Excellent Aviation Video:CH-53E

Seahawk · 02-20-2008, 06:13 AM

Hope this link works...a Marine friend of mine just sent it to me.
The 53E nose gear is stuck in the up position. I have about 100 hours in these things and the guy does a great job

http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do?displayContent=161927&page=1

VincentVega · 02-20-2008, 06:26 AM

That's crazy

Did they draw straws to see who would climb under the thing??

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

And isn't the ground below him moving too??

BRPORSCHE · 02-20-2008, 06:34 AM

Seriously, no way in hell I am getting under that thing.

Seahawk · 02-20-2008, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgarr

And isn't the ground below him moving too??

Looks like the ship is underway but the sea state looks good, not a lot of pitch and roll

304065 · 02-20-2008, 07:23 AM

Brings entirely new meaning to the phrase "emergency manual gear extension."

True professionals all.

Dantilla · 02-20-2008, 09:30 AM

I've got a little bit of time in a Robinson R-22.

Good thing the skids are welded in the proper position. After trying to hover the little bugger, I've got an enormous amount of respect for you military guys that can hold such an unstable piece of machinery so steady.

Overpaid Slacker · 02-20-2008, 09:40 AM

Holy crap. I can't believe they didn't bring jackstands out with them.

JP

stomachmonkey · 02-20-2008, 10:32 AM

I woulda stuck a milk crate under it.

DonDavis · DonDavis's Garage

KICK ASS!! I was on Nimitz for Desert Storm from Dec '90 to Sept '91. I was fortunate enough to fly on a 53 as well as an SH-60. Oh, I also did one landing in a C-2A.

Really takes me back to see that video.

And you know the guys that went out to bring the gear down never gave it a second thought. They just did it. They knew it would work and no one would be injured.

onewhippedpuppy · 02-20-2008, 02:47 PM

VERY impressive.

pavulon · 02-20-2008, 02:52 PM

So why did he rise/settle after the nose wheel was brought down? Seems as though he could have plopped the nose down once everyone was clear.

Seahawk · 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavulon

So why did he rise/settle after the nose wheel was brought down? Seems as though he could have plopped the nose down once everyone was clear.

Because the 53 was not an aircraft I was ever qualed in beyond being a Sandbag in the co-pilots seat, I'm just guessing here: the weight on wheels (wow) switch, which drives the cockpit indicators on the landing gear, is more than likely on the rear wheels, the pilot probably lifted to cycle the wow switch cycle so cockpit indications would recognize that all the gear are down and locked.

Once he or she had three in the green (all gear down and locked), he felt better about coming aboard.

Sunroof · 02-21-2008, 05:06 AM

Its like working under an older 911!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great skill by the pilot. Hope that guy who pulled the gear got an accomodation, he certainly deserved one.

Bob

911Rob · 911Rob's Garage

my first thought was 'don't they have a helicopter jack stand?'

pilot: Ahhchooo! Oh, sorry guys?

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Pretty cool, and not just another day at the office.

DavidI · 02-21-2008, 07:12 PM

That was incredible piloting!

David

djmcmath · 02-22-2008, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantilla

After trying to hover the little bugger, I've got an enormous amount of respect for you military guys that can hold such an unstable piece of machinery so steady.

+1 to that -- I had the opportunity to attempt to hover a few years back. Plenty of available space, should be no problem. Holy cow, that's REALLY hard. Seeing that guy hold it steady enough that guys could WORK UNDERNEATH it? Wow.