A few points about this bullshit re: Marine One not flying due to rain (Text edited)

[A HERETIC I AM]

Last edited Wed Jan 22, 2020, 07:51 AM - Edit history (9)

(This post has been edited several times for grammar, spelling and accuracy pertaining to information I was not previously aware of)

The Marine Corps Squadron charged with transporting the president via Rotary Wing Aircraft is "Marine Helicopter Squadron One", or HMX-1, based out of Quantico, VA. They operate two primary helicopters that transport the President.

The Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King, the one we are most familiar with and the one commonly seen landing on the South Lawn of the White House;





(This is new to me, so I stand corrected! ) A Sea King being loaded onto a C-17;



However, very often they do not carry a Sea King aboard either the C-5 or the C-17 airlifter, so when the President travels and a helicopter is brought along, it is sometimes the VH-60N, which is the executive version of the UH-60 Blackhawk.

The H-60 easily fits inside the large Air Force transport aircraft;


To fly for HMX-1 is a HUGE honor for a Marine Helicopter Pilot and only the best of the best rise to this level.

The Sikorsky dash 60 is used by every branch of the armed forces and by several overseas customers. Over 4000 have been built of the numerous variants.

BOTH OF THESE ARE ALL WEATHER HELICOPTERS. The Coast Guard flies the UH-60 into storms to save lives.

(For posterity, I am going to re-write that sentence; )

The Coast Guard flies these fucking things into storms of all types, INCLUDING KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS, SEVERE SNOW STORMS, HEAVY WINDS AND DOWNPOURS to save lives. The people that fly the H-60 are well aware of it's capabilities and.....

There is NOTHING stopping one of these aircraft from safely operating in a gentle French rainstorm.

Nothing.

Except a petulant president who didn't wanna go out today.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Everyone else got there but him.

He could have been driven if the aircraft couldn't fly.

He is a coward and a disgrace to this country.

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. The point is, nothing short of a cat 2 hurricane keeps those aircraft grounded ...

if they are truly needed.

The story about the weather grounding this aircraft is complete horseshit.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Agreed.

Horseshit in, horseshit out.

[SCantiGOP]

25. Yeah, forget the chopper

It was only an extra half hour to drive, which is what Kelly did.

[Grasswire2]

55. why couldn't he ride with Kelly?

Or catch a ride with Pooty Poot?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

60. Why didn't Trump vistit Arlington on Vetran's Day either?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211417145

[Eliot Rosewater]

77. He has been ordered not to by Putin. This is all done intentionally to

show less and less respect for this country and our heros and our history.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

79. Putin has nothing to do with this disgrace! HERE ARE A FEW MORE "POINTS"

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211418050

[Eliot Rosewater]

80. EVERYTHING rump does putin has to do with.

Putin hates our country and our history, rump works for him. period

[Jeffersons Ghost]

85. Did you read the hyper-link I posted? Check it out, here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211418050

[Beartracks]

17. The excuse being repeated by his fans is that it's France's fault.

Last edited Mon Nov 12, 2018, 02:13 AM - Edit history (1)

Something about security issues "at the last minute" for his flight.

And the people who DID brave the lashing of the gentle rainstorm went by motorcade, so that's why, so there!



=============

[TheCowsCameHome]

21. Nothing is ever his fault.

He always blames others. He is a coward.

[SammyWinstonJack]

31. And gets away with the blame game where others would not.

Never held accountable for word or deed.

[tclambert]

38. He just couldn't get his favorite hairspray. Imagine if the Presidential hair got wet!

Artist's conception of Donald Trump with wet hair:

?resize=400%2C400

[47of74]

87. HA

[Jopin Klobe]

90. That's the problem ...

... in the rain, he would have looked up ...

... and drowned ...

[littlemissmartypants]

42. Everyone but him and Putin.

I read in another article that they were both absent at the gathering. So maybe they had their secret meeting after all. Makes it even more of a disgrace.

[lagomorph777]

71. A tryst with Putin. How lovely.

[littlemissmartypants]

74. Seems so. Definitely disgusting. nt

[guillaumeb]

2. The rain would have spoiled his hair.

And his spray color.

[Journeyman]

7. Someone wrote earlier that if his spray tan ran onto his clothing . . .

we'd all get a preview of Trump wearing an orange jumpsuit, something he'd rather we not all see.

[calimary]

32. PERFECT!!!

Gee whiz - heaven forbid we see him in something that looks like an orange jumpsuit.

