so my country croatia is getting 16 of these...are they any good?
>>27930507
>kiowa pilots
Why? Why are they a thing? What is it that transforms an ordinary human being in to a lunatic with a death wish as soon as they step on board one of those things?
Congrats, you've received one of the best helicopters out there. It will turn all your pilots into madmen.
Anyone got that video of the Kiowa chasing down the Haji on the bike and the Copilot leaning out to fire their M4 at them?
>>27930543
>copilot
More than a few people that I consider to be reliable sources have given me first-hand accounts of them witnessing both the pilot and co-pilot blasting shit with their rifles at the same time.
Croatia, you don't know what horrendous powers you're about to unleash on your poor fighting men.
>you will never fly a kiowa and be consumed by an insatiable bloodlust that forces you to gat muj with your M4 with one hand whilst flying with the other
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beq2T9kKLBw
>>27930543
Raw Combat - KIOWA DESTROYS TALIBAN TRYING TO ES…: http://youtu.be/BXidMT1mhPA
Is it a requirement to me a crazy motherfucker or do they train you to be that way?
>>27930530
i wish to fly this. just like everyday.
>>27930615
Neither. It just happens through what i'm assuming are some kind of arcane black magicks.
>>27930507
Is that an autocannon on the right side?
>>27930590
>be taliban
>Being chased by a Kiowa pilots, both of them are firing m4's with one hand while operating the helos weapons and flying the helicopter at the same time while literally flying 4 meters off the deck and blasting black sabboth
>both pilots are naked except for flight helmets
>>27930639
Looks like an M230.
Does any anon know /k/anon on the origin of the kiowa pilot meme?
>>27930543
theres always these guys.
I'm curious if pilots of other kinds of recon choppers act like this, or if it's just something about the Kiowa.
>>27930662
You can just tell this guy used to fly a Kiowa
>>27930658
>>27930666
Bexause Kiowa pilots are fucking insane
>>27930507
Hopefully we'll see the Block 2 Models now that sequestration has started being knocked back.
>>27930666
British Lynx pilots are crazy in a slightly different way. They like to fly upside down just for funsies. Generally people who get to know and fly smaller, more maneuverable helicopters tend to do crazy shit with them.
>>27930658
It's canon because nearly every single Kiowa pilot to date has been out of his goddamn mind. It's not a meme, it's reality. I think it handles so well and is so responsive that it pushes sane men to the edge, just to test their limits and the chopper doesn't let them down.
>>27930658
the Kiowa is the R1 of helicopters
>>27930720
The Lynx still holds the absolute airspeed record for rotary wing aircraft, and it can certainly do some seriously impressive maneuvers, but it's still nothing compared to the sheer ridiculousness of what your average human being does with a Kiowa.
Kiowa's 15 feet up.wmv: http://youtu.be/Hur8Ymoz57s
Just askin:why is the Kiowa's rotor mast so god damn thin? It looks like its judt an inch thick..
>>27930639
No, it's a .50 Cal M3P
Kiowa was the right choice for us considering how insane our men in uniform are
>>27930662
Me in battlefield.
>>27930829
Are the pics on the right side legit?
someone gotta have the 'flying rednecks' story
>>27930895
Yes, I have seen the "APC" in person and the pic to the bottom right was featured in a museum in Zagreb during a war picture theme.
>>27930829
>not putting a picture of a Springfield XD in there to troll XD owners
>>27931096
Marko Babic
Destroyed 14 tanks by that 100 meter strip of road north of Vukovar that costed the Serbs 34 tanks.
>>27931034
>>27931096
Shit sorry wrong person
>>27930895
Here is another one that isn't that crazy but interesting nontheless
>>27931154
muchas gracias, anon. There were more stories in the threads i recall but that's the one everyone loves.
Only 20% of Kiowa pilots are crazy like you guys like to meme.
t.Kiowa crew chief .
>>27932861
That's significantly higher than anything else
>>27930639
>right side
>putting the gun on the right side
Former 15J here, my sides just detached from their pylons.
>>27932861
Hey look, the guy that changes the washer fluid.
>>27932908
Kek, half your job is sitting on a FARP with the distro shitbags. I have nothing against Js though, it's always you guys with the fragile egos trying to prove something.
>>27931154
that story always reminds me of this picture.
>>27930662
Vietnam. Where the craziness started with Loaches.
>>27931154
I remember one where they were throwing grenades out while circling a position
>>27932946
What's going on here?
>>27933122
Army AF guys fucking around with dickhead contractors is what I've heard.
>>27933122
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but, I believe it was the Private Contractors Blackwater during the Iraq war in the early 2000's. They were dropping off ammo to the sniper team on the roof instead of huffing some guy all the way up the building to them with it.
>>27933166
>>27933171
Oh, so they are on the same side? He's flipping them off because Blackwater are assholes, right?
