What do you (or do you want to) fly?

[adnoh61B]

So as the title states... If you are currently an aviator, what frame did you choose and why? If you are looking to get selected, what do you want to choose and why?

 

"What mission do you want to support?" That is the question I ask myself all the time since I love the idea of all of the frames. Each one plays a vital role in the Armed forces.

 

I am hoping to get selected in the January board. I did have 2 top picks but with the OH-58 out my top choice has been narrowed to the AH-64. I really want to support the combat role that the Apache fills, but my end goal is to make it to 160th and they don't have Apaches so I am torn. I do love the UH-60 and CH-47 but when I think of them I imagine I would be a taxi service, which I would absolutely despise.

 

Now once I would HOPEFULLY make it to 160th I would kill to fly a 60 DAP or an AH-6. SICK!!!!!

 

But I am definitely looking towards the AH-64. Anyone else?

[StockTrader]

Ill actually add a little bit of my packet essay to answer this. "When I was 8 years old, my mother bought me a couple of hardcover books about military aircraft. I saw the AH-64 and was immediately hooked". I really do like the hawks though.

[Lindsey]

Ill actually add a little bit of my packet essay to answer this. "When I was 8 years old, my mother bought me a couple of hardcover books about military aircraft. I saw the AH-64 and was immediately hooked". I really do like the hawks though.

I'm confused. You saw the AH-64 and were immediately *hooked*?? Sooooo you want 47s? Hahahha ;-)

[apacheguy]

Why not try to fly them all?

[USCav19D]

I will never forget that feeling I'd get when my platoon would be in a TIC and we'd hear Kiowas or Apaches approaching. The sight of the trademark high-low orbit, the sudden disappearance of all hostile fire... I've had my ass pulled out of the dirt by attack and scout pilots many, many times. I owe my life to these guys. I can't imagine a better way to serve the Army and my brothers on the ground than as the guardian angel that keeps the enemy at bay so everyone can go home again in one piece.

 

When I started all this, it was OH-58s. Hands down my favorite airframe in the Army inventory. Because that's going away, AH-64s. I feel as though it is my life's mission to deliver the most amount of air support as possible.

[NCOtoWO]

I want to pick up heavy crap and put it somewhere else. Plus, the idea of flying a long metal Pringles can full of sweat, Copenhagen, and hate into a hot LZ gets me all warm and fuzzy inside.

[USCav19D]

I want to pick up heavy crap and put it somewhere else. Plus, the idea of flying a long metal Pringles can full of sweat, Copenhagen, and hate into a hot LZ gets me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Your NCOness checks out.

[adnoh61B]

I will never forget that feeling I'd get when my platoon would be in a TIC and we'd hear Kiowas or Apaches approaching. The sight of the trademark high-low orbit, the sudden disappearance of all hostile fire... I've had my ass pulled out of the dirt by attack and scout pilots many, many times. I owe my life to these guys. I can't imagine a better way to serve the Army and my brothers on the ground than as the guardian angel that keeps the enemy at bay so everyone can go home again in one piece.

 

When I started all this, it was OH-58s. Hands down my favorite airframe in the Army inventory. Because that's going away, AH-64s. I feel as though it is my life's mission to deliver the most amount of air support as possible.

Very true! I have never been able to be a combat arms Soldier (wife wasn't having it), so I have always volunteered for convoy and ground security teams in my units. I have pretty much pushed the my "allowable" limits as a support Soldier and I think it is only fair to myself to go after the guardian angel and support my brothers and sisters with some heavy air weaponry.

 

I want to pick up heavy crap and put it somewhere else. Plus, the idea of flying a long metal Pringles can full of sweat, Copenhagen, and hate into a hot LZ gets me all warm and fuzzy inside.

HAHAHAHA

 

Your NCOness checks out.

x2

 

[StockTrader]

I'm confused. You saw the AH-64 and were immediately *hooked*?? Sooooo you want 47s? Hahahha ;-)

Crap...Do I have it backwards and my subconscious is trying to tell me something?

[akscott60]

Well, I have flown two of the 4 main combat types, the KW and the Hook.

 

Both have major plusses and some minuses.

 

47:

Power. Seriously, most people cannot comprehend the level of thrust I have. Its incredible.

CAAS. Its Rockwell Pro Line 21 avionics. Top of the line stuff.

Mission diversity. I do all kinds of sh*t. CALFX, Ass and Trash, overwater, Paradrops, Air Assaults, etc.

 

58:

Its tiny. Great viz and real maneuverable.

Its armed. Guns and rockets make people happy.

Warheads to foreheads is always something to look forward to.

[nightmare515]

I fly 64's. I came from Tanks and was a ground pounder while enlisted. I couldn't see myself flying anything but the Apache. I'm thoroughly pleased that I got what I wanted. My mentality was that if I am going to be on the ground I want to be in the meanest and baddest thing in the arsenal, so I enlisted for Tanks. If Im going to be in the air I want to be in the meanest and baddest thing in the arsenal, so I opted for Apaches. In my mind I have now held the two coolest jobs in the entire military.

