Blackhawk Hoist Panoramic Shot

Firebird2XC said:
It's very different than a fixed wing plane. I hope if you get a chance you get your money's worth- the Hawk can really move in the right hands. 150 knots down in the weeds and between the trees is breathtaking.
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150kts?! You Army guys get to fly a much different Hawk than I. The AF, in all its wisdom, waved their hand in a cross motion and said, "16,825 lbs? With all the crap we've crammed on board we couldn't even put a crew AND gas on it. I bless thee up to, 22,000 lbs!" I'm lucky to get 130 KIAS on a typical aerial gunnery sortie...with a tail wind...and a descent.

But the low level flying....Mother....of....God.....I've wondered on several occasions if the saguaros had their limbs knocked off from the gear or the rotorwash...
 
The Fez said:
150kts?! You Army guys get to fly a much different Hawk than I. The AF, in all its wisdom, waved their hand in a cross motion and said, "16,825 lbs? With all the crap we've crammed on board we couldn't even put a crew AND gas on it. I bless thee up to, 22,000 lbs!" I'm lucky to get 130 KIAS on a typical aerial gunnery sortie...with a tail wind...and a descent.

But the low level flying....Mother....of....God.....I've wondered on several occasions if the saguaros had their limbs knocked off from the gear or the rotorwash...
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... either way... ain't it cool?
 
The Fez said:
I can't imagine a better kind of flying!
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Yeah, when my crew pulled pitch the men were men the women were women and the sheep were scared. You know, because we'd fly over them at 50 feet at 130 knots in a tornado machine. Not for any other reason. No other reason at all!
 
The Fez said:
150kts?! You Army guys get to fly a much different Hawk than I. The AF, in all its wisdom, waved their hand in a cross motion and said, "16,825 lbs? With all the crap we've crammed on board we couldn't even put a crew AND gas on it. I bless thee up to, 22,000 lbs!" I'm lucky to get 130 KIAS on a typical aerial gunnery sortie...with a tail wind...and a descent.

But the low level flying....Mother....of....God.....I've wondered on several occasions if the saguaros had their limbs knocked off from the gear or the rotorwash...
Click to expand...

We're not limited to 16,825... that's the type design weight. We're good up to 22,000 as well and 23,500 in a Lima with a load over 8k. Of course, unlike you we're starting out empty and don't have the ungodly amount of crap permanently installed like you do.
 
Ian J said:
We're not limited to 16,825... that's the type design weight. We're good up to 22,000 as well and 23,500 in a Lima with a load over 8k. Of course, unlike you we're starting out empty and don't have the ungodly amount of crap permanently installed like you do.
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Well damn, the more you know....

I heard there were a few outfits in OEF flying at a waivered 24,000lbs . After seeing the stress cracks on the 308 beam and some of the maintainers explaining that the way the paint is chipping around certain cowlings and joints indicates metal fatigue in places they can't access, I just don't know why anyone would risk that.

I can't really say much though, I'm by no means gentle on our birds either. I guess I'll just hold my breath for the CVLP program to come through and tell people that ask why I'm blue that it's because I love the AF so much. :sarcasm:
 
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