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When I tell people I am an Army aviator, the next question inevitably is: "So what do you fly?" The answer to that is the OH 58D Kiowa Warrior. That's usually when I get the blank stare. "Is that like the Apache?" Well, not really. The KW is a small, quick, chock-full-o-computers scout-attack helicopter, based on the Bell 206 you see every day on TV and overhead on the highways. Except we can shoot rockets and Hellfire missiles and see the bad guys with thermal imaging. If you are interested in learning more about the Kiowa Warrior check out this web page. I am currently flying with Blackjack Troop, 3rd Squadron 17th Cavalry, part of the 10th Mountain Division at Ft. Drum, New York.
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This is our troop patch, which we wear on our flight suits (Contrary to regulations- but then we're aviators, and we do stuff like that). I designed it myself! We had 100 of them made up, and they sold out quickly. |
Note: Click on the images for larger pictures.
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Pulling into a battle position for gunnery. |
Out in the desert at NTC. |
Tower flyby - note the "Blackjack" spade & triangle. |
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The ball on top is the MMS (Mast Mounted Sight). It usually gets a lot of questions but the name is pretty self-explanatory. It doesn't spin around with the rotor, rather the direction it points is controlled by the guy in the left seat who can look through a daytime TV camera or a Thermal Imaging System at night. All the weapons systems are targeted through the sight, so you really need two pilots to employ the aircraft. But our primary job isn't to kill stuff, it's to go out in front of everybody else, find the bad guys, and tell the real heavy hitters where the enemy is so THEY can get shot at! If you want to check out more on the MMS click here.
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A bunch of "crunchies" rapidly evacuating the LZ as Blackjack 10 takes off. |
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At the NTC right before a mission 1998 |
At sunrise, NTC |
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These are some older pictures from my enlisted days at Ft. Bragg when I was a UH 60 Blackhawk crew chief. Back then I was still deluded and had not discovered the true path - aero scouts and the CAV. But I did enjoy my time and eventually it led to the path I wanted to take - flight school.
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Crew chief buddies at JRTC in '96. That's me on the left. |
Enjoying a cup of Ranger Coffee (3 coffee packs & 3 hot chocolates) after finally getting out of the PEHA (Prisoner & Equipment Holding Area) at JRTC. |
Posing in front of my '60 (that goes for both the UH 60 and M60 machine gun) prior to a mission with B Company "Cavemen" of 2-82 AVN, Ft. Bragg. |
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Pre-jump on Green Ramp at Ft Bragg. Background is a C-141. Jumping out of airplanes is fun - for about five tries. After that, you begin to doubt your sanity. |
My UH 60 tail-number 272. If you want to learn more about 'Hawks click here. I crewed the Blackhawk for three years. |
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