Article

2003-11-07 Iraq

Daytime chopper flights continue despite Chinook disaster

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Posted by Zhang Fei 2003-11-07 9:49:34 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 American commanders need to learn the lesson Russian commanders learned in Afghanistan back in the '80s. After losing helicopters on a daily basis, they stopped flying!!

Posted by Rafael 2003-11-7 10:47:31 AM|| 2003-11-7 10:47:31 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 The Army on the Chinook shootdown: The helicopter was flying at between 200 and 300 feet, he said -- meaning that the fast-moving missile, when fired at the correct angle of approach, allowed little time for its target to escape.

What I don't get is why the Chinook was flying at 200 feet over hostile territory in broad daylight. This is why I believe a senior commander needs to be removed - there is something very wrong with the way operations are being conducted in Iraq. I suspect we will find that the Black Hawk was again flying at low level over hostile territory. I thought the helicopter crews were trained to reach operating height over the base, using a corkscrew ascent pattern - sure, it's stomach churning - but it's better to be nauseous than to be dead.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2003-11-7 11:49:26 AM|| 2003-11-7 11:49:26 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 there is something very wrong with the way operations are being conducted in Iraq.

I've been saying this for weeks now. Someone's not using their head.

Posted by Rafael 2003-11-7 2:45:58 PM|| 2003-11-7 2:45:58 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 American commanders need to learn the lesson Russian commanders learned in Afghanistan back in the '80s. After losing helicopters on a daily basis, they stopped flying!!

Actually, they did not stop flying. Just as choppers continue to be used today in Chechnya, the Soviets continued flying in Afghanistan - they were just a lot more careful about it. There is no alternative to choppers for airmobility - we are not about to resume using parachutes to deposit troops in hot spots. The reality is that helicopters can go where airplanes cannot (we could start dropping dumb bombs in populated areas that are infested with the enemy, but I suspect that this wouldn't play well with the bleeding hearts back home).

Posted by Zhang Fei 2003-11-7 3:24:58 PM|| 2003-11-7 3:24:58 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 DEBKA is reporting that the heli had "unidentified Army VIPs" on board - anyone know anything about this?

Posted by Mercutio 2003-11-7 3:30:55 PM|| 2003-11-7 3:30:55 PM|| Front Page Top

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