Helicopter Ride
Here's a photo from Seventh Fleet that features the son-in-law of one of my old high school classmates:
The only time I got to ride in a helicopter during my Navy career was in 2000 when I was on the Carrier Group Seven staff aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and took a trip over to the Brit carrier for exercise planning when we were working together in the Arabian Gulf.Did you ever get to ride in a helo during your time in the Navy?
posted by Bubblehead at 5:14 PM
29 Comments:
Working at the test range in Nanoose, I get to ride a helicopter almost everyday to work. It gets old after a while.
1/01/2011 5:28 PM
I never got a Helo while in the USAF either,but that a gain I did get to ride on a few Transport planes.( C-130,C-141)
1/01/2011 5:36 PM
Nope, but rode in several while in ROTC.
1/01/2011 6:38 PM
Way to many for a Bubble Head
1. Weekly Sea King rides from Norfolk to Pentagon back in 01-03 (oh the oil)
2. 2 Sea Hawk rides to Carriers
3. A Merlin ride in 03 (awesome bird)
4. Black Hawks and Chinooks a plenty as well as even one flight on an old Russian Halo in the Stan
It would be just fine if I never have the joy of all that again! Submerging beats it every time.
1/01/2011 7:45 PM
When I was still a skimmer ('86-ish)...High-lined in a basket across to USS Brewton (FF-1086) for a two-day cross-deck. They didn't have the SH-2, so we got lifted by horse-collar up into a CH-46. Only thing I hate worse than heights is riding in a helicopter.
1/01/2011 7:55 PM
I never have but had an LPO on the 'burgh that did. During his first sea tour he was completing a deployment cross tour and be helo-ed back to the sub when the the helo went down in between the two ships. All were saved but he and the other cross deckers had to go back to the surface ship for medical eval. He's afraid of water too...
1/01/2011 9:46 PM
No choppers, however did get to ride in a couple antique USAF airframes. On leave in Europe following 619B patrol 2 in 1964. Got a hop out of Torrejon Spain on a C-47, the station aircraft from RAF Alconbury UK. That sucker was straight out of WWII. bucket seats down the sides, static lines, parachutes. Load master mistook our dolphins for wings and told us to get our chutes on and adjusted WTF!!?? Anyway, he took pity on us when we laid over at USAF Base in Evereux France and got us put up in the Transit Airmans Billeting. The NCO Club was a blast as we were in dress blues and the French ladies loved us. Arrived next day at RAF Alconbury and then made our way to London. Great months leave in Europe!! Next antique was in 1965 after 619B patrol 4. Got a hop out of Charlston AFB on a South Carolina Air Guard C-124 Globemaster affectionatly know as "old shakey". It had a load of cargo onboard bound for South Viet Nam. We descending on landing approach path at Kelly AFB in Texas when pilot went to full power on all four engines and went into a climb and immediate port bank to clear the runway. Loadmaster told us the control tower had cleared us for the wrong runway and a B-47 was taking off as we were trying to land. Crew rested there so us three submariners went "Ashore" for the afternoon and evening. We were toasted when we got back and on the plane that night. We arrived Travis AFB next day around 1000. During landing approach, very turbulent, inboard engine on right wing blew-up. feathered prop, shot extinguishing agent, etc. We were pretty shaken-up by this time. Loadmaster told us, "Sheeit, this ain't nothin!! See that plane over there (pointing to a C-133)them suckers don't even haul passengers cause they keep falling out of the sky." Lot of fun getting hops "back in the day"
Keep a zero bubble, and Happy New Year Bubblehead!!
DBFTMC(SS)USNRET
1/01/2011 11:01 PM
Post-XO tour, I was sent to OIC of a skimmer organization as part of a BUPERS science project. Lots of sea time of skimmers. Lots of helo & cod time. First time I departed a Spru-can on an SH-60, I was geared up and waiting in the hanger. Helo was landing in strong winds and I was trying to watch through a hanger door window. An OSC said to me "you may not want to watch this, CDR". I did anyhow and got to see the helo try the landing 3 times - and the deck crew untangle its wheels from the safety netting. Wasn't real comfortable getting on that helo, but survived!
