Rotary Wing Roundup (Helos at work in Maritime Environment)

[Alpha_Echo_606]

USS Stockdale conducts flight operations.
U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (March 1, 2013) Pilots of an MH-60R Sea Hawk assigned to the Wolf Pack of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75 take off from the deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) as the ship transits the Strait of Hormuz. Stockdale is part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and is currently operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Hooper/Released) 130301-N-HN991-466

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter refuels.
130225-N-ZQ631-044
ARABIAN SEA (Feb. 25, 2013) An MH-60R Sea Hawk from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75, deployed aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), refuels during a helicopter-in-flight refueling exercise. William P. Lawrence is operating in the U.S. 5th fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Carla Ocampo/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

130320-N-TC437-182
A U.S. Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 recovers a Sailor during an explosive ordnance disposal training exercise March 20, 2013, near the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. The ship deployed to conduct maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Ignacio D. Perez, U.S. Navy/Released)

 

[helolumpy]

An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter refuels.
130225-N-ZQ631-044
ARABIAN SEA (Feb. 25, 2013) An MH-60R Sea Hawk from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75, deployed aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), refuels during a helicopter-in-flight refueling exercise. William P. Lawrence is operating in the U.S. 5th fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Carla Ocampo/Released)

Any helo bubbas ever do a real wet HIFR before? I've done dry plugs for training, but never wet.

When I did my last in 2003 my Training O told me we don't even have a HIFR qual anymore...

 

[scoolbubba]

Any helo bubbas ever do a real wet HIFR before? I've done dry plugs for training, but never wet.

When I did my last in 2003 my Training O told me we don't even have a HIFR qual anymore...

I'm assuming there's a breakaway procedure/device built in. The last thing I'd want to be while flying is tethered to a vehicle being driven by SWOs.

 

[MasterBates]

There is. I forget the numbers.

The scary one is when they decide to do rudder checks when you are at hover tension going to to land tension with the RA cable.

That was probably the closest I have come to dying, through no fault of my own, in an aircraft ever.

 

[Gatordev]

Any helo bubbas ever do a real wet HIFR before? I've done dry plugs for training, but never wet.

When I did my last in 2003 my Training O told me we don't even have a HIFR qual anymore...

At my first squadron (while I was deployed, so this is second hand), two aircraft launched on a SAR/MEDEVAC out of Oahu for a very long haul. The only ship available to help wasn't air-capabable (or whatever Level/Class that is) where they could land, so they HIFR'ed, then moving onto the objective. Or so I remember the story. It's possible the story was that they had to HIFR/pickup the MEDEVAC at the objective, but either way, they actually utilized the capability.

One main problem with the Small Boys is that their pumps aren't all that strong, so if you hover too high, you'll burn faster than you can take. Hence the lack of real-world applicability.

 

[helolumpy]

I'm assuming there's a breakaway procedure/device built in. The last thing I'd want to be while flying is tethered to a vehicle being driven by SWOs.

The fuel line plugs into the connection in the cabin.

The crew man can manually disconnect the hose however it remains connected to the rescue hoist so in an emergency you may have to cut the hoist to prevent becoming a water skier!

 

[SynixMan]

We are pretty much taught the intake rate isn't going to beat the burn rate for a HOGE, so it's of limited utility.

 

[Jim123]

ISTR a breakaway fitting as part of the HIFR rig, and said fitting was supposed to be hooked into one of the padeyes on the flight deck... it's been a while though.

 

[MasterBates]

As do I.. Maybe a difference between the North Island an NATO rig?

 

[tiger84]

As do I.. Maybe a difference between the North Island an NATO rig?

Both fittings are hoisted up to the cabin via a hose saddle, but only one (North Island I think) can be released easily by having the crewman pull a disconnect handle. The other type requires the hoist cable to be sheared in order to release it in an emergency situation.

FWIW, I never even had an occasion to practice it and I don't know anyone who needed to HIFR for any reason other than helping the boat out with training.

 

[BigRed389]

There is. I forget the numbers.

The scary one is when they decide to do rudder checks when you are at hover tension going to to land tension with the RA cable.

That was probably the closest I have come to dying, through no fault of my own, in an aircraft ever.

Seriously? Somebody actually decided rudder swing checks at that point seemed like a good idea? Any repercussions for that one?

 

[BusyBee604]

Have they really done away with HIFR? When I was nailed/rescued (SH-3A) in No. Vietnam, we searched for the missing A-6 B/N, who had successfully ejected, until our fuel became critical. We were directed to the nearby SAR DDR "Red Crown" to hover refuel. This allowed us the remaining 2 hrs of daylight to resume our search, totaling 12 eyeballs... scouring the area of the dye marker in vain.

I recall that the refueling went fairly slowly, as we (A-6 Pilot & I), had time to drop down for coffee in the WR and to meet, chat with the crew. Had we had to return to "Gray Eagle" to gas up, further search that day would've been delayed until dawn. If the HIFR worked OK then, why do they not utilize it today? BTW, despite a 3-day search effort, the B/N was never recovered. Took 20+ years to pronounce him KIA.

BzB

 

[MasterBates]

Seriously? Somebody actually decided rudder swing checks at that point seemed like a good idea? Any repercussions for that one?

Me about throwing said idiot JG off the bridge wing. Followed by the CO yelling. I think the XO ate his soul after that. I think it was actually done from after steering, but I'm not sure on that.. All I know is it did not go like I thought it would go.. Boat rolls right, deck translates right, ship stern translates right, then starts going left. Not fun at night.

They has a RAS the next morning, and somehow the idiot thought we were "Done".. Nevermind you can HEAR helos on the bridge.