Argentina

[E5B]

About a month ago my Squadron got the call to support POTUS (and entourage) down in Mar De Plata Argentina for the Summit of the Americas. We broke down 4 CH-53E's for embark onto C-17s for the 12 hour flight (non stop) to Argentina.

Here is a pic of the 53 loaded up and in flight

I rode up in the cockpit with the Pilots. It was interesting watching them do night AR from a KC-135 from the cockpit.

Here is picture of the offload

(C-17 giving birth to an 'ugly' baby)

Here's our Main Gear Box which weights about 10K

Here's Mar De Plata from the top floor of our Hotel, notice all the Law Enforcement in riot gear waiting for a breach in the line:

Random Church in Argentina:

Sikorsky brothers:

I rode up front for the ride home too, we stopped for a few hours in Puerto Rico:

What a great trip! We were there for about 3 weeks. The Beef down there is absolutely amazing. Great liberty...I rank it up there with Thailand, Bali and Australia.

I learned a lot about the aircraft during the breakdown, buildup and breakdown again for the ride home.

 

[Fly Navy]

Awesome pics Dave, thanks!

 

[BigWorm]

Man, that would have been a long cross country if you didn't get the airforce to take your helos down there.
How long would it take to fly to Argentina in a helo?

 

[E5B]

150 KIAS Max for us, compare that to the 320 KIAS of the C-17 ( a little over 400 Knots GS at Alt)......yeaaaahhhhh we'd still be flying.

 

[gaijin6423]

Nice. That transmission's frigging gi-nourmous.

 

[gregsivers]

Awesome pictures.

 

[Fly Navy]

150 KIAS Max for us, compare that to the 320 KIAS of the C-17 ( a little over 400 Knots GS at Alt)......yeaaaahhhhh we'd still be flying.

320 KIAS and only getting 400 KGS? What altitude were you flying at, 5000 feet? At 20+k feet we're seeing 223 or so KIAS and 330+ KTAS with ground speeds higher for winds if you're lucky.

 

[E5B]

320 KIAS and only getting 400 KGS? What altitude were you flying at, 5000 feet? At 20+k feet we're seeing 223 or so KIAS and 330+ KTAS with ground speeds higher for winds if you're lucky.

I'm not good at Math

 

[gregsivers]

320 KIAS and only getting 400 KGS? What altitude were you flying at, 5000 feet? At 20+k feet we're seeing 223 or so KIAS and 330+ KTAS with ground speeds higher for winds if you're lucky.

Hmm, must be nice to go that fast. At 200' we're seeing, oh 95 KGS or so. But it feels faster, especially following the rivers.

 

[Fly Navy]

Hmm, must be nice to go that fast. At 200' we're seeing, oh 95 KGS or so. But it feels faster, especially following the rivers.

I feel for you guys on instrument approaches. Buddy of mine was telling me he had to do a long arc at 90 knots. That would make me cry.

 

[gregsivers]

I feel for you guys on instrument approaches. Buddy of mine was telling me he had to do a long arc at 90 knots. That would make me cry.

I'm about to find out, should be hitting RIs after Christmas.

 

[E5B]

I wish I had more pictures of Liberty. At one point there were "Air Force One's" from every country (N & S America) on the ramp, in line waiting to load their Presidents. I'll find a pic of that and put it on here.

 

[E5B]

Here is a Argentina Aerolinas:

Argentina Presidential Jet:

Brazil 'ONE':

Tijuana ONE (Mexico):

Panama "ONE":

3 of our 4 53's broken down in Argentina and waiting to be loaded onto the C-17:

C-17 in reverse producing a weird little "tornado"

 

[BigIron]

great pics....we can't fit the MH in a C-17 (sponsons). Looks like a lot of FCF at a foreign airfield. Your birds look in great shape.

 

[KBayDog]

How long after unloading did it take the mechs to put Tab A into Slot C and get the birds ready to fly?