Aircraft Track Selection...

[Bushmaster]

It is like yesterday I was learning how to hover and not crash in a TH-67 Creek, now it is about time I choose my career track. Initial Entry Rotary Wing training is coming to an end for me on March 1st with a Physical Fitness test. My final checkride is Thursday.

 

Unlike most other service branches, aviators in the US Army who select a track will stay with it until retirement in most cases. So what I select will become my life. I have a wish list of aircraft, but it will mostly depend on an order of merit list. One thing I learned in flight school that I get nervous during checkrides, I am not a huge hands on guy, but I aced every academic exam/test there was to it with a GPA of 99.3 ish but when you add the checkrides I am going to come down to mid 80s. Regardless of that, what do you think it will be ?

 

Here are some visuals...

 

 

 

 

[Insanatrix]

Flying isn't flying without really big weapons. Go for the Apache.

[EtherealN]

I sort of disagree. A UH-60 can often be just as much of a boon for the boots on the ground, and I can imagine the satisfaction of flying home from a SAR/CSAR with a downed pilot safe in the back.

 

...but yeah, gunships are just cooler. :P

[59th_LeFty]

And if someone like to pack it in a big rack, goes for the chinOOk ^^

[Krunkskimo]

id expect more love for the warrior or little bird!

 

 

is the MH-6 a choice?

 

nothing like fast, agile, and deadly, you could even use your side arm if you really needed.

 

I imagine a Chinook would be funner in the Navy.

Edited February 23, 2011 by Krunkskimo

[vrv]

Shithook all the way. Oh you can blow things up in the Apache and Kiowa? You can carry people and shoot things in the UH-60? Good for you. But you aren't flying a damn flying banana that can pick up other helicopters, fly around, transport soldiers / vehicles AND shoot things while hauling something big around. That and you won't have to worry about going evasive to avoid enemy fire or RPG's. Just give it some rudder and you'll take it right in the side and keep flying.

[SonofEil]

Shithook all the way. Oh you can blow things up in the Apache and Kiowa? You can carry people and shoot things in the UH-60? Good for you. But you aren't flying a damn flying banana that can pick up other helicopters, fly around, transport soldiers / vehicles AND shoot things while hauling something big around. That and you won't have to worry about going evasive to avoid enemy fire or RPG's. Just give it some rudder and you'll take it right in the side and keep flying.

 

So which one did you actually vote for?

Chinook is still showing 0 votes.:music_whistling:

[AlphaOneSix]

I spent 6 years as an AH-64 mechanic.

 

If I got a chance to do it over and go to flight school, I'd pick the UH-60 without a doubt. Being a pilot is ALL about building time. You want to build time, stay AWAY from the Apache. You will fly your ass off in Hawks and Hooks.

 

My suggestion, if you want gunships really bad...Go Hawks, build hours, get a few years under your belt, then assess with SOAR. While you would likely stay UH-60 in SOAR they are much more likely than the regular army to switch you around in airframes if you could better fill a need in another airframe. Also, if you play your cards right, you could get DAPs. Two of my coworkers were DAP pilots, and I know several DAP crew chiefs, and they all loved it. I also work with numerous Hook and Little Bird guys.

 

Without a doubt, the most arrogant pilots, and also the pilots who had the LEAST amount of flying skill post-military, were the AH-64 guys. Where I work now, we have roughly 40 helicopter pilots, all of them prior military. We have guys with a wide array of experience and skills. We have two AH-64 pilots out of those 40, neither is a very strong pilot, and one is a arrogant piece of shit. Our strongest pilots come from SOAR and another unnamed unit, and what makes them the best is the fact that they just have so much flying experience on a variety of airframes.

 

Seriously, if you want to be a PILOT for now and the rest of your life, 64s are probably a bad choice. I didn't mention KWs because I'm not a big fan of them either. They are a better choice than 64s, but not nearly as good as Hawks or Hooks.

 

All in all, it's up to you and I'm sure you know what's best for you and that your choice will ultimately be the one that makes the most sense for you. I wish you the best of luck.

[AlphaOneSix]

is the MH-6 a choice?

 

Not during flight school, no.

[mikoyan]

No one can deny the cool factor of the apache but I just don't feel comfortable holding the responsibility of deploying weapons; but I guess training and dedication can overcome that type of feeling. If it was me my two options would be the apache or the uh-60; but probably I would go for the uh-60; I love the idea that you can do a lot more stuff than the apache; you can rescue people; do medevac; you can transport stuff; do ground support; you can do infiltration missions and so on... I guess that no matter what you choose you can't go wrong; so good luck and do your best every day!

Once I asked some cadets and my city air-force; which helicopter would they rather fly; the uh-1h or the uh-60; their answer was:

"we don't care if it is an uh-1 or uh-60 both are awesome"

[Bushmaster]

Excellent discussion guys, I have been an Apache mechanic/armament technician myself, I requested it as my first choice as I am familiar with the systems but I don't know if the Army will have the slot for me. I agree with you wholeheartedly A16. I have heard the same advice before. UH-60 is #2 on my request list but it is very likely to show up on my plate.. Too bad they are not offering the latest Mike model in huge numbers yet, 1 or 2 per class right now. I am also a very gentle humble person, I don't talk much, I listen a lot and there is no room for BS in my life. So far in my units most 64 guys acted like they were God's gift to humanity. If I get it, I hope to make a difference. I know noone might like me :)

 

There is nothing better out there other than SOAR. Once I was dreaming about getting in to flight school and I saw many obstacles in my way, now I see the same for SOAR, but I was dedicated enough for this and accomplished it, so SOAR is no different.

[Bushmaster]

I have been sick for the past couple days but we did select aircraft last Wednesday, I made it to class top 3 and the winner is;

 

[Krunkskimo]

congrats.

 

careful around trees.