British troops stage daring helicopter rescue in Afghanistan
Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:35 am
Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:23 am
That is friggen bad-a$$! 
Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:24 am
I have never heard of securing yourself to the wings of an AH-64. Very cool. Too bad they didn't get him alive.
Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:28 am
Interesting article...thanks for posting Scott!
During the 1st Gulf War while assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division I remember one of our Apache's being shot down during the ground war. The wingman flew in fast and low...landed...and had the pilot & co-pilot strap themselves onto the wing and flew them out before the Iraqi's could get to them. I've been told this is standard procedure for Apache pilots and all of them carry a special type of strap-in harness for this.
In the article it says that 4 guys were strapped to the wings...how they managed to do that is beyond me?
Must've been pretty crowded!
John
During the 1st Gulf War while assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division I remember one of our Apache's being shot down during the ground war. The wingman flew in fast and low...landed...and had the pilot & co-pilot strap themselves onto the wing and flew them out before the Iraqi's could get to them. I've been told this is standard procedure for Apache pilots and all of them carry a special type of strap-in harness for this.
In the article it says that 4 guys were strapped to the wings...how they managed to do that is beyond me?
Must've been pretty crowded!
John
Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:13 am
I've heard that at least once in Vietnam a Cobra crew was retrieved in a similar fashion after being shot down, except the second cobra used its ammunition feed doors below the cockpit. Don't know if thats true or not.
Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:10 pm
The 10 PM news last night in the UK had an interview with a senior guy from the Royal Marines. He said that they were positioned on top of side pod / cheeks either side of the cockpit and secured to the two grab handles just behind the cockpit glass. ( Just in front of the engine air intake ).
Apparantly they had practiced this for troop insertion or evacuation, but this was the first time it had been done "for real" in combat.
Apparantly they had practiced this for troop insertion or evacuation, but this was the first time it had been done "for real" in combat.
Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:03 pm
I saw on the military channel where a Whiskey Cobra was used to rescue a couple of SOF guy who were surrounded in Afghanistan. The pilot got out, openned the GunBay door, told them to sit down and strapped them to the ammo
Cool Stuff
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Cool Stuff
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
re: apaches
Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:15 pm
Hi gang!
reading the newspapers, they said there were 3 apaches involved. It'll more than likely be written up in the next issue of Navy News !
tim
Thu Jan 18, 2007 10:25 pm
god bless em!! & their bravery too!!