- Joined
- May 20, 2007
- Messages
- 249
Thanks to a rule that allows people with appointments to the Coast Guard Academy rides in Coast Guard aircraft, today I got a 30 minute flight in an HH-65C helicopter from Air Station Detroit! We took off from Burke-Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, headed west and flew over my house and high school at around 500 feet (very cool) and then headed over Lake Erie so I could fly for a little bit. I must admit that keeping the helicopter flying straight and level at even around 110 knots wasn't as easy as I'd thought it would be.
During the flight the real pilot turned to me and said something I thought was interesting... he said that (and I'm paraphrasing here): "If you're flying helicopters in the Navy, it's because you couldn't fly jets. If you're flying helos in the Air Force, it's because you couldn't fly bombers. The Coast Guard is the only service that specializes in helicopters, and a lot of our missions rely on them daily." So keep that in mind, helo-pilot-wannabes like myself.
Anyway, here are some pictures my mom took... I was going to take the camera up but I forgot. I wouldn't have been able to get any good shots from the front seat anyhow. My dad and I headed over to see the Indians game after, so all in all a great day!
Pictures.
During the flight the real pilot turned to me and said something I thought was interesting... he said that (and I'm paraphrasing here): "If you're flying helicopters in the Navy, it's because you couldn't fly jets. If you're flying helos in the Air Force, it's because you couldn't fly bombers. The Coast Guard is the only service that specializes in helicopters, and a lot of our missions rely on them daily." So keep that in mind, helo-pilot-wannabes like myself.
Anyway, here are some pictures my mom took... I was going to take the camera up but I forgot. I wouldn't have been able to get any good shots from the front seat anyhow. My dad and I headed over to see the Indians game after, so all in all a great day!
Pictures.