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1/30/2025 3:53:20 PM
 
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Section 25: Chit Chat Subject: D.C. crash Msg# 1219717
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All the active and reserve flying units do every day is train, train, train. I believe the unit the helo was attached to was tasked with support for the various governmental offices in DC such as the Pentagon. As such, it has to train in that area to remain familiar with the surroundings. As I've seen in some of my flights cruising up or down the East River, a clear night such as last night leaves the crew with a multitude of lights and reflections off the river as you get to lower altitudes. Cars on the parkway, boats on the river, apartment and office buildings brightly lit.
The windscreen on the MH 60 is not that extensive. Our rescue unit in Westhampton had 6. I was never in one but had several flights in its predecessor, the fabled Jolly Green Giant HH3. I hope that the pilots were not wearing night vision goggles at the time which would have narrowed their peripheral views. It's been a long time since I logged time but I believe we always used special frequencies because I can't remember having to pause for conflicting commercial traffic to talk to Center. My last flight was in the back seat of a F16 flown by our Syracuse unit. That was in 1994. I was never so thrilled to get on...and off an aircraft in my whole life. 4,000+ hours but first and only time flying upside down, pulling 5-6G's. No warning, just inverted as we descended from 14,00 to 3,000 and headed down the bomb run. Still, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. |
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For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where: Ed, you might have some insight. Is it normal practice to have military aircraft do training flights over or, for that matter, near major civilian airports? I can't imagine a good reason nor can I understand why, as reported, the helicopter was on a different radio frequency than the airliner and tower? |
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