UH1H TRAINING CANCELLED

[Chris]

Training Monday 27th July Cancelled but running an op mission instead....

"Preacher Six, roger wilco." Williams started his turn back to the LZ. "Preacher Six, artillery is still preparing the LZ. Be careful." "Roger. Preacher Six now on short final." The LZ was a narrow strip of brushy, dry sand next to the foothills on the west side of the valley. Following previous instructions, we moved into a staggered trail formation. "Preacher Six, receiving small-arms' fire from the westl" That was Connors. "Yellow flight, this is Preacher Six. ......Pick your spots. The LZ is rough." Williams was just off the ground in his landing flare. Morris and Decker were fifty feet off, and I was behind them maybe a hundred feet. "Preacher Six, this is Yellow Two. Captain Morris is hit. Captain Morris is hit bad!" Morris's ship suddenly dropped fast from twenty feet and landed hard. "Yellow Four is receiving fire from the right." There was nothing to see on our right except a long row of dead brush. .........I pulled in a lot of power and climbed for the sky. I climbed much higher than Williams, and at about 1000 feet, the engine quit. Silence. I bottomed the pitch. It was my first authentic forced landing, and I was ex-tremely lucky. The spot I was aiming for was the spot I was supposed to land in anyway. It was secure. I skidded ten feet when I hit, and the rotors quietly slowed and stopped. The crew chief was already inspecting the damage be-fore I got out of the ship. "Four rounds through the fuel lines, sir." We wouldn't be flying that ship anymore to-day.
CHICKENHAWK - ROBERT MASON "A hypnotic narrative" -The New York limes "Better than any movie about the war" -Boston Herald "Maybe Vietnam is best seen through a shattered heli-copter windshield. Chickenhawk is one bloody, painfully honest, and courageous book.

Monday 27th July 730pm
Operational Mission - Vietnam themed.

RED / BLUE Troop Basic Pilot rated - everyone rated encouraged to attend if possible
DUSTOFF any one who can land and follow ADF, pilots to be recovered marked by smoke
AMMO resupply single ships - any one who can read a map

Short distances
Firefights
Arty
Blood, Guts and Glory Stuff
F10 Map only
SRS
Flak jackets and chicken plates to be worn.

Andrew Flight Lead if agreeable
Neil AMC - no choice if present
Scooby & I Gunship deployment if we can get a couple of hours training in somewhere beforehand - else slicks
Post interest here please...

[john (scooby)]

in!! i really need to shoot something after last night!
we can arrange training on discord?

[0405 Andrew]

Definitely in.
I'd be very happy to flight lead.

[Paul(Dragon)0043]

Yep, I'm in. Can I be at the back please.

[Neil Willis]

Unfortunately I will be away this week Chris. I am off to Wales for a short break.

Hope the mission is well attended.

Neil

[Chris]

R&R so soon into the tour? Boy, you must have a ranker as an uncle or something... enjoy....

[0405 Andrew]

Really sorry, I will have to withdraw.
It turns out I will also be unable to make this Monday as I have a meeting, I will also be missing the following 2 Mondays as we'll be away on holiday.

Have a good one.

[Neil Willis]

It's easy taking time off when you're the gaffer Chris

[Richard Rodgers]

So you're the Gaffer now Neil?

I take it Kerstin doesn't read the forum.

[Neil Willis]

No she doesn’t or I’d never get away with that Richard!