Huey Trip

[RickH]

The Collings Foundation UH-1E is making a trip to San Marcos, Texas this morning. We're going over to support the last day of a three day Veterans event put on by their parks dept. We now have our exemption letter to fly experience flights in the Huey so we are hoping for a good turnout. We move it over to the parks office this evening and it will be on display tonite while they screen the movie In the Shadow of the Blade. For those of you who haven't seen this documentary about friends, family, lost loved ones and the closure provided by a single Huey, it's a must see. It's produced by Arrowhead Films, Austin, TX.

http://www.intheshadowoftheblade.com/documentary.html

Our Huey is a Marine E model and served in Viet Nam with VMO-2 and VMO-6 as a gunship. It was flown in combat while it was with VMO-6 by Capt Stephen Pless, the only Marine helicopter pilot MOH recipient.

http://www.valorremembered.org/SWP_Pursuit.htm

[mustangdriver]

Wow! Rick are there any plans to take it around for flights like you do with the B-17 and B-24? I would love to get my father a ride in one. He flew in them during Vietnam.

[RickH]

We'll get it out but we're not sure how far out. Probably be offering rides at special events fairly close in. We don't want needlessly to burn blade time on long cross countrys.

[Ztex]

That's great!

I flew in the "Shadow of the Blade" helo to a few airshows and had a great time with the Viet Nam Vets.

I think its important to for this aircraft type to be out there at shows...the Huey impacted almost everyone in SE Asia...it allowed some to be here with us today.

Have a great time with your wind machine!


She was rough when she first arrived from Rucker!

Last edited by Ztex on Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Warbirdnerd]

I think its important to for this aircraft type to be out there at shows...the Huey impacted almost everyone in SE Asia...it allowed some to be here with us today.

Have a great time with your wind machine!

I could not agree more. Life just aint as good now that the MN-ANG have traded in their Hueys for UH-60s.
I sure do miss the sound the UH-1 made beating the air into submission.

[Paul Patist]

The In the Shadow of the Blade DVD is awsome !

Paul

[RickH]

Helicopter did well. The public really appreciated it being there. The movie was moving , as usual. After the movie people had a new appreciation for our little bird.

Flew my first Huey yesterday, no I didn't hover it, just flew it enroute some.

[Scott Rose]

Where are the pictures for the registry?

[Jack Cook]

Is this his actual MOH bird or one that he flew.
I remember seeing something saying the Combat Air Museum
had the MOH Huey??????

[RickH]

Jack ours is a sistership to the MOH bird. It was with VMO-6 when he got the medal.

[Jack Cook]

That's very cool!!!
Do you know where the MOH bird is???
This at Forbes Field???
I still can't believe Pless drove off a open draw bridge
into Escambia Bay I've fished there alot. Good place
for Sheepshead, Redfish and Croakers!

[RickH]

Hi Jack, my understanding is that the MOH Huey is the centerpiece for the new Marine Corp Museum. The squadron had 6 UH-1Es and all the guys flew whatever was ready. The Suadron CO at the time has confirmed that Pless flew ours in combat.

[Jack Cook]

Very Cool!!!
So where's the pictures???

Here she is:





Her first ride!

[RickH]

The picture above was indeed the Huey's first experience flight as well as the young lady in the pictures first helicopter flight. She came back with a big grin on her face !