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The MSG -> (12/26/2002 11:27:08 PM)
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Culiacan Mexico
[B]The Egyptians were sold 33 AH-64 Apache Attack helicopters, but now they only have 32. It seems a Lieutenant (Co-pilot gunner CPG) and a Lieutenant Colonel (Pilot) were out doing low level night training, which is not something they like to do, and decided they had enough. The Lieutenant Colonel/pilot began to climb and to turn right, but something went wrong… the Lieutenant Colonel/pilot lost his orientation. After climbing to 5,000-7,000 ft. his climbing right turn became a descending right turn; and when informed by his Co-pilot/Lieutenant that they needed an attitude adjustment the Lieutenant Colonel/pilot pushed the cyclic (stick) forward even farther, while pulling it farther to the right. By now the aircraft was probably in at least a 30 degree bank and 60 degrees nose down with a probable air speed in excess of 350 knots. The Lieutenant Colonel/pilot was total disorientated and confused about his position/attitude and the Co-pilot/Lieutenant was screaming in fear/ terror when the plowed nose first into the ground.
The crash investigators checked the crash scene out and took numerous pictures. The pilots are strapped in by a 4 point seat belt system, which gives maximum protection, but in this situation it didn’t matter, because the force of the impact ripped the Co-pilot from the cockpit. Break both shoulders and his legs; he was propelled through the blast shield (designed to withstand a 20mm round impact). His body was found more than a hundred meters from the crash site, while his head was found still in the helmet somewhat farther away. The pilots was not ejected on impact and burned up in the crash.
At least once a year, over beer, copies of crash investigation and pictures from the scene are passed around to the new Tactical Field Army Training (TAFT) and a good laugh is had by all. What most find of particular interest are the pictures of the Co-pilots eyes which were ripped from his skull by the force of the impact and were lying on the ground.
The overly sensitive generally find life in the American military difficult, while those with thicker skin or perhaps just a morbid sense of humor are more likely to handle the situation.
PS. Standard procedure calls for the pilot not on the controls to take charge if someone become disorientated, but in an Arab culture no lowly lieutenant would ever take control from a Lieutenant Colonel… even when he knew he was going to die… he remembered his place in his society. [/B][/QUOTE]
Why is this attached to a quote of my post? My point was that using a rote "they deserved because of xxx" knee jerk comment is completely irrelevant. I HOPE those people were "bad guys", but how to know unless youre involved in the actual intelligence/decision making pertaining to the actual mission (and even then)...
I dont scour the net after gruesome fotage, nor do I get a kick out of seeing dismemberd people... perhaps not desensitized yet, but overly sensitive, not at all.
And as to the Apache-story, as far as I know you Yanks have run more than one of those birds into the ground, any photos of the remains of them passed around? Or would that be considered "obscene"?
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