I HOPE TO GOD we see him in something that looks like an orange jumpsuit!!!

[LisaM]

3. I don't understand why he HAD to go by helicopter.

Couldn't he have gone in a car?

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. The helcopter is quicker, obviously

and that I get. A Motorcade would have eaten 2 hours of his TV watching time sitting on his hotel (or wherever) bed.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

11. Of course, he could have

AirForceOne travels WITH one of the presidential limos ON BOARD, sometimes two. EVERY TIME. EVERY WHERE.

There is NO reason for his failure to attend the ceremony with the other heads of state. As was alluded to above, the petulant child was throwing a tantrum and simply did not want to go.

What he has failed to realize is the slap in the face that this was to so many. Even the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Soames, made a comment about the insult.

But then trmpie doesn't give a shit about anything that does not place him squarely at the center of attention. Well, he's about to get a lot of attention. Soon. And not the kind the kind that he likes.

[A HERETIC I AM]

15. Actually, that's not how they do it.

The 747 that he usually flys in (there are 2 identical ones, actually) do not carry "the Beast" as they do not have cargo doors large enough nor a method of autonomous loading and unloading.

The limo, the vehicles for the Secret Service and all the rest are carried on either C-5's or C-17's or both and are sent ahead so they are ready when AF1 arrives.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

26. So, "the Beast" stayed home ?

French taxis can be an episode in . . . well . . . _________________ (fill in the blank, everybody's experience is different, but they're all bad.)

[A HERETIC I AM]

30. Nope. Like I said, they load the motorcade onto Air Force cargo planes

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2017/11/how-does-the-secret-service-transport-the-presidents-motorcade-overseas-in-a-giant-transport-craft/

[iluvtennis]

39. Love the pics. Wow, alll the work to get motorcade in the planes.

[Separation]

56. I've had good friends in HMX-1

I dont think you could actually begin to imagine all that goes into the US President when they travel abroad. Its absolutely nuts.

[unc70]

19. Limos are on separate cargo planes

The limo(s) and other vehicles are transported ahead of time by Air Force cargo planes.

[NewJeffCT]

64. That would make too much sense

I think he needed to stay behind to get his performance review from Putin

[LiberalArkie]

83. Car has no toilet. Chopper does

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. If the wx was zero-zero (the Secret Service might have wx minimums) they could have driven.

Everybody else drove there with no difficulty; it wasn't even that far. Tiny just didn't want to go.

I'm beginning to wonder whether there's something else going on, too, like some health problem he doesn't want anyone to know about. He doesn't seem to be able to walk any distance and he looks terrible.

[A HERETIC I AM]

8. He is playing a part in a TV show of his own making.

He doesn't think of himself as President in the way Obama or Bush or any of the others did.

This is a reality show he is starring in, in which he gets to write the script, for the most part, do his own editing and can manage his own appearances.

I think the only reason he goes to some of these international events is because someone on his staff has convinced him that not going would look bad for him, and he hates the idea that he isn't perfect and might look bad.

[raging moderate]

10. He was two hours late to that dinner, wasn't he?

Maybe he has some illness they are concealing.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

13. Stupidity is not a disease.

[jmowreader]

48. Head-up-ass disease won't keep you from your normal activities

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Seems like someone failed to tell him that blowing off the Belleau Wood ceremony

would make him look really bad, not only to the Europeans but to Americans. Maybe especially to Americans, maybe even some of his cult members.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

16. I don't think that any of his sycophants in the WH

Have any real appreciation of history, especially as it applies to the US in conjunction with international events.

He is surrounded by venal, glib, vapid people (think Stephan Miller) who are not particularly bright or educated, or versed in protocol, etiquette or time-honored tradition and formality.

[sarge43]

68. Kelly should have.

Belleau Wood was and is important in the history of the USMC. Among other reasons it's where they got their nickname, Devil Dogs, given by the German forces. When the other guy gives you a ballsy name, you're tagged as a serious bad ass; it's better than a campaign ribbon.

The other story: When the Marines showed up, the French field commander informed them that a retreat had ordered. Marine commander answered, "Retreat hell! We just got here!"

[Haggis for Breakfast]

100. That was one Captain Lloyd Williams

Commanding Officer of the 51st Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, the MOST decorated Marine Battalion in history. And "Retreat Hell" is still their official motto.

[sarge43]

103. You have to wonder what Kelly and Dunford thought about Moron wimping out

Could be they were relieved; he would have fucked up something.

