Community Stories

The Aviators Thread

SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,260
Likes
11,590
They call them " Aviators " in the Navy, because they're better than " Pilots "
.
50 years ago, in 1973, the famous Helo 66 which recovered the Apollo 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 capsules, was transferred aboard USS Kitty Hawk.
Unfortunately, on June 4, 1975, during an anti-submarine training exercise it crashed in the Pacific Ocean but its crew was rescued.
The Sikorsky Sea King Helo 66 had flown 3245 hours ... I believe the U.S. Navy incident report still remains classified 👎 ?
A few of my scale models (work-in-progress)
.
HELO 66 MoonwatchUniverse.jpg

.
Edit: I had to add this detail Hail Columbia
.
HELO 66 MWU Hail Columbia.jpg
Edited:
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,260
Likes
11,590
While I'm at the subject: Helo 66 Belly for Apollo 10 recovery ( 26th May 1969 ) " Hello Dere Charlie Brown "
(Photo: US Navy)
HELO 66 CharlieBrown.jpg
 
JimInOz
Posts
16,472
Likes
34,703
gearjockey gearjockey
I think Maddog flew those birds. Not that particular one, of course.

Seahawk jockey.
 
Mad Dog
Posts
6,510
Likes
77,056
JimInOz JimInOz
Seahawk jockey.
Correct…the SH-60B.

The only pic I have of me flying it…my first deployment flying off the USS Vincennes [CG-49] circa late 1989 or early to mid 1990…possibly somewhere in the Persian Gulf…

IMG_6395.jpeg


…and then 30 years later at a mil reunion, I found an SH-60B at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL…

IMG_9100_Original.jpeg


…and then Top Gun Maverick was released and I rode my Honda Monkey to the theater wearing most of my old flight gear…

IMG_4583.jpeg
 
Mad Dog
Posts
6,510
Likes
77,056
gearjockey gearjockey
I think Maddog flew those birds. Not that particular one, of course.
Nope…I flew the SH-60B…but quite a few of my winging buddies from 1988 flew them. 👍
 
gearjockey
Posts
234
Likes
1,686
Mad Dog Mad Dog
Nope…I flew the SH-60B…but quite a few of my winging buddies from 1988 flew them. 👍

My apologies. I obviously need to brush up on USN helos. What about brown shoes? Thought USN aviators wore those? Or is it jet-boys who wear them?
Edited:
 
Mad Dog
Posts
6,510
Likes
77,056
gearjockey gearjockey
My apologies. I obviously need to brush up on USN helos. What about brown shoes? Thought USN aviators wore those? Or is it jet-boys who wear them?
We wore brown shoes with our khakis…but our flight boots were black at the time. Brown flight boots came later…after my time…as well as waaaaay before my time since early Naval Aviators wore brown flight boots.
 
JimInOz
Posts
16,472
Likes
34,703
64Wing 64Wing
Quiz time...what's the thing in the grass?? 😉
1000013732.jpg
Something @Mad Dog never used when he landed on a carrier?
 
JimInOz
Posts
16,472
Likes
34,703
Is that at the "Good snatch" end or the "Shit no brakes end"?
 
64Wing
Posts
1,316
Likes
2,461
Funny story...I became acquainted with the, "shit, no brakes," end the other week. Aborted a takeoff and somehow made it between the REIL system without striking any. Even stopped it on pavement. In essence, I tested the book numbers on accelerate-stop.

Anybody been flying in the smoke these past few weeks? I shot 6 approaches yesterday out of necessity. Vis was 2sm or less everywhere I went. Canada needs to get their shit together
 
64Wing
Posts
1,316
Likes
2,461
Mad Dog Mad Dog
That’s easy…it’s a dirt pile…

IMG_7824.jpeg
A keen eye. I expect nothing less from a Naval Aviator
 
DoctorEvil
Posts
1,461
Likes
2,796
64Wing 64Wing
Funny story...I became acquainted with the, "shit, no brakes," end the other week. Aborted a takeoff and somehow made it between the REIL system without striking any. Even stopped it on pavement. In essence, I tested the book numbers on accelerate-stop.

Anybody been flying in the smoke these past few weeks? I shot 6 approaches yesterday out of necessity. Vis was 2sm or less everywhere I went. Canada needs to get their shit together
What's been happening in Canada? A lot of forest fires?
 
Archer
Posts
27,701
Likes
70,395
DoctorEvil DoctorEvil
What's been happening in Canada? A lot of forest fires?

Yes, already the worst fire season in history, and it's just getting started. I expect this is sort of the new norm - warming temperatures will have an effect...
 
DoctorEvil
Posts
1,461
Likes
2,796
Archer Archer
Yes, already the worst fire season in history, and it's just getting started. I expect this is sort of the new norm - warming temperatures will have an effect...
Hope everyone who's affected is safe and the situation can be brought under control soon.
 
Omegafanman
Posts
4,665
Likes
17,660
Archer Archer
Yes, already the worst fire season in history, and it's just getting started. I expect this is sort of the new norm - warming temperatures will have an effect...

I do hear you and I dont know to what degree the oposition seeks to take advantage ... but they do say there is no smoke without fire (not to derail this thread with a debate on the topic but just to put an alternative / additonal element). It is important for health and safe flying that the authorites get on top of it. Less fires over time can sometimes cause complacency / budget cuts, and more developments - and then when fires come there is more to burn I guess.

''Canada has failed to fund the proactive management of forest fires sufficiently and is not poised to do better moving forward. “Wildfire management agencies in Canada are at a tipping point. Presuppression and suppression costs are increasing but program budgets are not.
In fact, as average atmospheric temperatures have risen from 1970 to 2017, Canadian forest fires have declined sharply in number and show little obvious trend in areas burnt''
Edited:
 
Archer
Posts
27,701
Likes
70,395
Omegafanman Omegafanman
It s important for health and safe flying that the authorites get on top of it.

Thanks I will let them know because surely they are oblivious to this fact...oh, and Happy Canada Day too...
 
620 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

Scarecrow Boat

1961 Croton Nivada Grenchen "Chronograph" Aviator Sea Diver

Scarecrow Boat Private Watch Sales
Scarecrow Boat
Scarecrow Boat
Posts
2
Views
4K
SC1

Help me find a thread?

SC1 Open Discussion
p4ul
p4ul
Posts
47
Views
4K
FedFod

Just something I bought through the Recommended Ebay Thread

FedFod Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
boogedyboo
boogedyboo
Posts
9
Views
852
Dr.Sascha

The Comprehensive Singer Dial thread

Dr.Sascha Open Discussion
Zenon
Zenon
Posts
9
Views
3K
samweldspoorly

Samweldspoorly's first Omega - an introduction thread

samweldspoorly Open Discussion
samweldspoorly
samweldspoorly
Posts
10
Views
2K
Mark020

Snail dial 5699 (or 23086) just sold (-edit- The 5699/23086 thread)

Mark020 Longines Watches
Mark020
Mark020
Posts
13
Views
3K