>>27933182
Maybe, or they knew each other and he's just flipping them off for the laugh. Regardless though, they were not shooting at each other anyway, that's for sure.
>>27930668
>used to
He's got a JetRanger; he's still basically flying a Kiowa.
>>27933122
Blackwater guys fucking with each other
>>27930666
>>27930720
I'd assume it has a great deal more to do with their mission than the machine they're on. They're just flying chariots is all.
too bad the kiowa got retired from the U.S. Army..is it even going to be replaced?
>>27933225
the fuck happened here? must have hit the ground really fast for such a long trail
>>27933242
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M2XZEYqIpQ
lucky for you anon, I have a very exact explanation for you.
>>27933242
search cornfield bomber
>>27933122
Army pilots trolling contractors was the story I heard. Can't say if it's true or not though.
>>27933250
>landed by itself
>minor damage
>crashed a second time
by the way that plane is just pure sex, did that fighter even had guns?
>>27933033
Man, never trust Kiowa pilots with grenades. EVER.
I was former III/V (ground crew ammo guy). Here's a story.
>SCO and Squadron Safety Officer flew together because the SCO was so fucking old he was senile (seriously, guy was like 62 and only a lieutenant colonel)
>other helo in the SWT was Atrp CO and some random CW3
>it's broad fucking daylight
>SCO's bird comes in to fuel
>about 50ft off the ground purple smoke just fucking starts billowing out of the cockpit
>pilots can't see shit, there's so much purple smoke we can't even really see the helicopter
>ends up ramming the HESCO barriers on the fuel pad with his skids...twice
>finally gets it on the ground
>kicks the rudder pedals and the bird starts spinning, slowly, in place on the ground
>runs the tail rotor into a stack of Hellfire coffins (with missiles inside)
>one of the fuelers was hiding in that stack of Hellfires after making himself as small as possible (he had nowhere else to go)
>SOMEHOW nothing detonated and the bird didn't flip, the entire tail section ripped off the airframe
>basically totals the bird (Cat B accident, no injuries but >$1M damage and total loss of airframe)
>SCO and SSO walk out of wreck nonchalantly
>they'd hung smoke grenades, without their safety clips, from the A-pillar because they were lazy cunts who couldn't be assed to use the specialty-tailored M4 scabbards on the dash that cost us $10,000 a piece and had smoke grenade pockets (they use smoke to mark targets for #2 bird or follow-up gun runs)
>unsurprisingly, one of them got bumped off the A-pillar and was rolling around the floorboards, pin snagged on something and it ignited directly under the right seat
>MOTHERFUCKING SQUADRON -SAFETY- OFFICER WAS OK WITH THIS PRACTICE
Literally the very next day we find FOUR M68 fragmentation grenades (with the safety clip removed) hanging from the A-pillar of Atrp CO's bird. We were never issued frag grenades, he stole them from someone.
>>27933226
nobody knows?
>>27933383
Nah man, he was a top secret OBH-58 pilot, so it was okay to have those.
>>27933383
how the fuck the officers got away with it? fuck the army
>>27933419
>squadron commander and SSO fuck up
>literally nobody higher than them in Army aviation to call them on fucking up
>pilots, so Good Ol' Boy system firmly entrenched
>82nd ABN, so officers in general are treated like they piss rosewater and shit Tiffany cufflinks
That's how.
If anyone's curious, this happened October 2006 on FOB Diamondback, Iraq.
is the UH-72 Lakota better than the Kiowa? kinda dissapointed it's being replaced by a eurocopter
>>27930543
I always imagined Kiowa pilots being the inspiration for the war boys.
>WITNESS ME!!
>>27933419
Also, Atrp CO had no less than 3 negligent discharges that deployment, 2 of which resulting in the injury of a lower-enlisted soldier.
>ND 1
CO is leaning out door taking pictures with a digital camera (forbidden). Fumbles camera, whacks stick with elbow. Copilot recovers. Whacks stick a second time with camera on its lanyard. Launches all 4 rockets in the tube to God-knows-where in the middle of the desert. Proceeds to lie about it til copilot files formal complaint with SCO. It was all on film because copilot was wearing a GoPro (also forbidden). Incident is swept under the rug.
>ND 2
CO yells at lower-enlisted 15J to bring him a coffee. 15J complies. CO proceeds to lift off fueling pad. Approximately 30ft in air, tries to drink coffee. Coffee is scalding hot. CO drops coffee on crotch. Bangs head on stick while frantically grabbing crotch. Launches 3 rockets into FOB Marez's gym's roof, which had the anti-mortar shell over the top. One rocket penetrates, severely injures a PV2 running on a treadmill. CO lies and claims it's a systems malfunction. Incident is swept under rug, injured PV2 awarded purple heart and bronze star as hush money.
