Cobrahistorian

I know what you mean about holding, I checked in one heck of rainstorm in a UH-1B.  We had water streaming in all over, the VOR finally started to go nuts.  I suggested we depart holding and stay local, the Check pilot agreed and said “Pink Slip ally it is…”

Stop by Cairns RAPCON.  Get to know the folks.  I did. 

When my Check pilot wanted me to request the “full Approach” they recognized my voice and vectored me in to final every time.  Drove the check pilot nuts. 

He got even by leaning over the console and garbing a hand full of AC circuit breakers on final for a GCA.  It was interesting losing about half my instruments - Artificial Horizon, DG, and one or two others…

Good luck, stay loose.

And just remember the only way your going to go faster than a Hook, is if it drops you!  ;~)

Bryan,

Thanks!  I check in ten days.  Gettin a little stressed.  I'm definitely one of those guys that has needed to do everything possible to learn this stuff.  Holding has kicked my butt from day 1 to now.  Oh well...I'll be in the -64 course in six weeks. 

Viper,

Are you asking about the black painted areas?  If so, they fade to some variation of black.  They usually go to gray and then the paint wears thruogh to yellow primer if it gets that far.  On antennas you will see a white undercoating as the black wears.

Mac

BTW “Cobrahistorian” Good luck with Instruments, some folks think instrument flying in a helicopter is an un-natural act - punishable by God.

Me I always enjoyed it!

Keep the greasy side down…

Bryan Wilburn

The “Official” name for the paint used on Army Helos is “Aircraft Green”.  The GSA FS color number is 34031  To see what it looks like online go here:

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorserver/showcolor.asp?fs=34031

Mapping of the GSA FSN  http://www2.siri.org/msds/f2/bhc/bhcph.html

It’s a mixture of green and black, and will only closely match the FS number freshly painted.  It tends to fade to different colors and will vary from forest green to a black.  It is also very “rough” and scuffs easily.  Camera film has a problem duplicating it as the IR qualities drive film and some digitals nuts.

The object of the paint it to reduce/break up the IR signature of the aircraft and it does a good job of it.

You will go nuts trying to match, so try for a ballpark mix.

The cockpit interior is usually painted “Aircraft Interior Black” on tactical aircraft that have NVG capability, 4/1 mix of flat black to flat white gets it nicely - the entire cockpit is this color.  The cabin area is DGG, Dark Gull Gray FS 36231.  Prior to the NVG mod Army Helo cockpits were DGG.

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorserver/showcolor.asp?fs=36231

Enjoy your flights in the Lawn Dart!  :~)

Viper,

Best paint to use is Testors Model Master Helo Drab.  It is the closest approximation of CARC paint there is. 

Saw you're IA Guard, two of my buddies here in flight school are from there.  Good guys!