base of the canyon.
I can barely fly – I’m laughing my ass off.
Good ole Army training – this shit is priceless.
