Well, Saturday was a fun day, despite the Wx crapped out and the flight lasted only about 5 minutes and a 200 foot hover was all we did. Gonna try and reschedule, but here are some photos I snagged while I was there.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/373847231_2e58e455b6_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/373867362_34224baa01_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/373867361_b390c9cdf3_b.jpg
AMT was a cutie----^
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/373867360_17d9bed03b_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/373847239_acdaa61dd0_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/373847235_cd4f914ee3_b.jpg

Even though the ride was 5 minutes, it was 5 minutes longer than any prior helo ride. I noticed there seem to be a correlation between the pilot pulling up on the collective and the shit eating grin on my face.

Whoa, I never noticed you're in Traverse city! I used to go there all the time. I miss Michigan :( Have they changed the mall much since 2001? lol.

Helicopters have way too many moving parts.

Whoa, I never noticed you're in Traverse city! I used to go there all the time. I miss Michigan :( Have they changed the mall much since 2001? lol.

Where did you live?

And which mall are you talking about lol? The old cherryland mall is a stripmall now, and the GT mall is, well, still the same it seems. I don't normally go to malls.

That's awesome! I used to be on the helo tie down crew on the cutter I was on. We landed the HH-65's quite a bit, especially in the Caribbean doing drug patrols. I never got to fly in one though, so I'm jealous of you!

You still in?

You still in?

Yes, for almost 7 years.

Yes, for almost 7 years.

Werd. I kinda like how they use the rating int the title. Example AMT1 Lee, etc.

Where did you live?

And which mall are you talking about lol? The old cherryland mall is a stripmall now, and the GT mall is, well, still the same it seems. I don't normally go to malls.

I lived in Cadillac.

I was talking about the GT mall, I used to hang out there and always liked the architecture.

I lived in Cadillac.

I was talking about the GT mall, I used to hang out there and always liked the architecture.

Werd. When did you skip town? My recruiter is stationed at the armory there.

rotorcraft....my next rating.


F

Weird. When did you skip town? My recruiter is stationed at the armory there.

I had to leave Michigan it '01, since then I've been here in hell, a.k.a Tennessee. But I'm planning to get back up to the east Detroit area in the next couple years

What made you skip town, work?

Traverse City baby! I used to live there for one year back in the day, Fancher Street... but we've gone over this sinister, we've gone over this.... had to reply to a thread with TC in it.

So let's see how many people from TC we can get outta the woodwork...

Coasties!? Thought maybe I was the only one here! I got to ride in a Dolphin when I was on the Jarvis. It was during an ALPAT & it was cold as Hell! Fun though. Here's some ALPAT pics. The last is the best. They had to crane the 65 off in Kodiak two patrols in a row.

ALPAT = Alaskan Patrol?

Why did they have to crane it off?

ALPAT = Alaskan Patrol?

Why did they have to crane it off?

Correct, Alaskan Patrol. The boat was stationed in Hono, but they always said it was stationed on the last island of the Aleutian Island Chain because we were in Alaska all the damn time!

I can't remember why they craned that one off, I think it was an electrical issue. The next patrol they had some major engine issues & had to crane it off then too.

Those things were ALWAYS RTB for "chip lights" We always joked that the pilots just didn't want to miss dinner.

"Chip lights"?

One of the helo's here is due for an inspection in about 60 hours or so. This will be the first one done since Traverse City got the Cs.

So did you have a helo assigned to the ship then, or was it just 'visiting' when it had the issues?

"Chip lights"?

One of the helo's here is due for an inspection in about 60 hours or so. This will be the first one done since Traverse City got the Cs.

So did you have a helo assigned to the ship then, or was it just 'visiting' when it had the issues?

Yeah, the fault lights for the systems. If the slightest thing goes wrong, a light comes on and they have to land or if they haven't taken off yet, they don't! I guess it's just the way helos are! It's amazing all the tests they do for the helo, and even the fuel is tested before it goes in!
The helos are assigned to an air station and meet the cutter once underway to go on a patrol.
My ship was home ported in Maine, and we picked up a HH-65 Dolphin off Miami, then went to the Caribbean.

What made you skip town, work?

You could say that, yes.

Ouch

Correct, Alaskan Patrol. The boat was stationed in Hono, but they always said it was stationed on the last island of the Aleutian Island Chain because we were in Alaska all the damn time!

I can't remember why they craned that one off, I think it was an electrical issue. The next patrol they had some major engine issues & had to crane it off then too.

Those things were ALWAYS RTB for "chip lights" We always joked that the pilots just didn't want to miss dinner.
Helicopter engine gearboxes and transmissions have chip detectors which are magnets that are insulated and connected to a wire. If the machinery starts to grind itself to pieces enough chips are attracted to the magnet to complete the electrical circuit and make the chip detector light illuminate.

RGR. We always gave the pilots a hard time though because they always seemed to have a "chip light" right around chow time. Or they'd touch down somewhere & call us & tell us they had issues & couldn't get a/b again til morning. They got "stuck" sleeping in a hotel & eating real food rather than returning to the boat.

Heh. Me and a buddy I worked with at Air Wisconsin would always joke about the RJ pilots using the ADF to listen to whatever game was being played at the time.

So how long is a cutter usually out for?

So how long is a cutter usually out for?

It depends on the size of the cutter. Some of the smaller ones are only out for two weeks, others 6-8 weeks and the big ones can be out for up to 6 months. The cutter I was on was out for about 6 weeks, but the carribean patrol was 8 weeks.

So what do you do when yer not out, just whatever back at the station?

So what do you do when yer not out, just whatever back at the station?

Maintenance on the ship and training. And that's the only time we can take vacation time.

Maintenance on the ship and training. And that's the only time we can take vacation time.

Heh, I repainted the motor room on a TAGOS vessel that is used by the Maritime Academy I went to.

Heh, I repainted the motor room on a TAGOS vessel that is used by the Maritime Academy I went to.

Yeah, I was a Seaman on the cutter, so all I did inport was sand, prime and paint! It takes a lot to make a 40 year old ship look good.