[politicaljunkie41910]

43. So since he's a reality show, when do we get to cancel the rest to the season due to low ratings?

[A HERETIC I AM]

47. In 2 years

[SammyWinstonJack]

49. Exactly this.

[smirkymonkey]

27. Let's hope so.

I say just keep putting the pressure on him until he finally loses it. That right now seems the only way to get rid of him - if he literally melts down or keels over in public.

[Totally Tunsie]

54. +1000

Can't wait to see it! Pressure on!

[cos dem]

14. It's not that simple.

There is no such thing as an "all-weather" aircraft.
Aircraft can be equipped with instruments to enable them to fly in different kinds of weather. For example, GPS, de-icing, ILS, radar, all of these can be part of a "weather-beating" system. However, there are always conditions that will keep an aircraft grounded, or keep it from reaching its intended destination.

The biggest problem I see is the instrument approach. If they wanted to land in some field somewhere, that field is not going to have an instrument approach. This is not something you set up on a moments notice. it requires careful planning to ensure that it doesn't interfere with existing aviation routes (including other approaches) and that it provides sufficient clearance from obstructions (terrain, buildings, antennas, etc). It takes years to certify a new instrument approach.

Nearby airports probably have instrument approaches, but then are they close enough to be useful? I don't know.

The capability of the helicopters is the wrong place to concentrate. The reality is that we have this great "all-weather" capability called a car. You can use a car to get just about anywhere. Orange Hitler could have hauled his lazy-ass into his nice, cushy, limo and gotten to his destination just fine.

It's about lazy Orange Hitler, not our helicopters.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

20. As a retired NAVY air traffic controller

I would agree with most of what you just said, however, I can just hear my USMC chopper-hopper buddies screaming:

"I can land a fuckin' flying gas can on a goddam pitching aircraft carrier deck in WOXOF !!!"

[Duppers]

72. Exactly!

Plus, how 'bout those thousands of combat missions in bad weather picking up wounded?

[A HERETIC I AM]

22. OK, fair enough.

They aren't going to fly these helicopters into a blizzard. But that's not the situation that gave rise to this bullshit story.

Sikorsky themselves tout this airframe as "all Weather".

The point I am making stands. Nothing that was happening in France the other day would have kept the helicopter from flying. They didn't need an ILS system installed at a well known cemetery 60 miles from downtown Paris and icing wasn't a problem.

And for what it's worth, a helicopter doesn't necessarily use an instrument approach and the Marines have landed Marine One on the lawn at Buckingham Palace, for fucks sake.

So I'm sorry, but that argument is nonsense.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

40. You are absolutely right.

It was just another dodgy lie from the WH.

However, there is now a third version of the Why Donnie Didn't Attend story: SHS is saying the reason he didn't ride to the memorial ceremony is that he didn't want to disrupt the traffic in Paris. No, I am NOT making this up. It's on the news right now.

I suppose the next excuse will be that he doesn't speak French.

[A HERETIC I AM]

45. Jesus HOV Lane Christ!

Well, if one excuse falls flat, just make up another!

What a fucking joke this White House is.

[TrogL]

86. I don't speak French. I did just fine in Paris

[RobinA]

101. THat's Our Donnie

Always looking out for the other people.

[Yonnie3]

81. They change to ground transport for the Joint Base Andrews to White House trip in bad weather.

IMO they access the risk of landing at the WH and at some level they move to motorcade. Typically it has been when there is fog or thunderstorms.

It is a routine happening for his transport to change from 'copter to limo. There are incredibly competent staff who will get him where he wants to go. I am certain that they had a plan to take him by ground. It was really up to him. Let me say that again, it was up to him. As you said he didn't want to spend the time.

[OAITW r.2.0]

18. He couldn't be bothered to attend this important event.

And respect the American's that lost their life in WW1. Nothing else needs to be said. He does not care to respect American's lives that were sacrificed.

[NCjack]

24. Hairdo appointment. nt

[at140]

33. I think you hit the jackpot!

The best haircut I ever had was in Paris, France. A beautiful salon with flowers all over, the barber trimmed my hair with a straight razor, a lady gave me a nice shampoo wash afterwards. Paris is very pretty at night, but during daytime it is like any other big city and traffic is insane.

[NastyRiffraff]

23. Even if the Secret Service determined it was too dangerous

Last edited Mon Nov 12, 2018, 07:12 PM - Edit history (1)

like someone suggested, he could have gone by car, like everyone else did.

There's no excuse for what he did. None.

