80th Anniversary of Army Aviation Part II
“Wings for Santa Barbara”[1]By Major William W. Ford, Field Artillery Source: The Field Artillery Journal, Vol. 31, No. 4, U.S. Field Artillery Association, Washington, D.C., April 1941. The author of ‘Wings for Santa Barbara,’ Major William Wallace Ford, soon to be Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace Ford, first Director of Air Training. * * * * * The literary effort below was from the pen of Major William Wallace Ford, who would eventually become Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace Ford, the Director of Air Training of the Air Observation Post, the origins of Army Aviation. The year...
Learn More80th Anniversary of Army Aviation, Part I
Eighty years ago, June 6, 1942, the Air Observation Post was formed. The background to this use of light planes for the direction of artillery fire, is the result of a fascinating period of history, the 1930s to 1942. Airpower and aircraft technology were quickly gaining converts. Even today, new technologies breeds interest, since Man likes the new toys he creates. Old-line methods of war, then, were becoming susceptible to change—Infantry, Artillery, Cavalry. . . With the latter, the horse was being displaced by the iron horse, the tank. Motorized infantry was further developing since the Western Front, 1914-1918....
Learn MoreLooking Back, January 1959
Briefings Meeting the requirements of the newer Civil Air Regulations which were stiffened in 1956 with regard to flight safety and structural integrity, the Hiller H-12E was awarded official Type Certification by the FAA. The Hiller H-12E is the only commercial helicopter in the three-place category certified under the new CAR. In addition . . . . . . Fairey Aviation’s Rotordyne has established a world’s speed record in the new convertiplane category in flying a 100 kilometer course at an average 190.9 miles per hour. Source: See page 4, “Briefings,” Army Aviation, Vol. 7, No. 1, Army...
Learn MoreRemember When?
(From Army Aviation archives. Page 27, Vol. 3, No. 3, New York, NY., March 1955. By: Lieutenant Colonel Thomas E. Haynes, OCT, D/A.) WWII vintage L-4 and the two characters are Major Carpenter (right)[1] and Lt. Col. Thomas E. Haynes (left) “D.C.—Here’s a ‘Remember When?’ snapshot of interest. Of course, you’ll recognize the WWII vintage L-4 and the two characters are Major Carpenter (right)[1] and myself (left). Carpenter was sort of a legendary character with the 4th Armored Division and is alleged to have knocked out several tanks with the bazookas (mounted on the struts). My only connection with...
Learn MoreAviation Attack Icon Retires After 38 Years
Story and photos by Lisa Eichhorn: It was truly the end of an era for Army Aviation as CW5 Robert A. “Bobby Mac” McBeal took his last flight in an AH-64D Longbow helicopter on November 4 in Illesheim, Germany. Especially when you consider his first assignment with Army Aviation was that of a crew chief and door gunner in Vietnam. McBeal as a young WO1 in Vietnam playing cards between missions in the back of a UH-1. McBeal’s 38-year career began in 1966. Although his first 19 months in Vietnam were spent crewing and gunning on birds, he later returned...
Learn MoreThe Coop That Flew
Development of a new highly mobile, air transportable communications center, designed to direct fast moving U.S. Army forces was announced recently by the Department of the Army. The system, which has an extremely high degree of mobility, can be set down almost anywhere by helicopters, and be flown out immediately for relocation elsewhere. It can also be move rapidly from place to place on conventional Army trucks. A helicopter soars away with part of the airborne combat communications center. Inside the shelter is a complete teletypewriter room with facilities to service an area hundereds of miles wide. other shelters, all...
Learn MoreDistortion
Looking Back/ Van Nuys, California—Although the camera lens distortion makes it look like a protective umbrella over the U.S. Army Cheyenne combat helicopter, the pictured 25-foot (7.5-meter) long rotor blade is actually only 28 inches (71 centimeters) wide. Almost undetectable to the untrained eye, blade twist, taper, and camber—a new rotary wing design combination—are expected to greatly improve the helicopter’s flight performance. Seen in the Cheyenne’s blade shade at Lockheed’s Van Nuys, California plant, flight-test engineer Jim Upton takes a long look from the thick rotor root to the thin tip. Source: Page 31, “Distortion,” Army Aviation, Vol. 18, No....
Learn MoreWorld Record
Looking Back / By Mark Albertson: Stratford, Connecticut: Sikorsky Aircraft has claimed the world helicopter speed record for its S-67 Blackhawk following a December 19, 1970 flight over a 15-to-25 kilometer course at a speed of 220.6 mph. This breaks the former record of 217.7 mph, established by the French Sud Super Freton, in 1963. Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk / Army photo The dash was monitored by officials of the National Aeronautic Association. The course itself was 19 kilometers in length, stretching from Milford to Branford, Connecticut. The Blackhawk had previously set a record for the three kilometer course on December 14, hitting...
Learn MoreClimatic Test
Looking Back / By Mark Albertson: February 1963 – A U.S. Army YUH-1D Iroquois has completed the Air Force phase of its adverse weather testing program and has been turned over to the Army for more climatic torture. In successive periods, the YUH-1D endured climatic testing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The aircraft has drawn favorable reports after testing in temperatures that ranged from 65 degrees below zero to 125 above. The Iroquois “D” model has since been turned over to the Army in Alaska for further testing. Army...
Learn MoreWidespread Debuts
Looking Back / Army Aviation, January 1956: FORT WORTH, TEXAS—Tomorrow’s helicopter is on display today at Bell Aircraft Corporation’s Fort Worth plant. Labelled as the Bell XH-40, is a prototype that emerged the winner of the Army’s utility helicopter design competition. Bell’s single-rotor, turbine-powered craft is capable of matching the climbing performance of some World War II fighters, together with the get up and go of many of today’s light airplanes. YH-16 A detailed, full-scale mock-up model of the radically different military helicopter was unveiled late in November, more than three months ahead of schedule, for a going-over by a seven-man...
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