Viking vs Grumman prop birds: how to count & evaluate traps?

[Jim123]

I've flown one of them all the way to the depot where it was supposed have the wing fixed, but eventually they just scrapped the airframe (after Sikorsky lost it...no kidding...for about a year).

Lost... a helicopter?

 

[hummerfo]

You know they exist, though... Always pissed me off as a helo guy when an NFO would tell me how hard landing on a boat is in a kind of snooty way... "Cool man."

Well, to be honest, I'm not ever going to brag about my traps or sew my centurion patch onto my jacket or anything, but when you put your life into an FNG's hands after a couple night traps, you tell me how you feel.

 

[hummerfo]

But don't dare NOT give them their centurion patch.

Something tells me that you probably have a few centurion patches sewn on your flight jacket from your RIO days....not much different my friend.

 

[Renegade One]

Something tells me that you probably have a few centurion patches sewn on your flight jacket from your RIO days....not much different my friend.

Shhh...I don't wanna get ridiculed.

 

[Gatordev]

Lost... a helicopter?

Indeed. Sikorsky was pretty sure it was still in Brownsville, but not so sure about its status in depot. Two years later, they weren't really sure what the status was, but everything was okay, nothing to worry about, how are you? Three years later, it seemed that the airframe was indeed located, but for some reason Sikorsky couldn't explain, it was missing critical components. But not to worry, they would rectify the issue. Finally, after I transferred to San Diego, the airframe was repositioned to San Diego as well, with no real work done on it. I went over and looked at it just out of curiosity. Sikorsky was "very motivated" to make this right and give the Navy a "new" airframe for further use. When I asked if it would be able to hold a FLIR on it's wing, since it had the angled wings, I'm not sure I ever really got an answer.

Finally CNAFR killed the deal and it was boxed up and taken somewhere, presumably AMRG.

 

[Jim123]

Finally CNAFR killed the deal and it was boxed up and taken somewhere, presumably AMRG.

I think we all know where it went.

 

[Max the Mad Russian]

To Gatordev:

Oh, how close to our reality it is. "Grave the deal, as no one knows now who's in charge", if I understood you correctly

 

[Pags]

I think we all know where it went.

Don't worry @Gatordev , top men are working on the 60B right now.

 

[Gatordev]

Don't worry @Gatordev , top men are working on the 60B right now.

I remember BS'ing with the squadron MO after I left (who also came out to relieve me in SD later) about our lost aircraft. When he said the deal was finally killed by CNAFR, he said good riddance, even after all that contract money was spent. I have a feeling "top men" are doing anything but working on the poor girl.

 

[DanMa1156]

Well, to be honest, I'm not ever going to brag about my traps or sew my centurion patch onto my jacket or anything, but when you put your life into an FNG's hands after a couple night traps, you tell me how you feel.

Yeah, I can understand the sentiment. However, I don't see it as any worse than our AW's, and even they at least, are participating in the small boy landings in as much as they are calling us to the spot. I'm not mocking people like you, I'm mocking the NFO's who act like they are better than anyone else on the team by acting like the stereotypical "I'm-better-than-you" tailhook guy. These are the NFO's who wear their centurion patches and bitch about their pilots' bad landings at meals and whatnot, and then when a helo guy pipes up at the table said NFO says something like "oh, what would you know about landing on boats?" The same ones who talk shit about "not being in the fight." Meanwhile, my experience with the fellow jet pilots in my airwing was generally one of appreciation and interest with statements "dude, that VERTREP looks badass, how hard is it with the pedals and how hard is managing power?" or "how do you find your glideslope to the small boy?" not to mention plenty of discussion of the difference between the R and S versions.

 

[Brett327]

I'll tell you what, the helo guys in my Airwing are more involved than I've ever seen before. Their CO/XOs are hanging out in CATCC during the night recoveries and we've done a ton of EW work with the Rs at AWF and while underway. They even brought a couple helos up to Whidbey to do coordinated ops and give some of our aircrew an opportunity to fly up front with them. I hope that's a cultural shift in the community, because it has been absolutely awesome to have that level of integration and it builds trust within the Airwing.

 

[HAL Pilot]

I'll tell you what, the helo guys in my Airwing are more involved than I've ever seen before. Their CO/XOs are hanging out in CATCC during the night recoveries and we've done a ton of EW work with the Rs at AWF and while underway. They even brought a couple helos up to Whidbey to do coordinated ops and give some of our aircrew an opportunity to fly up front with them. I hope that's a cultural shift in the community, because it has been absolutely awesome to have that level of integration and it builds trust within the Airwing.

They just want to be the first helo CAG....

 

[RadicalDude]

Yeah, I can understand the sentiment. However, I don't see it as any worse than our AW's, and even they at least, are participating in the small boy landings in as much as they are calling us to the spot. I'm not mocking people like you, I'm mocking the NFO's who act like they are better than anyone else on the team by acting like the stereotypical "I'm-better-than-you" tailhook guy. These are the NFO's who wear their centurion patches and bitch about their pilots' bad landings at meals and whatnot, and then when a helo guy pipes up at the table said NFO says something like "oh, what would you know about landing on boats?" The same ones who talk shit about "not being in the fight." Meanwhile, my experience with the fellow jet pilots in my airwing was generally one of appreciation and interest with statements "dude, that VERTREP looks badass, how hard is it with the pedals and how hard is managing power?" or "how do you find your glideslope to the small boy?" not to mention plenty of discussion of the difference between the R and S versions.

I'm sorry. I'll make sure and stroke his ego the next time a see a helo guy in the wardroom. They always look so forlorn.

And I guess I'll stop bitching about the new guy trying to kill me behind the boat. I should know my place.

Jesus man, who cares. You sound REAL butt hurt about this.

Pretty rich coming from a community that has "no hooks required" on the bottom of their mugs.

Way to not give the tailhook guys the power.

 

[RadicalDude]

Show me on the doll where the NFO touched you!

 

[RadicalDude]

Did an NFO post your nudes on Marines United?