>ND 3
CO leaves loaded, off-safe M4 unattended in dash scabbard during debriefing. Remembers it literally 3 hours later. Runs out, grabs rifle, sticks booger hook on bang switch. Launches round through $20,000 worth of in-dash electronics, bullet takes right ring finger off SPC Kiowa mechanic that was under the nose servicing something. SPC hops up, starts cussing, CO goes "well what the fuck were you doing under my bird? It's YOUR fault. SPC beats CO unconscious with an adjustable wrench, receives court martial and jail sentence for striking an officer despite the officer having shot him through gross misconduct and gross negligence and after breaking no less than 4 general orders. CO is not punished at all.
Shortly after the deployment ended CO is promoted below-grade to Major.
>>27933469
FUCK no.
The Lakota is strictly a utility bird. It's not even armed and has the barest minimum of sensors.
>>27933503
then why the fuck it is being replaced?! why does the army make so many fucking stupid decisions (i mean look at ucp acus)
>>27933494
if they ever make a second Generation Kill series, they need to recreate this
>>27933383
>pinned down by hajis
>call in for air support
>expect Apaches
>over the ridge comes 3 kiowas, co pilots shooting, pilots spraying one handed with their m4s
>fly close as shit shooting hajis
>suddenly explosions
>mfw theyre throwing grenades from the kiowas
>>27933520
>then why the fuck it is being replaced?! why does the army make so many fucking stupid decisions (i mean look at ucp acus)
The army is replacing the Kiowa because the newest model Apaches have been upgraded to fulfill the recon role the Kiowas once had.
>>27933544
Yeah, but they're taking the Apaches from the Guard in order to do it.
>>27933520
>why is Kiowa being replaced?
Because it's an old-as-fuck airframe, all the ones that were in service were literally falling apart, it was an airframe that was originally designed as an unarmed 4-seater and after cramming several thousand pounds worth of armament, cameras, and the shit to power/target them it was severely underpowered even when new.
The Kiowa is the ONLY US helicopter capable of overtorquing its own rotor shaft, and even with skinny pilots you had your choice of 3hrs' worth of fuel, or a full load of ammo. Couldn't have both.
>.50cal hopper designed to hold 500rds, would in actuality hold about 570. Either 1 hellfire or a 7-shot rocket tube (some configurations were 2 Hellfires and shit else)
>standard load was 350rds .50cal and either 3 or 4 rockets, or 1 Hellfire and 250rds of .50. In order to have any flight time with 2 Hellfires both pilots had to weigh, in full gear, under 170lbs and the only birds that ever flew missile/missile were crewed by dual (short) females.
>Kiowa was originally designed to have about 6hr's worth of fuel (IIRC 110gal tank)
Btrp CO and his copilot were both very tall, somewhat muscular men. Their bird could only take 100rds of .50 and 2 rockets if they wanted more than 2.2hrs of flight time in fuel.
>>27933530
>what you didn't see is the 4th Kiowa exploding in midair 8 miles back because one of the frags fell off the A-pillar and went off in the cockpit
Kiowas are supposed to fly in pairs. A Scout Weapon Team (SWT). I have never seen nor heard of any 3-bird flights with Kiowas, ever.
>>27933520
UCP hate is in the same category as F-35 hate. Idiots just look at it in a still photo and say HURRR COUCH URBAN ONLY and never realize how, at a distance, your brain blends that digi shit into whatever other colors you are seeing nearby.
>>27933584
That's because I made up the story for my own entertainment, but good to know.
>>27933494
I refuse to believe this is true. Army can't be this fucking retarded. USAF would take the wings of any pilot doing just one of those three incidents.
>>27933599
Hrm. Well, you apparently have a very accurate imagination.
They do that. They actually do that.
Sadly, my retort is also accurate.
>>27933594
It's functionality is not what I complain about. It's that its so damn ugly.
Woodland was god tier, and OD uniforms were amazing.
MARPAT and SURPAT are the only digi's I like.
>>27933612
Yes they can very definitely be that fucking retarded.
A troop 1/17 Air Cav, subsidiary of 82nd AVN BDE, Task Force Horsemen, FOB Diamondback, Mosul, Iraq 2006-2007.
>>27933620
I really hate to admit it, being retired Army, but MARPAT is really fucking good digi.
The cut and functionality of the Marine cammies are soo fucking much better than ACU any day too.
I loved woodland, but hated the cut and materials of the BDU/DCU (though 3-color desert works pretty fucking good and 6-color desert is orgasm-tier).
>inb4 elvis collar best collar
Until you have to wear it under an IBA.
On a similar note, I was issued 4 sets of DCU's, and only 1 had the elvis collar. The other three were standard BDU cut.
