Family Day at the Airfield
This past Friday on February 1 was Family Day at the airfield. The families and friends of the pilots were invited to come see them fly and get a good look at the helicopters.
It was a really special day because these guys have been working really hard. Right now half of their time is dedicated to flying and half is dedicated to studying. They fly with one partner and one very experienced instructor pilot. I've been able to help Ben study the material they are tested over and I have to say, I have gained so much respect for what these guys are doing. The numbers, gauges, operations, and protocol they have to know is seriously impressive.
The helicopter the Army uses for training and that Ben is currently flying is called a TH-67. It is the Army's primary training helicopter and is used during initial entry rotary wing training. Before Ben came to Fort Rucker and became a Warrant Officer he was a crew chief on the Army's Apache helicopter. Therefore, I'm accustomed to the expansiveness and grandeur of that aircraft. The TH-67 was much smaller than I had anticipated (I honestly don't know how Ben fits inside). The aircraft is so small and light that Ben reports that it is very difficult to fly at times because of its vulnerability to the wind. I just shake my head in agreement.
In a few months Ben will have completed this portion of his training and will be selecting the helicopter that he will be flying as his career. There are four options: Apache, Black Hawk, Chinook and Kiowa. They don't always get their first choice, due to quantity available and pilots needed at the time of selection. Ben is hoping for the Apache, which is the Army's primary attack helicopter.
Here is a video I compiled of some of the footage from Family Day to share with friends and family who would have loved to have been there.
It was a really special day because these guys have been working really hard. Right now half of their time is dedicated to flying and half is dedicated to studying. They fly with one partner and one very experienced instructor pilot. I've been able to help Ben study the material they are tested over and I have to say, I have gained so much respect for what these guys are doing. The numbers, gauges, operations, and protocol they have to know is seriously impressive.
The helicopter the Army uses for training and that Ben is currently flying is called a TH-67. It is the Army's primary training helicopter and is used during initial entry rotary wing training. Before Ben came to Fort Rucker and became a Warrant Officer he was a crew chief on the Army's Apache helicopter. Therefore, I'm accustomed to the expansiveness and grandeur of that aircraft. The TH-67 was much smaller than I had anticipated (I honestly don't know how Ben fits inside). The aircraft is so small and light that Ben reports that it is very difficult to fly at times because of its vulnerability to the wind. I just shake my head in agreement.
In a few months Ben will have completed this portion of his training and will be selecting the helicopter that he will be flying as his career. There are four options: Apache, Black Hawk, Chinook and Kiowa. They don't always get their first choice, due to quantity available and pilots needed at the time of selection. Ben is hoping for the Apache, which is the Army's primary attack helicopter.
Here is a video I compiled of some of the footage from Family Day to share with friends and family who would have loved to have been there.
I'm about to toot my own husband's horn, but that's what wives are for, right? (He'll never even know because he doesn't check my blog). I am soooooo very very proud of Ben's hard work and accomplishments. Ever since we started dating he has talked about aspiring to be a U.S. Army Aviation Warrant Officer and flying helicopters. With a lot of focus, hard work and dedication he has accomplished this goal and I have have so much admiration for him.
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