So was flying out of Tallahassee today (where there was a USMC Herk practicing takeoffs and landings several times) and could've sworn I spotted two AH-1's in civilian colors parked in the general aviation area. Do civilians actually operate these, or could they have just been static display?
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Civvy Cobras?
- Thread starter macattack
- Start date
There are a couple old models in private hands. The US Forest Service also owns several that they use for forest fire recon and command and control. One of them was flying out of S. Whiting for a while, as I remember.
phrogdriver said:
Still is. It landed in housing a while back for a Fire Prevention Week display. As it circled my house at 50', I realized that I would probably crap myself if the "real thing" was circling above, preparing to rain death down on me. Even the Forest Service verision is intimidating!
Army Aviation Heritage Foundation
They do the Airshow circuit and have a collection of vietnam era Fixed and Rotory Wing aircraft to do live recreations.
Heres the link:
http://www-rucker.army.mil/50th/aviation_heritage.html
They do the Airshow circuit and have a collection of vietnam era Fixed and Rotory Wing aircraft to do live recreations.
Heres the link:
http://www-rucker.army.mil/50th/aviation_heritage.html
ChuckMK23 said:California Department of Forestry and USFS "FireWatch Cobra" Project
That's a pretty good idea. As well as the OV-10s mentioned above, they also have old S-2 trackers that they use as water/retardant bombers.
The list of birds the government owns and/or contracts for firefighting is long and sometimes bizarre. Old Neptunes, Electras, Hercs. Cool old birds, but sometimes disturbingly old. Last year one firefighting bird suffered complete structural failure in flight and broke up. That was caught on film, if someone wants to look it up. My favorite, though, is the 747 one company has modded to dump fire retardant agent. That is a butt-ton of payload.
KBayDog said:
I thought the same thing when it flew over my place off 89. Its certainly louder than the TH-57.