RAH-66 Comanche Roll-Out
By Mark Albertson: May 25, 1995, upwards of a thousand people gathered outside a hanger at the Sikorsky plant in Stratford, Connecticut. A collective cheer rose up from among the industry representatives and military officials when the initial prototype of the RAH-66 rolled out the doors. Among those on hand was Army Chief of Staff, General Gordon R. Sullivan, who observed that the Comanche, “. . . is the key to winning the information war, owning the night, and ensuring defeat to America’s future enemies.” And he added, that the Comanche will, “. . . fulfill our sacred pledge to provide...
Learn MoreCompel Our Opponents to Fulfill Our Will
By Mark Albertson: “In some ways the fragmented nature of the rebel movement worked to its advantage for much of the war. The USSR could find no central base of operations to bomb, no one strategy planning meeting to infiltrate, no single popular leader to negotiate with or eliminate. The Mujahidin’s steady harassment came from all directions in this war without borders. General Boris Gromov, the last commander of the Soviet 40th Army in Afghanistan, boasted on his last day in the country that, ‘no Soviet garrison or major outpost was ever overrun.’ “In this guerrilla war, however, that proved irrelevant.”...
Learn MoreUp Production
DOD has notified Boeing’s Vertol Division to speed up production of the CH-46A Sea Knight helicopter for the USMC. Increase was set at 100%. Two months earlier, DOD ordered Boeing to accelerate production of the CH-47A Chinook for the Army, again by 100%.
Learn MoreArrival of the First Team
More than 7,000 men of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) with their “Steeds” arrived in Vietnam in mid-September, aboard USS Buckner, USS Boxer and USS Darby. The men of “The First Team” were greeted by GEN. W.C. Westmoreland, commander of U.S. Forces in Vietnam. Advanced elements of the Airmobile Division arrived several weeks prior to set up their camp at An Khe.
Learn MoreTest Flight
BG George P. Seneff, Jr., (right) and Lockheed test pilot, Don Segner, are shown exiting the XH-51A following a recent trial flight at Oxnard, CA. The pair had flown the rigid-rotor compound aircraft to a speed of 259 mph. The jet-powered craft was flown as part of the flight program of the Army Aviation Material Laboratories at Fort Eustis, VA.
Learn MoreDesert Shield Notebook
Below is a roster of designated mailing addresses for OPERATION DESERT SHIELD based on APO New York numbers: ARCENT G-1 098521st COSCOM, Ft. Bragg 09657(129th Postal CO/Non DIV)101st ABN DIV (AA) 0930924th INF DIV (M) 0931582nd ABN DIV 0965618th ABN, AVN BDE 0965720th Engineers, 46th ENG BN 09657229th ATK HEL BN 09309197th INF BDE 0931511th ADA BDE 096563rd ACR 09209Please use APO zip codes as follows:Rank/Full Name/SSNOPERATION DESERT SHIELDUnit of Assignment/DetachmentAPO New York 09XXX
Learn MoreAnother Longbow?
At the battle of Crecy, August 26, 1346, British longbowmen determined the English victory. English archers overwhelmed Genoese crossbowmen employed by the French, firing five shafts to every one. Repeated charges by French heavy cavalry were decimated by showers of English arrows. Today, another Longbow may provide a like equalizer in the face of the mass Soviet tank armies in Eastern Europe… the AH-64 Apache.
Learn MoreToday’s Changing Threat Environment
By COL Thomas E. Reinkober Despite the euphoria surrounding the demise of the Soviet Union, the misplaced confidence in a peaceful world was clearly evident with Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait; fueling apprehension in the oil markets, while at the same time underscoring the reality which exists in the international community. In this environment of the changing nature of a tumultuous world, Army Aviation must remain at the forefront of training and equipment to be ready to defend this Nation’s interests.
Learn MoreI and the nation are proud of you
Army Aviator, Michael J. Novosel, actually joined the U.S. Army Air Corps on February 7, 1941. He flew bombers in World War II, applied for active duty status for the Korean conflict and in 1963, was in Atlanta employed by Southern Airways. It was then, out of a deep-seated strain of patriotism, that he gave up his Air Force Reserve rank of lieutenant colonel and joined the Army. His intent was to instruct new Army Aviators; instead, the Army sent him to Vietnam as a Dustoff pilot. He would eventually log two tours, 2,038 combat flight hours, 2,543 missions which...
Learn MoreConversion
The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey has successfully made the transition from helicopter mode to airplane while in flight. The aircraft flew at an altitude of 6,000 feet while making the transition into airplane mode. Top speed was held at 155 knots.
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