1/02/2011 6:45 AM
First ride was a bent crap can off the back of a DDG. Very scary experience for your first trip. After that I spent a lot of time in Blackhawks in Iraq and on one occasion a big chinook. Helicopter rides are fun because you can see stuff like Sadr City up close and way too personal. They can be scary too as to the fact short after my trip over Sadr City, the bad guys learned how to shot helicopters down with machine guns.
I really liked the rides because they beat the crap out of long convoys packed in the backseat of a Hummer with the very real possibility of being blown up. I was very lucky in that respect as well because I never encountered an IED on any of my convoys, but I guess that is good since that was what I was there to do.
1/02/2011 7:23 AM
Talking about cargo planes, I flew a Navy C-130 from Columbia, SC all the way to Kuwait and then a USAF C-130 into Baghdad. Combat landing into BIA at 0230 in the rain was something I will never forget. The USAF plane rides in Iraq were both nice and a huge pain in the butt because you could wait 36 hours at the airport to catch your hop and sometimes they didn't fly you to airport you were scheduled to go, so you would have to find another way to where you were going via convoy (see previous post) or helo (usually full). Moving around Iraq was exhausting and you had to plan for days of delays.
1/02/2011 7:29 AM
While stationed on Okinawa I jumped with the Interservice Sport Parachute Club. Marines provided CH-53's or 46's every month or so depending on what was available. Marines liked it because they didn't get to practice parachute ops much.
OldCOB
1/02/2011 8:07 AM
As a Navy civilian employee I've had the pleasure of two cat shots in a COD and two hops in Ospreys. One of the Osprey pilots apparently wanted to see just how many g's he could pull in it.
1/02/2011 9:00 AM
As a civilian volunteer teaching the MSs and now CSs, I have had 4 helo rides, including a Huey (a very Apocalypse Now experience ) a CH-46 and a MH-60. I was also with a SEAL team as they jumped out of a Marine C-130. Unfortunately, not enough time to train for a tandem jump.
As for my "boat" experiences, I spent a week in port on the Portsmouth and a week underway with the Buffalo and a SDVT along with their mini-sub. Wasn't able to "drive" the boat, due to the fact that civilians weren't allowed to do it because of a Presidential order after the Greenville incident. I got on the Buffalo 2 days after the order. Still, smoking cigars, while sailing into the sunrise with the XO on the conning tower is something I will never forget.
1/02/2011 2:47 PM
As a civilian volunteer teaching the MSs and now CSs, I have had 4 helo rides, including a Huey (a very Apocalypse Now experience ) a CH-46 and a MH-60. I was also with a SEAL team as they jumped out of a Marine C-130. Unfortunately, not enough time to train for a tandem jump.
As for my "boat" experiences, I spent a week in port on the Portsmouth and a week underway with the Buffalo and a SDVT along with their mini-sub. Wasn't able to "drive" the boat, due to the fact that civilians weren't allowed to do it because of a Presidential order after the Greenville incident. I got on the Buffalo 2 days after the order. Still, smoking cigars, while sailing into the sunrise with the XO on the conning tower is something I will never forget.
1/02/2011 2:48 PM
Not a submariner, but a 4000+ hour, 3-squadron P-3 rider.
Three helo rides, one during each of my DWEST training sessions. Three times dumped in the drink (twice in San Diego, once in Pensacola), bobbing around in an LPA waiting for the H-3 to come and winch us up and take us back to flight line.
The only reason to get on a helo voluntarily is to get out of the water or...some crappy place where somebody might want to hurt you...
1/02/2011 4:01 PM
Got a 20-30 minute ride at a Reserve center when they were practicing MEDEVAC procedures. Everyone had to do the FOD walk-down of the parking lot beforehand, and they only had room for a certain # (everyone wanted to go) so the Corpsmen filled up all the seats. I hung out by the door and before lift-off they had 2-3 extra seats so I snagged one of them.
