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TMReich

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Posts posted by TMReich

  1. Like everything else, situation dictates. (do they still teach METT-T?) If your element is four-six people fast roping off a little bird, it is probably less likely you dedicate one person to get the rope,  If it's 30+ coming out of a Chinook, maybe you designate someone.    Are people still shooting at you?  Even in combat they will not have and endless supply of fast-ropes and loosing ropes after every insert may eventually hurt your mission capability.  

     

    As far as burying chutes, again situation dictates. I could see a small team burying chutes, but if you are jumping a sizable unit, burying the chutes probably doesn't matter.   I recall rehearsing for an airfield seizure in which we needed to assault an objective right after landing.  At the same time, they couldn't have loose chutes on an airfield as follow on aircraft landed.  Really bad FOD.  Each Ranger gathered their chute, placed in a kit bag and left it (with the zipper/snaps down) at least 10m off the runway.  

  2. They have way more purpose-built equipment than when I was in (a very good thing).  It looks like a belt that probably has an attachment point manufactured in.  It would allow you to attach a safety line.  We literally used a sling rope.  I was in 1st Ranger Battalion 86-87.  most of the time I was on a TF bird, it was a MH-60 or 47.  We also used a sling rope on those as they seldom had the sears in.  I got to ride the little birds maybe for 3-4 training missions (each mission consisted of multiple rehearsals).  Back then we weren't allowed to take pics of any of TF-160's AC.

  3. There were straps on the man-pods, but seldom felt the need to hang on.  We tied a sling rope safety line around or waist and snapped in to points attached to the fuselage.  The pilot gave us a 1 minute warning and we unsnapped.  After that it was weapons up, ready to fire.  This was a long time ago (late 80's with 1/75), but I doubt those aspects have changed much.

  4. At Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station Air Show this past sunday

     

    VM16 was on display

    DSCN0309.jpg

     

    VM14 Flew a demonstration

    DSCN0330.jpg

     

    The difference in the two grays didn't seem as strong as some others.  Both aircraft had these black sections above the starboard intake

    DSCN0310.jpg

  5. I have to believe that even if this specific failure mode wasn't anticipated, the possibility of a visor failing in some way was.  I would bet that the basic flight instrument readings can be displayed on the console.

  6. I bought something Juan had posted on this site.   It was a great deal and shipped very quickly.  Everything arrived in new condition.  I would recommend doing business with him and would do so again myself.

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