[RHMerriman]

28. It's a bullshit excuse...

The US Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy routinely fly H-60 variants in far worse weather than anything one would see in early November in northern France.

Great article on USCG crews flying the HH-60 (same airframe) in the fucking Arctic, North Pacific, and North Atlantic in the WINTER:

[link:https://theaviationgeekclub.com/others-may-live-uscg-mh-60-jayhawk-helicopter-crews-train-perform-search-rescue-extremely-frigid-weather/|]

[world wide wally]

29. Any and all excuses are irrelevant. Trump is an asshole that doesn't care about dead soldiers

or anyone else.
That includes you, despicables.

[at140]

34. Trump likes only soldiers who are alive and can

vote for him. He has no use for dead soldiers.

[world wide wally]

35. He doesn't care about them either

[wiggs]

92. Great point. The starting assumption should be that he lies and he only cares about himself....

...regardless of circumstances. The day and the details change....today it's helicopters and rain. Another day it was desperate Puerto Ricans. A different day... Californians on fire. The UN. Nato. The Caravan. Immigrant mothers. Muslims already here for years.

When will media just start the conversation with 'Well...we know he's a self-serving narcissistic asshole who watches TV 8 hours a day, loves to be the center of attention, and lies just about every hour of the day...so let's go from there and just assume he didn't go to the ceremony because he didn't want to miss Fox and Friends or didn't want to get his hair wet. This helicopter logistics excuse is probably BS.'

That would be about right.

[wiggs]

93. And further...when Trump declares dems are stealing elections, media shouldn't just

quote the head of Florida elections who says there's no evidence of fraud or theft. They should assume and state Trump is lying his ass off in a way unbecoming and unprecedented in the history of the presidency. Come on, man!

[Jersey Devil]

36. Driving to the cemetery meant missing his round of golf

A couple hours on the road in a car would have meant Trump had no time to golf yesterday. So he chose between golf and honoring the dead soldiers. Unsurprisingly for him, golf won.

[iluvtennis]

37. Thank you for the pics and clarifications - great info. Knew Wh was shitting us with the stuff about

the helicopter not being rain safe.

[DesertRat]

41. Thank you. k&r

[djacq]

44. Former AF Helicopter Crew Chief of 13 years

Worked 2 years on MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawks. These Sikorsky Helicopters are designed to run in all types of weather.

[A HERETIC I AM]

46. ...

[Duppers]

75. Thank you!

[grantcart]

50. He was tired and wanted to be fresh for Putin.

[littlemissmartypants]

51. He's a sociopath. It's way beyond petulant.

The more harm and chaos they create, the happier they are. It's the sociopath creed. To love is to hurt, causing harm equals happiness. I keep telling folks this fact but people just keep getting amazed at his bad behavior. It is their modus operandi. It takes a truly twisted mind to be able to wrap your head around the thought processes that exist in such an aberrant universe, but that's the long and short of it. The sociopath lives to do harm. The gaul comes from their belief that they exist above the law and outside of consequences. The more chaos they create, the better and that's just them being their form of normal. It's twisted and sickening. There are no limits to the lengths they will go to, to create their form of happiness, which is pain and chaos. I can't repeat this enough.

Cool photos, though. One of my prized possessions is a Marine One matchbook given to me by a secret service agent on duty with Henry Kissinger. Maybe one day I'll tell the story.

Thanks for posting the pictures. They brought back some memories.

♡ lmsp

[LibDemAlways]

52. Last Wednesday night a few miles from my home, a

police officer knowingly and unhesitatingly entered a building where an active shooter was slaughtering innocent people. That officer paid with his life. That's bravery. That's heroism. All Americans should be embarrassed that the so-called Commander in Chief, at zero personal risk, couldn't find a way to attend a ceremony honoring soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. What a useless piece of shit. Truly, there are no words.

[Blue Owl]

53. Oh it's all about Blump's vainglory

Nothing more, nothing less...

[scarytomcat]

57. he wouldn't want to muss-up his pretty hair

by singing in the rain
he knows he has totally fucked, should never have run for president

[Vinca]

58. Thanks for posting such a detailed explanation.

I didn't think our military helicopters were so shitty they couldn't fly in rain. Don was just being his usual whiny, pouty, manbaby self.

[A HERETIC I AM]

59. You're welcome.

Glad you liked it and happy to make the point.

