Sam
07-11-15, 19:50
Today there was an event at a local airfield where private pilots fly in and display their aircrafts, activities for the whole family, dogs for adoption, antique sports cars, food and helicopter rides ! For $65 one can ride in one of two Hueys helicopters for about 15 minutes. It was the main attraction for the day, it was for us. It's been approximately 42 years since I last rode in one. That was a time that I still remember to this day. Flying in a fully armed UH-1 with my dad and a few others was a treat not many kids got to do.
Anyway, after waiting our turn, the short (42 years) finally ended. We were briefed on the safety and possible emergency procedures. We were directed toward our bird (no M60 this time). They asked for volunteers for the machine gunner's seats, I quickly jumped on that chance. We were loaded and strapped in. Not long we were in the air, at first a lazy climb to altitude, then the pilot started to do some cool, roller coaster maneuvering :). Quick dives, hard banks to the right, to the left, zig and zag at altitude and at just above treetops. Before long, our quick fun ride was over.
It was very windy in the gunner's seat, much more than on the main bench. As I wear prescription glasses, I had to hold on to it as I thought it was going to get sucked out. The crew warned us not to wear our baseball caps, so I had to take off my Army Chief hat and thread it through my belt, it was a wise move. I couldn't believe how much turbulence and bumpy it was, I couldn't help thinking how does a door gunner manage to hit anything. Or those spec ops snipers that fly in Blackhawks and having to engaging targets on the ground with their rifles.
Here is a picture of our bird as it was coming in from a ride, getting ready to land and drop off passengers.
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/20150711_113209.jpg
Anyway, after waiting our turn, the short (42 years) finally ended. We were briefed on the safety and possible emergency procedures. We were directed toward our bird (no M60 this time). They asked for volunteers for the machine gunner's seats, I quickly jumped on that chance. We were loaded and strapped in. Not long we were in the air, at first a lazy climb to altitude, then the pilot started to do some cool, roller coaster maneuvering :). Quick dives, hard banks to the right, to the left, zig and zag at altitude and at just above treetops. Before long, our quick fun ride was over.
It was very windy in the gunner's seat, much more than on the main bench. As I wear prescription glasses, I had to hold on to it as I thought it was going to get sucked out. The crew warned us not to wear our baseball caps, so I had to take off my Army Chief hat and thread it through my belt, it was a wise move. I couldn't believe how much turbulence and bumpy it was, I couldn't help thinking how does a door gunner manage to hit anything. Or those spec ops snipers that fly in Blackhawks and having to engaging targets on the ground with their rifles.
Here is a picture of our bird as it was coming in from a ride, getting ready to land and drop off passengers.
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/20150711_113209.jpg