Huey Driver Loc: Texas

Becoming an Army helicopter pilot

From Ft. Wolters, TX to Ft. Rucker, Ala.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7IX0lRRGCc

FRENCHY Loc: Stone Mountain , Ga

That was great, I try to fly and control an RC one...what a challenge it was, for me anyway.

Thanks

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

I remember when I made the statement "I certainly could fly one of those R/C airplanes if I can fly a real plane". After I totaled a couple I thought to myself "well there might be a little more to this than I thought". After I got proficient with the R/C airplanes I thought about an R/C helicopter but never did get up the courage and money to try and fly one after the experience with the R/C planes.

FRENCHY Loc: Stone Mountain , Ga

Now, I don't feel so bad after crashing 2 choppers and a training plane..

I heard something one day on the field that " Helicopter is a big question mark, one wants to know why a "million" parts work against each other to make this thing fly?" is it a real concern?

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

When you think about helicopter parts all working together it's a wonder there aren't more crashes. Never gave it a thought when I was flying them. One more reason the military especially likes young pilots. They don't realize they really are not invincible.

FRENCHY Loc: Stone Mountain , Ga

Like they say, "They are full of piss and Vinegar".

Thanks to you and them for your service

usnret Loc: Woodhull Il

Good evening Huey Driver. Just wondering if you knew a Mark Garrison, also a Nam Huey driver? He tells some great stories on u-tube, lots of humor, the realities of the war and his memories of being there, all in great detail. I'v'e yet to come across a better story teller.

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

Sorry can't say I ever heard of him

cincykid

Loved it on two levels. I was an Army motion picture photographer (MOS 84c20). The training film was produced by the Army Pictorial Center. I was assigned to the European "branch" of The APC.

On the second level, our youngest son's father-in-law is a retired 'full bird' who flew helicopters and fixed wing in VN. He is a member of a VN helicopter pilot's association which meets in Alaska annually. I just forwarded him the link for this video. I'm sure it will bring back memories. Thanks for posting.

KoniOmegaflex Loc: Central KY

Enjoyed the video. My nephew was a Ranger and a Cobra pilot. He was at Rucker but I'm not sure when. He was in Hawaii for awhile and then St. Charles, MO. Of all things, he was killed in a motorcycle accident riding to work one early morning.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Thanks for the link to that video. I can say, “Been there, done that.” Sure brought back a lot of memories. I remember that first time when the IP handed the cyclic control to me, while he maintained control of the pedals and collective pitch control and throttle. It was at that moment I realized I was in control of absolutely nothing. Did some interesting antics. It was like that with each control, then two at a time, then finally, all three. I think I finally got it one day when he told me to start it up and hover out to lane 6 of the training field. I did, and fairly well, until I got out to lane 6 and realized I’d done it, then everything went to pot on me until I settled down. I think I soloed at the 8 hour level. After that, it became pretty much fun. Instrument training at Ft. Rucker was tough for me, but I got through it, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Huey training. I learned to love that Huey. And yes, shortly after graduation, I found myself in Sunny SE Asia on an all expenses paid “vacation” paid for by Uncle Sam. Trouble was, it wasn’t particularly fun, and sometime, terrifying! I’m glad I got the training I received from the Army.

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

LOL! Remember that as well. I thought I would never be able to use all the controls at once since I was having so much trouble with just the damn pedals. Then when I came back from Nam and was instructing students at Wolters I remembered all that again and got a kick out of my students having the same problems.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Yep, same here. It was always satisfying when the student suddenly “got it” and it all came together. Made me feel good. Then I went on to become a standardization instructor pilot and had to deal with rated aviators. There were some truly bad pilots, and I couldn’t understand how they made it through a year in Vietnam. I had one captain who thought he did a certain maneuver better than I did, why that was, since I was the instructor. I told him the difference, based on his generally poor piloting skills was, that he didn’t know why, and I did. He didn’t have an answer. He actually wasn’t as good as he thought. I enjoyed my time as an army helicopter pilot, and I missed it for quite awhile.

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

After VN I was an IP (military then Southern Airways) at Wolters from 1965 thru a few months towards the end of the VN war. I can tell you something about why there were so many bad pilots. Around 1967 or 68 the demand for more helicopter pilots for VN service became a serious problem of supply and demand. That's when things started to really change. Poor students were rarely flunked out of the program for flight deficiencies alone. Not to say there weren't good students at that time also. But, the thought was even though a poor student probably would never be good enough to be an aircraft commander especially in combat they might be trained enough to at least get the ship on the ground if something were to happen to the command pilot. I saw a lot of students go through the program that under normal circumstances would never have been good enough to graduate. It was a very frustrating time for many instructors.

biggin1a Loc: San Antonio, TX

I recall nights at Fort Wolters sitting on the toilet with a plunger (simulated collective) in hand practicing for flight. I went on to fly Dustoff a few months later. Great experience with some great folks. I never got to fly the Blackhawk.