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UAVs, not just an Air Force gig anymore
- Thread starter kanakAttack
- Start date
We had a UAV squadron here at Cherry Point screwing up flight ops for about a month before they deployed to Iraq. For some reason they didn't realize that they needed to monitor their radios at all times, especially when they were in the pattern and you had 5 other harriers trying to bounce. In Iraq they are pretty nice to have overhead, but I certainly never want to trade in my wings for a set of whatever wings they rate.
The only type the AF hands out...lead ones
Along the same lines, for many years the navigators in Marine C-130s were enlisted and went to the same schools with Air Force C-130 NFOs.
Marine Aerial Navigators are still enlisted on the KC-130's that have them (J's don't), though the school shut down in 2004.
They used many of the same facilities and the same planes but had their own schoolhouse and course of instruction, we hardly ever saw them and did not train with them.
It was always something to pick on the USAF guys about though.
LCS-1 Freedom and Helo/UAV Det (bonus: SWO Sweater bashing)
I got a chance to see the USS Freedom (LCS-1) when it was in port here in Cleveland last Friday, and it is a very cool ship, but those black v-neck sweaters almost all the officers were wearing look terrible. Is that an often required uniform item? I'd be just as happy to never see one again, and I dread the idea of wearing one.
Also as we toured the ship they showed us how they have room for 2 60s onboard. I was wondering would a ship that size deploy with a 60 or two onboard, or would 60s only stop onboard temporarily? If so how many pilots would deploy per helo? And lastly what do the helo crews do when not flying? Just sit around the wardroom doing paperwork and playing with the wii?
LCS 1 Freedom
(Nov. 13, 2008) The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) sails toward the Cleveland Municipal Pier for a scheduled port visit in Cleveland, Ohio. Freedom will make other port calls as the ship continues to Naval Amphibious Bass Little Creek, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 3rd Class Specialist Kenneth R. Hendrix/Released)
The "SWO" Sweater
081114-N-5758H-222 CLEVELAND (Nov. 14, 2008) Lt. Robert Briggs explains the purpose and features of the bridge and pilot house aboard the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) to students from The Ohio State University Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps during the ship's port visit in Cleveland. Freedom is the first of two littoral combat ships designed to operate in shallow water environments to counter threats in coastal regions and will make other port calls as the ship continues to Naval Amphibious Bass Little Creek, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 3rd Class Specialist Kenneth R. Hendrix/Released)
I got a chance to see the USS Freedom (LCS-1) when it was in port here in Cleveland last Friday, and it is a very cool ship, but those black v-neck sweaters almost all the officers were wearing look terrible. Is that an often required uniform item? I'd be just as happy to never see one again, and I dread the idea of wearing one.
Also as we toured the ship they showed us how they have room for 2 60s onboard. I was wondering would a ship that size deploy with a 60 or two onboard, or would 60s only stop onboard temporarily? If so how many pilots would deploy per helo? And lastly what do the helo crews do when not flying? Just sit around the wardroom doing paperwork and playing with the wii?
LCS 1 Freedom
(Nov. 13, 2008) The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) sails toward the Cleveland Municipal Pier for a scheduled port visit in Cleveland, Ohio. Freedom will make other port calls as the ship continues to Naval Amphibious Bass Little Creek, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 3rd Class Specialist Kenneth R. Hendrix/Released)
The "SWO" Sweater
081114-N-5758H-222 CLEVELAND (Nov. 14, 2008) Lt. Robert Briggs explains the purpose and features of the bridge and pilot house aboard the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) to students from The Ohio State University Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps during the ship's port visit in Cleveland. Freedom is the first of two littoral combat ships designed to operate in shallow water environments to counter threats in coastal regions and will make other port calls as the ship continues to Naval Amphibious Bass Little Creek, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 3rd Class Specialist Kenneth R. Hendrix/Released)
I'm not sure anyone is really clear what's going to happen w/ the LCS. Since they would presumably replace the FFGs, then yes, -60s will deploy onboard. Currently, the other classes of ships have room for two helos, but don't always take two onboard. I would guess it's the same for the LCS.
There's no definite answer to your question because it varies, but generally there's 4 pilots and two crewman for one helo and 6 pilots and 3 crewman for 2 helos.
Pretty much. When the Shoes want to use the wardroom, that's where the pilots will be. When it doesn't bug the shoes that the pilots are in the wardroom, then they'll be in their staterooms playing the Wii/Xbox/porn.
This helo crew member did Maintenance when not flying.
The real slack time came when the aircraft WAS flying. Not much for maintainers to do when the helo is off the boat. 'cept play cards or some such (not a whole lot of personal electronic entertainment devices available to the general public in the mid '80s). And we hung out in the shop...
You mean this job involves flying, bothering people you don't like, and porn?!? and they said I'd never find a job that combined all my interests
Peers of mine were slated to det out on LCS-1 with 60Ss, but then it caught fire and the timeline changed.
We can get into a log discussion about "it depends"...on which mission module is installed on LCS, etc...MIW, ASW or ASUW or...something else. But generally, I believe that a helo det is always included as a baseline...and unmanned rotary wing assets would also take up some of the hangar bay...notionally the "Firescout" UAVs.
