Chopper Pilot killed
A tragedy occurs as well intentioned people try and lift the standards of countries poorer than us. In return the pilot is killed by the very people he tries to help. Too ignorant to understand, they thanked him with a burst from an AK47 – the only thing they do understand.
“It’s very sad that he’s gone,” Downer said today. “He was there to help the people of Afghanistan.”Officials said the helicopter belonged to The Louis Berger Group, an engineering firm based in East Orange, New Jersey. The company oversees a wide range of a US-government funded infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. The Louis Berger Group have been critisised for not ‘bullet proofing’ their choppers. The Courier Mail report deals with this matter but the pictures I’ve seen of the chopper indicates it’s a UH1D or similar and I can only imagine if one was to make it bullet proof, it would also be fly-proof – it wouldn’t be able to take off. Bullet proofing aircraft doesn’t happen. Vietnam UH1D pilots could only sit on their flak jackets to offer some hope of protecting certain male appendages but all other protection consisted of tactical flying – dramatic for the people in the cabin but often effective.
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Some of the Huey’s I flew in did have a folding retractable kevlar panel beside front and left seats, but you’re right, nothing offered much real protection.
Ah, yes…Kevlar. Lighter than steel and more effective. The first time I donned a kevlar helmet I felt I had to go and do a week of ‘neck muscle toughening’ work in the gym to be able to wear it. I never actually compared the weights of the old steel helmet and the kevlar but I wasn’t about to ‘fly’ anywhere wearing it.
I would think the kevlar ‘wings would be worth at least one pax in weight.