It was alot of fun - there was no training value whatsoever for anyone except the flight crew & pilots but it was an unforgettable experience.
1/02/2011 4:41 PM
So there I was. Minding my own biz in the JAX airport on official travel coming back from K.B. when my work cell phone rang.
It was the BOSS, he said "I have some bad news." I said "What someone die?" He replies with...
"No not yet. We have been tasked with sending someone to Iraq and Kevin said he won't go." "Sign me up says I" Fast fwd about 40 days and here I am waiting for a UH-60 out of the Liberty pad (Baghdad). Seeing the sign about taking not much carry on stuff I'm worried as I have the 5 Sea bags I got at Fort Jackson so I ask if thats a problem. Reply was. "Sir, the bird is yours, take what you want."
Ok I'm good there, so we take off heading out to FOB ISKAN, on the way the thing goes into a Vulcan death sprial, they start popping flares like it's the 4th of July and the Crew Chief and the Crewman on the other side both open with their side mounted machine guns. Now I'm thinking I'm not even going to make it to the first day of work. I see that the guy on my side is firing into this one building, so me wanting help am trying to get my musket (M-16) out of its shipping case, didn't think my 9 would help. Anyways by the time I get that out and ready to load they stopped and we continued on to Kalsu for more go juice. We have dinner while we are there and I ask the CW01 pilot what was going on back there. He said it was training area and they pop the flares to burn down the vegation there and fire into the building. I told him they should probably let the passengers know. He asked why. I told him I was loading up to help. He got kind of a look of fear on his face and asked why and what I was going to shoot at. I told him I want to be part of the solution and my thought was to fire where their tracers were going. It had not occured to him that I could have been an Army guys worst nightmare. A Bubblehead with a gun. As it turns out his Father was on the Gunnard I think.
Since I brought up the subj of Army guys worrying about us and loaded weapons... As we were rolling off the FOB we stopped at the weapons check berm to load up. So this Staff Sarge says on the intercom, "Load up, Sir you don't have to." So I ask "Why the change in the rules?" His answer was " Sir, if we make contact I don't expect you to open your window and shoot back." Hmmm " Sarge says I , I want to be part of the solution I want to help."
Hooah was his reply and on the next 40 missions and 2 air assaults
no one asked me about that again.
I was also a right seater for about 12 missions.
Joel just a thought. How about a thread on I.A. experiences???
FTB4evr/LCDRL
1/02/2011 4:51 PM
So there I was. Minding my own biz in the JAX airport on official travel coming back from K.B. when my work cell phone rang.
It was the BOSS, he said "I have some bad news." I said "What someone die?" He replies with...
"No not yet. We have been tasked with sending someone to Iraq and Kevin said he won't go." "Sign me up says I" Fast fwd about 40 days and here I am waiting for a UH-60 out of the Liberty pad (Baghdad). Seeing the sign about taking not much carry on stuff I'm worried as I have the 5 Sea bags I got at Fort Jackson so I ask if thats a problem. Reply was. "Sir, the bird is yours, take what you want."
Ok I'm good there, so we take off heading out to FOB ISKAN, on the way the thing goes into a Vulcan death sprial, they start popping flares like it's the 4th of July and the Crew Chief and the Crewman on the other side both open with their side mounted machine guns. Now I'm thinking I'm not even going to make it to the first day of work. I see that the guy on my side is firing into this one building, so me wanting help am trying to get my musket (M-16) out of its shipping case, didn't think my 9 would help. Anyways by the time I get that out and ready to load they stopped and we continued on to Kalsu for more go juice. We have dinner while we are there and I ask the CW01 pilot what was going on back there. He said it was training area and they pop the flares to burn down the vegation there and fire into the building. I told him they should probably let the passengers know. He asked why. I told him I was loading up to help. He got kind of a look of fear on his face and asked why and what I was going to shoot at. I told him I want to be part of the solution and my thought was to fire where their tracers were going. It had not occured to him that I could have been an Army guys worst nightmare. A Bubblehead with a gun. As it turns out his Father was on the Gunnard I think.
