Afghanistan

C

Cali

Well-known member
Been here since December and just a few pics I've taken

Gave a "PR" ride to some foreign troops, they had a great time















Fresh fruit from a FOB that won't be named. Was sooo good!






And flew some Miami cheerlears and players around


Be home soon and can't wait :teeth
Certainly not going to miss IEDs, IDF, helicopters getting shot at and some shot up
 
carries an axe

carries an axe

meat bone meat meat meat
Btw, I know it doesn't seem like it right now but you have the life. Always wanted to be a pilot like you're doing.

What you see is only what I imagine

Also, does the Blackhawk handle like a gymnast or a bus?
 
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C

Cali

Well-known member
Personal and social life doesn't really exist out here, kind of gets put on hold. But have done some cool flying and had some good experiences.

The 'Hawk can move! It is capable of so much more than the Army lets us do, but even with the restrictions of intentional banks of 60 degrees and climbs/descents of 30 degrees, you can have a lot of fun!

The one mission that will always stand out was a med chase up north. I'm in an air assault unit so we have guns. Medevac doesn't so we will go with them and pull security.

Got a call for a 9-line, rushed out, got spun up, and left. Enroute we were up high, but about 15k out from a hot LZ we dropped down - way down to 30 feet AGL with a ground speed around 170mph. Chalk 1, the med bird, got on scene, popped up a little, made a hard right bank and landed while we took up an overhead position and orbited them at 200 feet to provide cover (and potentially be the target instead of the med on the ground). Heard some ground fire, but not at them and didn't see anything come up at us. Were on scene for about three minutes, they lift off, we make a hard right bank and dip down to gain speed, over fly our US and Afghan allies in a walled compound and can see them all looking up at us, then peace out. Was an exciting mission. But have lots of respect for the ground guys, their job is a lot harder than mine.

few more pics













flying doors off is nice
 
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Blankpage

Blankpage

alien
Cool pics. Everything looks covered in dust.
Easy to think of Afghanistan as a lost cause shithole but a couple of those pics indicate actual communities with urban planning and the whole nine yards.
Probably not a vacation destination.
Is it hard to recognize the hot babes just by their ankles?
 
C

Cali

Well-known member
The city is Kabul and there were going to be some really nice areas that never got fully developed or finished. Most of it looks like it sucks. Some of it appears decent from above. But even they have to deal with IEDs and suicide bombers and all that BS. Airliners coming out of KIA at night turn off all their lights after takeoff. Outside of big cities are lots of little villages. Some are way, way up on mountains, around the 10,000+ foot range.


And no idea what life is like for locals, we don't go out in the general public. Only time my boots are on ground is in secure locations with walls.
 
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Blankpage

Blankpage

alien
Never seen that view of Afghanistan before. Not a lot of backyard pools or cars. What's a day in the life like for ordinary joes living in all those houses? Doubt many have 9 to 5's and without cars it probably takes most of the day rounding up food to survive. Trying to imagine the hopes a parent would have for kids growing up in a place like that.
That is a baddass gig you have, stay safe.
 
Pushrod

Pushrod

Well-known member
Kicked a can down memory lane for me.

'Nam, 69-70, UH-1C, no doors, M-60 in my lap, endless hours on tour, intense minutes dealing with reality. No regrets but wouldn't want to do it again.
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
Thanx for your service. I worked for Dyncorp at Ft. Campbell '83-87. Avionics support for everything that the 101st AB, 2/17 Cav, 160 TF flew. UH-60A, OH-58A/C, UH-1H, CH-47D/F, AH-1P/S. I got rides in everything but the AH-1.
 
Cincinnatus

Cincinnatus

Not-quite retired Army
I've got some pics from Kandahar (nothing gory), but yeah, I was a fobbit. Wouldn't want to have been a convoy-type, those guys & the SF got hammered too often.

Ramp ceremonies are teh suck.
 
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