 

And no I'm not "compensating" for anything as my friends like to say lol.

[Yamer]

Th67, why you ask? Because they make me...

 

Apaches after because I'm a prior crew chief and apaches get all the girls... Lol

[SBuzzkill]

I don't think I'll ever find a job with more enjoyable flying than scouting from a Kiowa. It's quite depressing. Even if I had known it was going away I still would have done things the same.

Edited November 20, 2014 by SBuzzkill

[Joepatriot]

60's and I will get my chance when my class starts on the 1st!

[01CelicaGTS]

I fly 60's and I love it! Going to the M model in a few weeks. I like the diversity of the mission, and the fact that there can still be a lot of real type training done stateside. Hell, I could fly Medevac, air assault, VIP transport, troop transport, external loads, water bucket/firefighting, and many others. I chose the Hawk, which I'm thankful for (and I worked extremely hard to ensure that I got what I wanted), because many people have their airframe chosen for them. However, after BWS I really wanted to fly 58's. Good thing they weren't available or I would have had a big decision to make!

[wcropper]

I hope to fly the 60s, however, I don't care if I have to select another airframe. Getting the chance to fly excites me, and whatever the role, its going to be bad a** either way!

[USCav19D]

I don't think I'll ever find a job with more enjoyable flying than scouting from a Kiowa. It's quite depressing. Even if I had known it was going away I still would have done things the same.

When the divestment was made official I was actually heartbroken. I wanted to fly them since the moment I first laid eyes on one. Maybe someday, perhaps when the UAVs become self-aware and SkyNet goes live, the AAS program will be rebooted and I'll have a chance.

 

A man's gotta dream...

[stearmann4]

In this day and age a valid statement might even be something like, "Anything that isn't a UAV/UAS". I fear my sons may not have that choice.

[UH60L-IP]

I made my selection from what I felt was a practical standpoint and believe it still holds true. I try to maintain a long-term perspective with back-up plans in place, i.e. life after the Army, etc.

 

The UH-60 has a civilian equivalent (S-70) and additional similar airframes (S-76). It is over 12,500lbs (important in the civilian world for certain applications) and provides dual engine experience. You can fly plenty of actual instrument time as well as fly missions with civilian equivalency such as medevac, external loads, and plain ol' personnel transport. It is an airframe that has a mission in peacetime as well as wartime, allowing for comparably significant flight time.

 

When I look at all of those things together there is only one logical choice. You can of course pick any aircraft you want for any reason you want (OML and availability allowing) but if you have a broad perspective to this whole flying thing, your options are more limited.

[Phrogs4ever]

As of right now, I am a Crew Chief on CH-46's, the medium lift for the Marine Corps. I have over 2000 hours doing assault support type flights. As it does not always have the "glory" of rockets and guns... it does have the "glory" of face to face with the war fighters on the ground... I see them as they run off my plane to go kick in doors, and I am there when they need immediate reembark, or a CASAVAC! When most would think that flying cargo is no fun, it does have a purpose. When the grunts need bullets, chow or water..... here I come!

 

For my self and what I WANT to fly, if selected ( in Jan) .... I will fly what ever they give me the keys to!!! I just want to stay flying! I don't care if I am "flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog sh*t out of Hong Kong".

But if I got the chance to pick, it would be the 60!

I like the diversity of the airframe. The aircraft could be set up for MEDEVAC/CASAVAC, cargo, or with a gun package! as well as the "like type" ratings in the civilian world!

Along with that, everyone has heard the statement "two heads are better than one!" and that in my opinion hold true in the aviation community ( to an extent). 2 pilots flying can accomplish a lot of work mentally, but having a crew of 4 just extends the amount of work load for the entire crew, as well as lightens the individuals mental load.

I have been that Bull Sh*t filter for a lot of years as a crew chief, and I like the idea of having a crew chief in my plane. That is why I think I would pick 60's.

When it comes to 47's.... I love my tandem helicopters, and the idea of power for days!! Those planes are freaking cool! But the tandem rotor system is used but not as much in the civilian market. But when it all comes down to it ( flying after the military) type ratings are good but the flight hours and experience it what is gets you hired! With all that said, again I don't care what I get to fly as long as I am flying!!

 

I will end this with my favorite quote ever!

 

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”

― Leonardo da Vinci

[Joe_P148]

I hate to see what happens when all you 64 guys show up to the selection and it's all 60s no 64s

[adnoh61B]

Well like Phrogs said... My choice would be 64's but I would take anything. I love all of the frames, just the 64 a little more.

[Cantankerously]

I don't know what I want to try and select anymore. I go back and forth so much.

[brackac]

I fly the Apache and C-12. I want to fly a beach chair.

[USCav19D]

What ever happened to that schwoopy Italian cargo plane that was slated to replace the Sherpa? Did the Army take delivery of any of them or did the AF/congress screw that up too?