I visited Mecca today...

Been there a few times - the last was when I installed Comanche prototype 2.  Unfortunately it got pulled back out to be used in some research.  It's one of the greatest aviation museums in the country.  One thing to remember - only about half of their total collection is on display.  There are many more interesting things stored in warehouses.  Before they built the current building, you could just wander the warehouses.  It was a poor display, but there are lots of interesting things in storage.

Here's a pic of me in the aircraft the day we installed it.  You can see the AH-64 prototype in the background.  As soon as the guys who have it are done, it's supposed to go back in this spot.

http://www.mindspring.com/~hollenbaugh/pics/Dan/P5250014.JPG

Dan H.

Thanks Jon

No photo's needed in paticular, just keep posting

P>S> personal note, do they have any of your books on sale in the gift shop?

David Voss wrote:

Sounds like you had a great time!  Did they have to ask you to leave at closing time?  By the way, what's the last picture of?

If I were a bettin' man I'd say that is a CH-47A Chinook (Nam' era maybe?)

Jon, 

Great pics. (that Cheyenne pic is especially purtty!). I look forward to more pics from the hallowed ground that is the Army Aviation Museum.

Cheers,

Jon,

They all look great.  Congrats on getting there.  Have fun. 

How about shooting your walk-arounds to Don at Prime Portal for all to drool over?

Gino,

I'm actually considering putting up my own website for everyone to see.  Things are in the works now, but I should have something going pretty soon.

I'm rather upset that the Comanche wasn't there.  I was looking forward to seeing it "in the flesh".  Guess I'll have to wait until its back from Huntsville. 

Great photos!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!

It sure is a shame that the AH-56 never went in to service.

It could have been a great aset to the troops in Nam at that time.

Mark

Cobrahistorian wrote:

Hey Mark, I put that last pic up just for you!

Mark

Cobrahistorian wrote:

I'm rather upset that the Comanche wasn't there.  I was looking forward to seeing it "in the flesh".  Guess I'll have to wait until its back from Huntsville.

Jon,

I hate to tell you this but I saw it when it was here. I went into the museum to get a -10 for the Longbow, from the gift shop, for my wife and went "Heck, Yeah!" Took a quick look around and noticed it looked like it was one of the nonflyable mock-ups, but that it had some of the improvements not available on any of the current kits, like the small vert stabs at the ends of the horizontal stab. Went back about a week and a half later with the digital camera during one of my daughter's Army JROTC competitions at Rucker and went "Heck, No!" Did a quick walk through of the museum and it was nowhere in sight, asked the people at the desk and they said the same thing, it's supposed to be back in the future.

Sorry you fell into the modeling abyss (aka: The Wiregrass),

Keith

Hey,

  I am the Navy Liaison Instructor at the Flight Medic School at Rucker. I am stationed in Pensacola and go up several time a year to play in the Huey's (I mean teach).....There is not much in the gift shop as far as books. Lots of cool art work and t-shirts though. There is an aviation shop outside the main the gate that is helo nuts dream.

It is also worth the trip to P'cola to visit the museum here on the air station. The gift shop has a great collection of books but you have got to remind yourself that your gonna pay gift shop prices.

If any body needs research photos from the Navy side just ask.  I'll be happy to snap some and e-mail them to you.

grandadjohn wrote:

Wish I could play with a HUEY again

Hey guys,

Got my "up slip" today.  Phase I is just about complete.  17 days of leave and then I'm in the cockpit!

Keith - The Comanche that was, and will again be, in the Ft. Rucker museum wasn't a mock-up.  It was prototype 2.  It was taken off flight status and put in storage condition when it was transferred.  As it sits, it only lacks a few pieces to be flyable.  Tail number is 95-0001, though the number painted on it was 94-0327.  We put the production version tail, which was flown on 327, onto the display aircraft, 001, because I wanted the museum aircraft to be as close to the production aircraft configuration as possible.

Dan H.

Cobrahistorian wrote:

Hey guys, Got my "up slip" today.  Phase I is just about complete.  17 days of leave and then I'm in the cockpit!

I guess that if I visit Mother in the near future looking to the skies will be more a matter of survival than wishful thinking!

Mac

I don't know if I will get there.  We are getting ready for rotations to support humanitarian missions.  I will probably be tied up until May or June with that and a 3 year old + a newborn makes for VERY LITTLE free time.

Mac

Amen Mac!

To the looking to the skys, not the humanitarian work or the kids, those are awesome things. But I have to work on that flightline 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, he could get me while he is just doing a taxi to a pad. Just kidding Jon, sorry I missed your return call and the time you were at Hanchey. Enjoy your leave!

Dan H,

Thanks for the info. As I said earlier I was in kind of a hurry to get to work so I just got a very quick look at it (i.e. as in no closer then the ropes allowed). I knew I didn't recognize the tail number as being flyable or having flown, I don't remember exactly what it was (that was what the picture run was for later) so I'll take your word for it. Again thanks for the info.

Mac, Jon, Dan, and all the rest of you have a good holiday's,

Keith

FMF Doc,

I have been pulling my hair out trying to remember the name of that store outside of Rucker- can you enlighten me, plz?!!  Did they have one of the OH-58J's out there with the itty bitty MMS? - one of these had a very odd set of skid saddles and shoes for C-130 on/off- kinda pre eurocopter- to dream of the older days

matt

Matt,

Are you talking about The Hangar outside the Daleville gate?

Dave,

I'll see what I can do.  I'm on leave now, but will be returning to Rucker on the 3rd.  There are a number of Hueys in the museum itself (two Ds and two Bs, one with TOW pods) and I saw two flying over the day I left, so I know they're around.  I'll do a little digging around when i get back!

Don't know if you're interested, but I shot a bunch of pics of a TH-1L today.  I coulda sworn it was a Charlie/Mike Huey, but it was really odd.  When I checked the data plate, it confirmed that it was, in fact a TH-1L and that it did have a 6-digit serial #.  It was in REALLY weird emerald green and standard hi-vis Vietnam-era markings.  I'll post pics in a bit.