NightStalker191

Hey LD, I've got a guy here at work, who is our Safety Officer, and flew with the 245th. Can you send me the article you posted to: gstevens@iomax.net. thanks, GT

Don't believe C/16 used the gunner up front method. I flew Cobra's with them in 72&73. You can go here for additional photos. My link

"In the beginning"... I must say, we wrote the book, as there was nothing to go by! From flying single pilot with full face-plate PVS-5's, requiring you to adjust one tube in zoom, so you could look at your map, then back out, so you could fly, stay on course, and not fly into the ground, or someone in the formation. Then someone came up with idea to cut away most of the NVG frame, and using surgical tubing attached to the helmet, hold the frame of the 5's in place, now giving both side vision, but allowing you to look down at your map, without having to reach up, after frictioning down the

This is a weird configuration. Obviously a later model 6A, because of the exhaust and tail number, but why remove the mini and have the crew chief sit up front? CAV teams I've been on in VN, had the crew chief sit in the back with his sixty on the right side, and they would make right turns when doing a recon. Those exhaust, however, were great for warming up your Turkey Loaf, or Beanie Weenies. Just my two cents. There is quite a bit if information on my 2nd tour unit, C 16Cav if you google them. Enjoy your post, as always, GT

Hi Guys, Couple of things that are bugging me. Is the aircraft a B or C model. I ask because of the lack of side armor panels up front. The figures are obviously wearing the Nomex flight suit, which I first received at Hunter AAF in July of 1969. I wore the old one piece grey flight suit all through flight school and Cobra transition. So if the aircraft is a B model, I believe this would pre-date the issue of Nomex to the field. When I arrived in Vietnam, Sept 69, some pilots were still wearing fatigues to fly in, and yes they rolled up their sleeves. Fatigues were sort of optional unt

Floyd, conformation just in that is a Harley logo. More period photos to come. GT

As l understand Floyd their G Models all had a 300 sequence of serial numbers, e.g., 361, 362, etc. I don't know about the other models. GT

Gosh, where did you find a F Model, Most are sold overseas... Only ones I know flying are the Heritage ones, and I believe one at Eustis. Looking back Ray, I think I would have done it for free! All this, and flight pay! My God, I'd do it all over again... it's that much fun. But...I love my Little Bird Guns the best. Happy Easter, GT

Here's a blast from the past. Me in the seat of Blue Thunder out in California, circa 1983, looking for the Whisper Mode button. Regards, GT

Correct, MH-6s were five bladed Hughes 500s. The original six four bladed Little Bird Guns were vanilla OH-6As converted to AH-6Cs. Hope this helps. GT

Ray, no, the first MH’s were just MH-6’s. Just as the they have MH60s and MH47s. The difference is the early original six AH-6C were the first useage of a “shot peened†transmission gears that allowed for the additional C20B engine, and increased horsepower. The designation for the AH-6J’s took place as T Tailed aircraft began to be configured for AH use. Remember that the original T Tails were straight off the Hughes production line and from repos. Underneath that flat paint they had some great paint jobs. But the original six gun birds were vanilla OH