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What Did You Do Last Weekend?

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  • Member since
    December 2002
What Did You Do Last Weekend?
Posted by SNOOPY on Saturday, October 16, 2004 9:54 AM
This weekend is kind of dull compared to last weekend. Last weekend, I got a chance to visit Sikorsky Aircraft in Strafford, CT. An excellent place to be on a Saturday. It is always nice to see the assembly line for the Blackhawks and Seahawks being made. Also, got to really see how the rotors are made. All about 85% composite materials. They cannot keep up with the Army's demand. Desert sand is tearing them up fast. They had an H-53 just in from Iraq that you could go through and a Schwieser 300 which Sikorsky bought the company. They did not have any pictures or mock-ups of the Commanche or the new V-92. Senator Clinton is trying her hardest to get the President not to buy the Sikorsky V-92 instead have the company Eurocopter make the new Presidential helicopter. The place was spotless and everything was impressive. I love that place.
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: savannah ga.
Posted by GA.modelmaker on Saturday, October 16, 2004 11:07 AM
i went deer hunting. and this weekend i started a new job and home for the day but after i leave the house it will be back in the woods it tlook for the big one that i have pics of.Big Smile [:D]Big Smile [:D]
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posted by ridleusmc on Saturday, October 16, 2004 5:36 PM
I was at Sikorsky too. I was one of the Marines with the CH-53E. I had fun that weekend. Everybody was asking some great questions.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 17, 2004 2:35 AM
I was (still am) pulling alert and worked two missions. One where we searched for the pilot of a crashed Supercub in Cook Inlet (Alaska). Never did find him as he went down with the bird as it sank. Troopers are still looking for the wreckage with a sonar equipped boat. Then they'll send the divers in to do the body recovery. The second mission we found a group of 5 hunters after there boat swamped in Prince William Sound. 5 Saves. Hopefully this weekend will be nice and quiet.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 17, 2004 6:53 PM
I went to the IPMS Vancouver Fall Show last weekend. it was pretty cool, and i got some good deals on kits and supplies.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
Posted by Cobrahistorian on Sunday, October 17, 2004 7:04 PM
Worked at the Silent Wings Museum for the annual WWII Glider Pilot Association Reunion. Got to speak to several glider pilots and listen to their stories. WOW.

Other than that, I've just been working on the book.... due in 3 weeks!

"1-6 is in hot"
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Ft. Bragg, NC
Posted by adrake2 on Sunday, October 17, 2004 8:09 PM
I was out in the field for the Army ROTC's Field Training Exercise. It was a good time and we incorperated a few new things to our training schedule, including basic rifle marksmenship and MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) Training. All in preparation for advanced camp this summer.
-Aaron
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
Posted by Cobrahistorian on Sunday, October 17, 2004 11:10 PM
Adrake,

What reg't you going to try to go at? I'll be at NALC this summer too. Get to commission at Camp.

"1-6 is in hot"
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Ft. Bragg, NC
Posted by adrake2 on Monday, October 18, 2004 2:03 PM
I'll find out sometime in March or April. I'm hoping for a spot in mid July to early August so I can fit some summer classes in my schedule. NALC has been changed to LDAC (Leadership Development and Assessment Course) just this year. I've got 19 months before I commission.
-Aaron
  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by SNOOPY on Monday, October 18, 2004 5:47 PM
RIDLEUSMC,

I probably walked past you at one point. I was inside the CH-53 taking to the woman electrician (not sure exact what her title was). I had my daughter there. She loved sitting in the cockpit. Sikorsky is a pretty neat place. It was better five years when they did this. The hanger at that time was filled with historical photos and facts following Sikorsky's career and inventions.

SEMPER FI!
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posted by ridleusmc on Tuesday, October 19, 2004 2:56 AM
Snoopy,

That was Private First Class Driggers in the cabin. She's an Avionics Tech. I was standing out front by the fuel probe. I had some fun that weekend. They gave us a tour of the plant, which included a few minutes in Igor's office. I loved it. I wouldn't mind going back sometime. I felt kinda bad though, someone decided to take the worst looking aircraft we have. My buddy was afraid that the kids playing with the flight controls would break something, but we flew it back OK.

I'm glad you enjoyed it too,
Chris
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
Posted by Cobrahistorian on Tuesday, October 19, 2004 10:25 AM
Aaron,

Yeah, we've pretty much been calling it "Whiskey Foxtrot "since they decided to start calling advanced camp Warrior Forge. Trying to figure out how to fit a "Tango" in there. Only seems appropriate. I would have liked to have gone this past summer, but they changed the regs so you can do both LTC and LDAC in one summer about 2 days before I left for LTC, so I couldn't go to both. Just waiting for July now....
"1-6 is in hot"
  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by SNOOPY on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 12:38 PM
Chris,

The ch-53 was too bad. It brings back memories smelling hydraulic fluid and fuel. They usually do this little shindig about every four to five years. More people were at this one than the 75th Anniversary. Did the CH-53 have any upgrades when you were there or where there just for show and tell?

Scott
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posted by ridleusmc on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 1:09 PM
It was just there for show and tell. Several people asked if that ragged looking old bird was there for a refit, but that was just the only "UP" aircraft that wasn't committed elsewhere. The thing flies better than it looks. Another fun part about that trip was a brief we had on the CH-53X which Sikorsky is trying to sell to the Marine Corps. They hope to be delivering to the fleet around 2015.

Chris
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