[TwistOneUp]

61. The only weather ...

That keeps helos like these on the ground is High Winds. If the windspeed is over a certain maximum, then they cannot take off or must land, as the pilots run out of cyclic ("stick" ) adjustment and therefore manuverability is insufficient.

[BobTheSubgenius]

62. As the CO of a squadron my father was attached to during WW2 said:

"This is an all-weather squadron. That's just weather out there."

[A HERETIC I AM]

69. ...

[Achilleaze]

63. !

[kairos12]

65. Me thinks Putin told him no.

[Texin]

66. Seriously, what is this cretin afraid of?

This is a creature who never turns his back on a photo op. What the hell is he so afraid of now? It almost appears he's afraid of public demonstrations of protest or worse, perhaps fears about his personal safety or something. No one can tell me that he's afraid of just a light rain - or even a downpour since someone would be standing next to him holding an umbrella. He's been photographed in the rain elsewhere. Is it just that he's so preoccupied with the Rethugs defeat in the House or his mounting legal battles and the fact that the big photo op took place in France where Macron has been eloquently scorching in his criticism? Or maybe that since WWI took place before he was born he just regards it as ancient history? I can't figure this out.

[A HERETIC I AM]

70. It's not fear. It's ennui, coupled with his extreme narcissism.

noun: ennui
a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement.
(I include the definition for illustrative purposes only)

There weren't going to be adoring crowds, don't you see?

It wasn't going to be all about him. It had to do with honoring people who sacrificed more than anyone he has ever associated with and he simply has no understanding.

The expression "He was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple" has never applied to anyone more than it does this orange sphincter filth.

As I said above, he is playing this presidency as if it was a reality show and he is the star. I'll add that he demands to be THE ONLY STAR. No one else is as important as he is, not even suffering American citizens.

I don't know how many caught it, but as he departed the White House for this trip the other day, he said something to the effect that a lot of countries are attending, but even more so because the US is attending.

Translation?

"More world leaders are showing up because I WILL BE THERE and I am so great, they can't stay away."

His malignant narcissism infects everything he does, says or touches.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

99. Yeah I agree with you I don't think it has anything to do with weather, helicopters, traffic etc.

I think either the guy is in such a foul mood over losing the house, and/or whatever individual beefs he's created between himself and the other Western leaders, that he was just pissed and decided to sulk in his hotel watching Fox News with a bucket of KFC.

Alternatively maybe something is going down health wise with him or with his mental state where they don't want him to be seen in public because he's either incoherent or looks like shit.

[Maeve]

67. But then he couldn't have made it ALL ABOUT HIM

Had he taken a car like EVERYONE ELSE DID, he would have had to taken a back seat (pun intended) to the ceremony. Instead, he got to be the center of attention by being a no-show.

Baby had his temper tantrum and that made everyone look at him instead of those poopy old graves.

[Scurrilous]

73. K&R

[A HERETIC I AM]

76. Thanks

[onecaliberal]

78. He met with Putin rather than honor the fallen.

[CottonBear]

84. Exactly. The French tried to keep him & Putin apart so he didn't go...

so he could meet w/ Putin.

[smirkymonkey]

82. He is just a self-absorbed, flaming coward.

He knows that he has no place among the brave and heroic. He is not a man at all.

[cp]

88. Thank you for the excellent information

Much appreciated!

[bluescribbler]

89. But, his hair!

Can't moisten the pResident's hair!

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

91. I don't think Trump has ever been present at an event

that he cannot make it all about Trump. It is never one thing that sets off the chain of events for what it all comes down to. And surely rain served as a cover. And Trump doesn't weather the effects of having been shunned such as it were with the passing of senator John McCain. The election loss's, the investigations into all things Trump. And Trump thinks he's been disrespected in the European theater.Actually the thought of losing in Florida no doubt is all and consuming Trump.


I doubt he can even speak without lashing out. Certainly unfit for public presentation in his current state of mind.

[osmium]

94. I saw this yesterday as well...

...but didn't post it(stating the obvious)

https://theaviationist.com/2018/11/11/clouds-with-drizzling-rain-prevented-marine-one-from-flying-trump-to-u-s-cemetery-near-paris/

Now, as far as today's dodge....

[A HERETIC I AM]

96. Well shit! There is a photo on your link that proves me wrong!

THAT is a Sea King on the ramp of a C-17!



MY OP is wrong. I shall correct it.

Thanks for the link.

[osmium]

102. I make no claims as to the veracity of work of others!

I just thought I would only post that as an addendum.

You are most welcome.

BS below.

