Heavy Metal (of the rotary kind)

[BigIron]

We had a -53 come out to the Lincoln when I was in the Gulf. The thing turned on the flight deck for what seemed like a couple of hours. That damn thing pretty much shook the whole damned ship. It was incredible how much power is coming off of those rotors.

One of the pilots was a brunette girl that was SMOKING hot. I'm not talking about "I've-been-on-this-boat-for-seven-months-and-the-last-two-ports-I've-been-to-were-both-Bahrain-and-that-was-three-months-ago" hot, but really hot. She was eating in the downstairs wardroom and I think the whole airwing was just sitting in the wardroom for no particular reason.

Can't always guarantee there will be hot pilots that come with the airframe.

 

[HeloBubba]

They might be gone now, but HM-16 provided the helos for the rescue attempt of American hostages in Iran on 24 April 1980. Picture from the USS Nimitz 1979-1980 cruisebook.

D models. You gotta read the book about the planning/events for this SAR effort. Lots of things done right, just a couple more things done wrong. I was surprised to learn that the pentagon started planning that rescue the day after those folks were taken hostage. Took 'em a year to work it up. Too bad it turned into a clusterfuck.

If you are wondering why I am not providing the title of the book it is because I can't remember it at this moment. I am sure someone else will come along and provide it. If not, I'll do so when I get home.

 

[Boomhower]

Can't always guarantee there will be hot pilots that come with the airframe.

Your airframe is not unique in that respect, I assure you.

 

[BigIron]

Local article on HM-15's arrival in Norfolk.....

 

[HeyJoe]

D models. You gotta read the book about the planning/events for this SAR effort. Lots of things done right, just a couple more things done wrong. I was surprised to learn that the pentagon started planning that rescue the day after those folks were taken hostage. Took 'em a year to work it up. Too bad it turned into a clusterfuck.

If you are wondering why I am not providing the title of the book it is because I can't remember it at this moment. I am sure someone else will come along and provide it. If not, I'll do so when I get home.

Is this the book you're thinking about?

PS - I wouldn't characterize this Hostage Rescue as a "SAR" effort. As to things gone wrong, it did serve as a defining moment in transformation of how US organizes, mans, trains, equips, plans and executes Joint Special Operations so the lives lost and overall disappointment had far reaching and significant benefical effects that are with us even today.

 

[FlyinSpy]

They might be gone now, but HM-16 provided the helos for the rescue attempt of American hostages in Iran on 24 April 1980. Picture from the USS Nimitz 1979-1980 cruisebook.

Out of curiosity, what did HM-16 do when they didn't get any of their helos back? They gave up 8, which I assume was a decent fraction of whatever they had assigned. Did they just cross-level from across the whole fleet, buy new ones, or just sit around their ready room and make helicopter noises? I've done a lot of reading about EAGLE CLAW, but can't recall ever hearing this aspect addressed.

 

[BigIron]

Out of curiosity, what did HM-16 do when they didn't get any of their helos back? They gave up 8, which I assume was a decent fraction of whatever they had assigned. Did they just cross-level from across the whole fleet, buy new ones, or just sit around their ready room and make helicopter noises? I've done a lot of reading about EAGLE CLAW, but can't recall ever hearing this aspect addressed.

Don't know what they did. I know enough ancient 53 guys, so I'll find out. HM-16 didn't decomm until 1987, so they stretched it out somehow.

Iran did take a few of those 53s left behind. Here's a pic.....

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Iran...1545240/&sid=a906e2c4291c97c540a12113a9711f71

 

[BACONATOR]

Not going to lie. Had the duty stations for the 53 been better, and the future of the airframe not so vague/unknown, I'd have actually wanted to select it. It's a BEAST and looks like fun to fly.

 

[BigIron]

.....It's a BEAST and looks like fun to fly.

Speaking of BEAST, look at the K model features......It's a Big'n.

 

[BACONATOR]

Speaking of BEAST, look at the K model features......It's a Big'n.

You can't argue with a helo that has a service ceiling of almost 15K feet, gross weight of 74K pounds and 18K+ SHP... unreal.

 

[insanebikerboy]

When I went through, selecting 53's could be tough. Even if you did want it didn't mean you'd get a slot, and the slots that did come up were pretty competitive.

 

[BACONATOR]

When I went through, selecting 53's could be tough. Even if you did want it didn't mean you'd get a slot, and the slots that did come up were pretty competitive.

There were 2 53 slots my week and also a few in the weeks prior. The guys who got those slots had 53s a higher choice than I had the slot I got.

 

[insanebikerboy]

There were 2 53 slots my week and also a few in the weeks prior. The guys who got those slots had 53s a higher choice than I had the slot I got.

Just goes to show the essence of timing. I think there was 1 slot over the span of two months around my winging time.

 

[squorch2]

That's a BIG bitch. Can a small boy handle a -53? I see that it's on an LSD in one of the pics, but LSDs have a pretty nice sized deck to land on.

Not quite a small boy, but here's the deck of T-AOE 6, the Supply...

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan-Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 8 attach an M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer to a CH-53E Super Stallion at the helicopter landing zone here. The Marines transported three howitzers over 75 miles to support 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment's operations in neighboring Nimruz province., Sgt. Christopher R. Rye, 9/28/2009 2:22 AM