Yes indeed.....Now you know Grant that I would just have to chime in. What ya got there is 467 and 470; two of my squadron's birds. We've been doing a mix of playing in Northern Edge 2006, and real world SAR over the past week and will be continuing through to next week. On the menu: Urban CSAR, Water Ops, RAMZ, DLQ's on USN Destroyers, JCSAR with 1-52 AVN REG, CSAR and SOF Infil/Exfil. On the real-world SAR side we Medevac'd an injured airborne troop from one of the DZ's (severely broken hip), located an overdue aircraft (one deceased), slung some fuel for an NPS high-altitude Helo (Lama - searching for two missing climbers on Mt Foraker, right next to Mt McKinley up between the 14,000 and 17,000ft level), and a buttload of ELT searches.
Besides what Grant pointed out you'll also note the additional Nav lights up on the upper deck fairing, near the main rotor mast. And yes gentlemen...I owe you all a more recent walkaround of our Pavehawks with the newest Mods.
Which brings me to something I need to sahre with you. My father, who has been fighting a battle with advanced Parkinsons and a large brain tumor for three years, lost the battle this morning. I've been spending a lot of time with him and my family for the past few years, and more recently (last 6 months) have basically been spending all my time pulling my shifts at the unit, and helping my mom out with my father. I tell you all this because in the short term future I am going to be heavily involved with organizing the military funeral and helping my mother tie up lose ends, and help her preapre her house to sell.
I'm proud of my old man and his 32+ years of service to his country in the USAF. He went from slick-sleeve Airman to MSgt, and then went bootsrap (mustang) from O-1 to O-5. All of this without a set of wings on his chest. I learned most of what I know from him as far as leadership, compassion, taking care of your troops and your family and many other qualities too numerous to mention. The bottom-line is that I am very fortunate to be able to say that my dad was and always will be one of my heroes.
Sorry to make this a personal post, and maybe mostly off topic but I consider you all my modeling family. As such I just wanted you all to know why I might not be posting as much for the next few weeks, and maybe also to tell you a little bit about a man who had a huge impact on my life. I miss him already.
Oh, by the way....screw that fighter mafia fly-by missing man formation stuff......after they've fired the 21 round volley and are in the middle of folding the flag to present to my mom, theres gonna be a formation of Pavehawks thundering overhead.........that's what the old man would have wanted.
Take care,