CH-53 Super Stallion Ride over Hawaii

[BigTruck]

One of my rides over the Big Island of Hawaii, in between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea (the worlds largest mountain)

All footage by me, using my helmet cam and canon A620 point and shoot...music by my new favorite band, Airbourne.  All the shaking is courtesy of the bird, if you've ever rode in a chopper you know what I mean, if not, sit in a chair and rock back and forth two times per second and that's about what it feels like sitting in the back of a '53.

Note: @ 6:25 - watch how low the pilot brings the tail to the ground as he centers the bird on the turn markers...true professional, lined it right up    (he told us over the internal PA that he was going to do this, line the tail straight up with the taxi turn-off marker, and he done it!!!)  


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6_8SXVTnwE

[flyboy 28]

Alright, I'll admit it. That was effin' cool.

[BigTruck]

Alright, I'll admit it. That was effin' cool.

Thanks, it was a good time, always is.  Helicopter rides are wierd, all the shaking and twisting and turning.  If you want to simulate a CH-53 ride sit in a chair with a springy back, rock back and forth rapidly while sitting in it, and ride up and down an elevator while doing this, occasionally turning the chair and leaning LOL

[Steve M]

Nice video Truck, I liked it.  :)

[Roughrider]

You guys get to play with the coolest toys, I enjoyed that, thats for taking us with you. Mark

[BigTruck]

Thanks guys!  More to come..I promise..possible deployment to Afghanistan within the next year or so, this time I'll be with the actual grunts, so I should be able to get some mighty fine action shots  8-)  (just got the warning order this week, nothing official yet, which usually means we aren't going anywhere, but even the slightest hint will get us prepping, and we're gearing up!!)

[Meck]

Great video!

btw: what's that bar beneath the boom, you know the one that comes close to the ground short before touch down?  :-?

[BigTruck]

[quote]Great video!

btw: what's that bar beneath the boom, you know the one that comes close to the ground short before touch down?

[Meck]

Ok, I do think that's the function, too... Thx!  ;)