Hollywood!!

Yeah, I went and took mom and the girls to see tyhe Guardian as well.  Hey, SAR pic with a storyline taking place in Alaska...of courtse I had to see it.  Funny thing is (like Don's wife) my girls were pointing out some of the gaffs in the film.  ANyway, all in all I thought it was worth the money.

Hey Don,

Now you know my background so my biggest question was with the last scene.  While we don't carry around a spare hoist cable, I do know we have a hoist cable splice.  Didn't (don't) you guys have the same thing?  Coulda short hauled them to shore depending on where the splice was.  Or hows about toss em a MA-1 kit and wait for #2 to show up.  I will say that I don't think we woulda done a direct hoist given that scenario.  Better to put me in the water and let me work up to the vessel.  Same deal on recovery,,,take em into the water first.  Just looked like too much rigging and heaving.  Bottom line is any FE worth his salt would have DEFINATELY done a hoist cable inspection after the strike.

Damn!!!!!!  also didn't realize the ole' Hawk blew up so easily

Blackhawk Down....everyone here who knows me knows how I feel about that one.  BTW, Wilky beat cancer and is back at Hurby as a civilian working with the STS.  If you ever need advice on good cigars or labrador retreivers, he's the man.

Your right Sal,

No direct delivery in that situation. I was lucky, in the eight years I was the dangler on the hook,  I had only competant Flight Mechanic's that wouldn't dare hoist me alone with a cable that bad, let alone TWO on it. They would most likely put us back in the water, cut the cable and use the quick splice, yep we carry them too. HOLLYWOOD!

Also in my time in Alaska, we never flew anywhere ALONE. There was always a C-130 for top cover or another helo within shouting distance, ours or ANG, or a CG cutter. . .as a last resort.

I knew both ASTC Flythe, the bald guy with the 'stash in the movie and AST1 Bob Watson, skinny guy, got to yell for them to get out of the pool. Flew with them in Alaska and here in Michigan with 'Butch' Flythe. Butch was also an insructor at E-city when I was going through the swimmer program wayyyyyy back in '89. Bob just retired a month ago, now he had some really hairy rescues in Alaska. . .oh and E-8's don't stand duty of any type, might be on recall if the big one goes up, or a fill in an emergency, but not a beeper carrying swimmer.

Don