Since I brought up the subj of Army guys worrying about us and loaded weapons... As we were rolling off the FOB we stopped at the weapons check berm to load up. So this Staff Sarge says on the intercom, "Load up, Sir you don't have to." So I ask "Why the change in the rules?" His answer was " Sir, if we make contact I don't expect you to open your window and shoot back." Hmmm " Sarge says I , I want to be part of the solution I want to help."
Hooah was his reply and on the next 40 missions and 2 air assaults
no one asked me about that again.
I was also a right seater for about 12 missions.
Joel just a thought. How about a thread on I.A. experiences???
FTB4evr/LCDRL
1/02/2011 4:51 PM
And in late-breaking news from Norfolk:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/02/uss-enterprise-video-scandal_n_803344.html
1/02/2011 6:21 PM
WestPac '78 on the USS Guardfish. We pulled into Subic, and got an opportunity to swap places with some skimmers. Five of us got to go out for a three-day ride on a frigate, five of them rode the Guardfish.
However, at the end of the second day, the frigate we were riding had a change of orders, so we had to transfer to another one. The one we started on had a small helo deck, but the one we went to didn't. So, we got to start off on the deck, but had to be horse-collared down to the other one. Wouldn't have been so bad, except I'm extremely afraid of heights, so the guy in the helo almost had to throw me out when it was my turn.
One of the coolest rides I never want to do again!
1/03/2011 6:22 AM
My first helo ride was in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1967 when we were taken to the carrier for a briefing and tour. The Eng and I shared a surprised look when the crew chief informed us that if they were called for a rescue mission during the flight to the carrier, we were expected to take part. Fortunately, nothing untoward happened during that trip or the return to the sub after the briefing and lunch. When doing the same evolution in 1968, the one thing I noticed was that the attitude toward the Russian AIG was completely different in 68. IN 67 the helo crews dropped copies of Stars and Stripes to the AIG on their daily mail runs. In 68, no friendly passes. The AIG was also more agressive in 68 trying to get in extremis with us.
My next experience with helos was with the Coast Guard during an Ice Op. The Skipper and I went to the Coast Guard Cutter for lunch. Since the CG worked for Treasury at the time, cutters were like the Brits and served a very nice wine with the lunch. Used the horse collar off Vietnam and a basket with the Coast Guard. Except for the grounding shock, the basket was much more comfortable.
1/03/2011 9:27 AM
Got to take an SH-60 from NAS North Island out to the JC Stennis for an ORSE a few years back. The pilot was kind enough to take a spin over the bay and Coronado first for a little sightseeing. A sobering pre-flight brief: "If we ditch in the water, wait until the airframe inverts before you undo your harness. Get out of the airframe before you inflate your lifevest." Pretty cool ride in any case.
1/04/2011 9:52 PM
I got lowered from a Chinook to the helo deck of a 1052 by horsecollar.
I have never been so scared in my life.
1/15/2011 3:43 PM
I got to ride a CG helo when they helivaced me when my mother died suddenly. Hat tip to Cg station Kodiak Ak for making me feel welcome during a short layover. I did not make it home intime for the memorial service but the funeral director opend up for me that night..
1/29/2011 6:15 PM
Quite useful info, thank you for the article.
11/28/2011 9:59 AM
A wonderful experience to have. Especially with some professionals on board.
12/08/2011 3:19 AM
Thanks for sharing this photo.
3/01/2012 8:43 PM
Heli rides for me seems fun and exciting. but basing on your blog, I really can't tell how would they feel if it was their first time yet it's also their first time to be in a battleground. Anyhow, I've always wondered how the Navy train their new recruits. All those heavy gears and boots in a very hot sunny day or the badass weather gives me goosebumps.
7/25/2012 3:02 PM
Helicopter tours to the Bryce Canyon are the most thrilling way to experience the National Park.
Helicopter Tours Bryce Canyon
9/06/2013 1:21 AM
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