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Helo Dunker

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Fly Navy

...Great Job!
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Ejection seat LPUs inflate on contact with sea water too...that'd be bad.
 

bch

Helo Bubba
pilot
phrogdriver said:
No more Dilbert Dunker? Has API completely done away with the legendary motivational events that made it cool, a kind of a unifying force in naval aviation? I mean, they canceled boxing before I got there. After I left, they made the sand O-course a non-graded event, then they took it away. Last time I was at mainside, it looked as though they eliminated the hard parts of the cross-country PRT, i.e. the sand and the somewhat hilly area by the pool. Now they're ditching the Dunker? What are they replacing it with? A class on safe homosexual relations?


Quite possibly the funniest Sh(* I have heard in a while
 

squeeze

Retired Harrier Dude
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Fly Navy said:
Ejection seat LPUs inflate on contact with sea water too...that'd be bad.

They inflate on contact with any water. It's the Koch fittings that release on contact with salt water -- SEAWARS.
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
But the Dilbert Dunker wasn't simulating a jet. Hence the T-34 controls inside. It was to teach you how to get out of the T-Weenie if you had to ditch. Sigh...that's too bad it's gone. I manged to do the thing 4 times before they just said I was done. Supposedly I was bumping my head on the imaginary wing. Isn't that why I wear a helmet?

And not all LPUs inflate on contact w/ water. In fact, if you come aboard my helo w/ an inflated LPU, the AW will actually puncuture it in case we go down, too.

Fly Navy: yes, MCBH Kaneohe.
 

crysmc

MH-60S Pilot Wife
Super Moderator
Contributor
Is the Dilbert Dunker really gone? Man... I feel like we should have a funeral for it or something. :( Everyone I know that experienced it said that it wasn't actually physically hard. The exercise is meant to be more of a mental exercise... they want to see how you cope with emergency situations. Mainly, they want to see if you panic or not. But if you pay attention to what they tell you, it's supposed to be pretty simple, so long as you keep your cool. And I've definitely never heard of anyone dying doing it!
 

Fly Navy

...Great Job!
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
gatordev said:
Fly Navy: yes, MCBH Kaneohe.
My step-brother is a controller at what has become of Barber's Point. What are they calling it, Kapolei Airport or something? He'll be the one talking with a Boston accent, name is Dan. He's an E-5 or E-6 in the ANG and a GS-9 (or maybe 10?) in the DOD. Weird dual situation going on with that tower. My mom lives on Makakilo Drive, she just moved there in November. What a beautiful island that is, I spent Christmas there.
 

rare21

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
every swimming evolution in API is 90% mental. crysmc, its good to see another UT Austin grad or future grad.
 

crysmc

MH-60S Pilot Wife
Super Moderator
Contributor
rare21 said:
every swimming evolution in API is 90% mental. crysmc, its good to see another UT Austin grad or future grad.

You're from UT too?! Hoorah! :) I'm Crystal... nice to meet you!
 

Demento

Old Salt
Good one Phrog, and about dunkers

phrogdriver said:
No more Dilbert Dunker? Has API completely done away with the legendary motivational events that made it cool, a kind of a unifying force in naval aviation? I mean, they canceled boxing before I got there. After I left, they made the sand O-course a non-graded event, then they took it away. Last time I was at mainside, it looked as though they eliminated the hard parts of the cross-country PRT, i.e. the sand and the somewhat hilly area by the pool. Now they're ditching the Dunker? What are they replacing it with? A class on safe homosexual relations?

That got a grin out of me. :D

Dilbert dunker: designed on either the T-6 (the old version, Yellow Peril) or the T-28, I'd have to ask a Swim Physiologist. The belt strap used in the Dilbert Dunker when I went through was identical to the T-28 harness hook up.

Note: No one has ever "ditched" a T-34C in the water. Most IP's and SNA's would probably choose to bail out rather than ditch. Anyone who knows different is invited to comment on that.

Helo Dunker:

More fun than a Disney E tickte ride. Only once in dozens of helo dunker runs did I ever have a problem. I once got trapped in one in the Fleet referesher (pre HEEDS days) by getting sloppy and releasing early. Went left, not right, lost my initial ref point, and sure as can be, got myself lost in less than 2 seconds. The diver must have seen me in trouble. He had me outta there in no time. I felt his pull in my neck (it was a black goggles run) and next I knew, cage was rising and my face broke water.

My other runs were far less interesting, and were good training. Forces you to calm yourself as you go upside down, and be methodical. Very good drill.

As the others guys say, do what the instructors say, hand over hand, and it is one of those things which "if it does not kill you, it makes you stronger." If you screw up at all, the divers will save your bacon: that is why they are there.

It can be fun . . . and if you are a decent swimmer, it is No Sweat!
 

PudriK

SCGA (VT-3)
Related Q on the dunker. What do you do about getting water up your nose? Blow slowly? Hold it with one hand? Suck it up?

Just curious... I am comfortable in the water, but whenever I am upside down it goes straight in my nose and hurts like a #$%!
 

nittany03

Recovering NFO. Herder of Programmers.
pilot
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Answer - you're screwed, suck it up. I had an absolute ball in the dunker but you'll have other things on your mind than keeping water out of your nose. Like getting out of the thing.
 

phrogdriver

More humble than you would understand
pilot
Super Moderator
When I was an SNA, I thought the helo dunker was fun. When I came back to requal, I thought it sucked. I guess a little age changes your perspective. Plus, when you requal, you always get the pilot's seat, vice the crew seats (which makes sense), which are harder to egress from.
 

beau

Registered User
Originally Posted by rare21
every swimming evolution in API is 90% mental. crysmc, its good to see another UT Austin grad or future grad.


You're from UT too?! Hoorah! I'm Crystal... nice to meet you!""

Hey thats great! now you guys can all bow down to me .........GO SOONERS!
 
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