I don't want to fly airplanes any more

M

mshunter

Well-Known Member
A small brush fire broke out behind my house today. The LAFD and VCFD air units were on scene pretty quick and got it knocked down fairly quickly. It was pretty cool to watch them come in, suck up water, then struggle to gain altitude again to get back to the fire. The first one, which I didn't get video of, flew close enough to the house that I could see the whites of the crews eyes. My battery was dead in my phone, so I had to grab my battery pack and plug it in just to get the video.

It looks like the VCFD (all yellow) is still using the old school Huey. Does that look right to you @MikeD?





I drove around to the little pass they were exiting the golf course through for a few shots.

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Nark said:
Real manly pilots know how to hover. Just saying....

That's an S-70 Blakhawk. Much like its combat relative, the UH60A.
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The pics are, but in the second video, the second all yellow heli, there is what looks like an old single engine UH-1.
 
I see it now. Not sure if that's a modified B205 or a 212.

A little googling shows that it's a VCFD HH1H Huey. The 205 has a round nose, not as pointed. And the exhaust stack on the 212 is a little more defined.
 
mshunter said:
The pics are, but in the second video, the second all yellow heli, there is what looks like an old single engine UH-1.
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The Huey noise is obvious, as its remarkably unique.

Nark said:
I see it now. Not sure if that's a modified B205 or a 212.

A little googling shows that it's a VCFD HH1H Huey. The 205 has a round nose, not as pointed. And the exhaust stack on the 212 is a little more defined.
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The S-70 Firehawk is not a bad bird.

The 205 and UH-1H, both have the rounded nose and single engine stack. The HH-1Hs came from the USAF to them.

We just recently retired our last "standard" UH-1H in the BP. The Huey is an all time favorite to have flown.....such a classic bird, on par with the F-4, C-130, C-47/DC-3, and other very classic planes that have served in many, many countries.

However, BP and the USAF had some of their UH-1H/Vs modified to "Super Huey" standard out in Ozark, Alabama about 7 years ago. With both similarities and differences.

Similarities:

UH-1H T53-L13 engine replaced with L703 (Huey Cobra) engine, as well as main/tail rotor blades replaced with wide chord Cobra blades. Tail rotor moved to other side of tailboom.

Differences:

Initial batch of BP Super Hueys kept round nose of the old H, and later conversions got the N-model style pointed nose. Both kept round dial instruments.

USAF Super Hueys got retrofitted N-model style pointed nose, and glass cockpit.

Our Super Hueys are still in use, along with refurbished USMCR UH-1Ns we pulled from the boneyard. The Super Hueys serve at the CBP Manassas Air Branch and in Texas air branches, while the UH-1Ns all serve in the Texas air branches.
 
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Nark said:
View attachment 35669 This is the way we walk back after a mission:
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Oh good gawd I hated that movie. Now everyone wants to know if I can do that ridiculous "tip the hat" maneuver. And that auto about 1/3 through the movie??? Just embarrassing to watch. Love how the gearbox fails but the collective is up for 10-15 seconds till he says "here we go".

Good gawd!

@mshunter Don't do it dude! Its like snorting a pound of crack cocaine. You'll wake up broke alone and in need of a 3 hour shower. But it will be the best high money can buy. Stick with fixed wings.....your career will thank you for it.
 
mshunter said:
The pics are, but in the second video, the second all yellow heli, there is what looks like an old single engine UH-1.
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To be fair (and since I used to work there) That's actually a Ventura County Sheriffs Dept Helo. VCFD doesnt operate them. During fire runs they started crewing with one VC fire crew chief but everybody else is a VCSD civilian employee or deputy. The fire department ran it like 40'ish years ago but from I heard they scrwed it up bad enough the county gave it to the Sheriffs dept. If I remember right, the FD did buy them the last bird out of thier funds.

http://www.vcsd.org/sub-air-unit.php


Since 1971, when the Air Unit came into existence, its fleet has grown from one Bell-47 helicopter to four Bell helicopters (commonly referred to as “Hueys”) inclusive of one HH-1H, one UH-1H, one 205B and one 212.

The Aviation Unit flies diverse missions including, but not limited to:

  • Search and rescue missions including mountain and water rescue
  • Support for agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, State Lifeguards, etc
  • Emergency medical services (EMS) flights
  • Fire fighting
  • Surveillance
  • Crime scene photo flights
  • Marijuana eradication
  • Patrol support missions
The Air Unit flight crews consist of three pilots, two full-time crew chiefs, one fire helicopter manager, ten collaterally assigned crew chiefs, and three maintenance technicians. Air Unit flight crews are trained in such specialties as night vision goggle operation, scuba diving, swift water rescue, and emergency medical procedures. The flight crews are supplemented on medical/rescue missions by highly qualified medical personnel consisting of physicians, nurses, and paramedics.
 
A Life Aloft said:
Oh hell, I love that pane. Always been a fantasy to fly her. 25k! Bejebus. Let's see divided by 4 pilots plus trip to BC............
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25k per pilot :eek2:

some of my former coworkers are now flying the P2V converted tankers for Neptune Aviation. So incredibly jealous. Unfortunately they're not training into it anymore, I believe everyone is going to the BaE146 since they will be phasing out the Neptunes.
EDIT: If I win the mega millions tonight I'll sponsor a JC field trip
 
bimmerphile said:
25k per pilot :eek2:

some of my former coworkers are now flying the P2V converted tankers for Neptune Aviation. So incredibly jealous. Unfortunately they're not training into it anymore, I believe everyone is going to the BaE146 since they will be phasing out the Neptunes.
EDIT: If I win the mega millions tonight I'll sponsor a JC field trip
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The fun times were the 1970s/80s, with B-17s, F-7F Tigercats, and TBM Avenger fire bomber aircraft. Along with other cool types like the C-119 and the Big Doug's.
 
av8tr1 said:
Oh good gawd I hated that movie. Now everyone wants to know if I can do that ridiculous "tip the hat" maneuver. And that auto about 1/3 through the movie??? Just embarrassing to watch. Love how the gearbox fails but the collective is up for 10-15 seconds till he says "here we go".it.
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Am at helo recurrent right now. Was going to see what the IP thinks on my autos when I leave the collective flat pitch and manage the Nr with the rotor brake. :)
 
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