I found other stuff while searching using the following terms: rain Marine One.

I entered the terms in that order precisely as formatted above. I then opened a news tab, and the article was the very first hit.

[sarge43]

104. Twelve hours of hard labor; should have been a caesarian. n/t

[A HERETIC I AM]

105. ....

[sarge43]

106. That's what happens when Air Force does a one night stand with USMC

That's an old photo. The load master crew is in the greenie fatigues. Those were dropped years ago.

[A HERETIC I AM]

108. LOL I'm curious when that was taken...

and for what purpose.

Interesting you spotted the fatigues. I'm an interested enthusiast of all things aviation, but I have never had a pilots license and was never in the Armed Forces. I came this --><-- close to joining the Army as a Warrant Officer in the early 80's though. I wanted to fly helicopters so bad I cold taste it, but alas, I did something stupid with only days to go before signing on the dotted line, and my life took a different path.

Just to be clear, in MY OP I initially said they never took the Sea King along because it was too tall to fit inside either the C-5 or the 17. Well, that is clearly not the case, but it does look like the rotor blades have been removed in that pic, while the H-60 has blades that can be folded back. If for no other reason, that makes carrying the H-60 an easier undertaking because you don't have to completely remove and then re-install the rotors.

Anyway, I am happy to learn new info, as well as chuckle at a good joke!

Thanks for the laugh!

(An oldie supposedly with a grain of truth;

An F-18 pilot is in the pattern having engine trouble and calls for a landing slot ASAP. The tower comes back and tells him he is number two behind a B-52 with one engine out.

He replies "Ah yes, the dreaded 7 engine approach!" )

[sarge43]

110. Pleased that we (that was Hubby's snark) could give you a chuckle

We're retired AF noncoms and still have our greens composting in duffel bags, not that we could get into them anymore.

For the record, Hub, ammo man, put in two tours in Vietnam. I'd be banned if I wrote up his comments about Moron because of "rain" wimping out on honoring the Fallen this weekend. My opinion about that POS rendering the hand salute would also get me banned.

F-18 jock should have hopped on the back of the 52 and rode it in. A Buff wouldn't even notice an 18.

You know your stuff.

[Roadside Attraction]

95. In Vietnam . . .

I served three tours in Vietnam . . .

-- infantry platoon leader
-- infantry company commander
-- SF A Team commander.

During my first two tours, we were supported by the 119th Assault Helicopter Company flying the old B-model Hueys. The "Gators." Those fools would fly in any weather, day or night. Scared the shit out of me, climbing into one of their birds for a combat assault with it raining like a cow pissing on a flat rock . . . they never let us down.

During my third tour, we were supported by the 281st AHC, "The Intruders." Wild bunch of muthahfukahs. Loved them then, love them now.

Those were the days . . . ten feet tall and bulletproof . . . and now it's enlarged prostrate and knee replacement.

[A HERETIC I AM]

97. Never forget.

[bora13]

98. at least someone was happy!

[link:

Link to tweet

|]

[usaf-vet]

107. Here is additional proof USCG helicopters fly in virtually any weather conditions.

From original post:

The Sikorsky dash 60 is used by every branch of the armed forces and by several overseas customers. Over 4000 have been built of the numerous variants.

BOTH OF THESE ARE ALL WEATHER HELICOPTERS. The Coast Guard flies the UH-60 into storms to save lives.

The Coast Guard flies these fucking things into storms of all types, INCLUDING KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS, SEVERE SNOW STORMS, HEAVY WINDS AND DOWNPOURS to save lives. The people that fly the H-60 are well aware of it's capabilities and.....

There is NOTHING stopping one of these aircraft from safely operating in a gentle French rainstorm.

Nothing.

Except a petulant president who didn't wanna go out today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_MH-60_Jayhawk

[A HERETIC I AM]

109. Unfuckingbelievable.

Balls of solid brass.

Thanks for the vid. Fascinating.

[LeeM]

111. Very true.

I was active duty in the Coast Guard from 1984 to 1990, first as a Seaman aboard the Cutter Valiant (WMEC-621), and then after AT-A school at Airstation Savannah, as a Search and Rescue Aircrew, AT, and Flight Mech. When the weather got bad, we knew it "was a great day for a rescue". Fun times, good thing I was 6'2" and bulletproof.

[sarge43]

112. Coast Guard's unofficial motto: You have to go out; you don't have to come back.

Anyone who trashes the Coasties needs a Mk82 dropped on their ass.