>>27933544
>be me, 15J school, early 2015
>the Army is replacing the Kiowa, instructors are on the ARH board, tell us about it
>15J gets closed down for a bit to accommodate new material, incoming class gets delayed about a month
>school reopens, same old stuff, no ARH
The Kiowa is getting replaced...
The Kiowa is getting replaced...
...maybe someday.
>>27933635
Damn, Army is fucked. USAF might be on the opposite side of the spectrum right now though, taking the wings from pilots who made drug jokes via text with each other... texts that were acquired illegally. They drug tested (piss and then hair) and found zero evidence of drugs but just making a joke is enough to ruin young 1Lt careers.
>>27933662
Fuck, 2005, my bad. Class 01-05.
>>27933673
This shit really happened?
>>27933659
>Army changing to MARPAT uni's fucking when
>>27930756
A bold claim consider the Mi-34 is still out there.
>>27933695
Sadly, yes.
>>27933616
>be /k/ army general
>too poor to afford real ordinance
>just buy shitloads of old Russian rgd5s and rpgs from goatfuckers.
>CAS chopper? R44 with a box of grenades and rpgs taped to the landing struts
> CAS airplane? Cessna 172 with same armament, maybe 4 rpgs this time
> artillery? 2 Toyotas with a giant slingshot between them to fling grenades that have nigrigged long fuses.
What could possibly go wrong
>>27933494
>CO is leaning out door taking pictures with a digital camera (forbidden). Fumbles camera, whacks stick with elbow. Copilot recovers. Whacks stick a second time with camera on its lanyard. Launches all 4 rockets in the tube to God-knows-where in the middle of the desert. Proceeds to lie about it til copilot files formal complaint with SCO. It was all on film because copilot was wearing a GoPro (also forbidden). Incident is swept under the rug.
I would totally believe this if not for the fact that you have to first SELECT and ARM the weapon system which requires flipping some switches and then depressing the trigger button on the stick to launch them.
>CO yells at lower-enlisted 15J to bring him a coffee. 15J complies. CO proceeds to lift off fueling pad. Approximately 30ft in air, tries to drink coffee. Coffee is scalding hot. CO drops coffee on crotch. Bangs head on stick while frantically grabbing crotch. Launches 3 rockets into FOB Marez's gym's roof, which had the anti-mortar shell over the top. One rocket penetrates, severely injures a PV2 running on a treadmill. CO lies and claims it's a systems malfunction. Incident is swept under rug, injured PV2 awarded purple heart and bronze star as hush money.
Bullshit.
>>27933695
http://www.jqpublicblog.com/as-miley-gate-spins-out-of-control-air-force-in-damage-control-mode/
Look through that article and others about Laughlin bullshit on that website. It is infuriating. It's a bunch of dudes who were decided to be good enough pilots to be instructors right out of training and they got screwed because of insane witch-hunts by power hungry commanders. Keep in mind that this base that they get fucked into staying at because of their piloting skills is one of the top worst military bases in the country. Really feel bad for the dudes...
>>27933762
And common practice in my unit was to fly with rockets already selected and armed, since none of the pilots could seem to hit shit with the .50's.
Also the trigger button is pretty much exactly where an elbow or face would hit if somebody between the heights of 5'4" and 6'1" started flailing about in that tiny cockpit.
>>27931147
>Destroyed 14 tanks
>costed the Serbs 34 tanks.
Well............which is it?
>>27933673
I'd believe it
>>27933695
The US military is ran by cold war era 60 year old men who both fear and despise social media and have access to monitoring equipment/software.
Ex:
>Be salty post combat deployment LCPL
>on youtube see video of fat sweaty nerd using a crudely sharpened NCO sword to hack at cuts of meat.
>he goes into how shitty it is as a weapon
>laugh, post comment "NCO swords are ceremonial, aweapoactually weapons" also call the poster a faggot
>my account username/picture/account email are all private, have nothing to do with my military status, which I never mention once in my comment, nor have I ever used any of these things to pass military related stuff.
>two weeks later, my work email has a message from a Major
>basically tells me I have to delete the comment, rants about how the NCO sword is totally a US Marine weapon we carry into battle
>accuses me of improper conduct, threatens to contact my battalion over it
>decide discretion is the better part of valour, kiss his ass, delete my profile on youtube
To re-iterate I posted from a completely civilian account that I have never used for anything work related, and this guy somehow found out all of my personal data including my official email that is entirely unrelated to any of my civilian accounts and has never been used for anything except work, and only been accessed by government computers.
So yeah. There are bored pentagon types who will divert government surveilance resources in order to tell you to remove a youtube comment.
Looking back I should have gotten with my command because im pretty sure I didnt violate any rules laws or articles, but im sure he had to violate several to get my info. At the time I just didnt want any trouble though.
>>27933122
Najaf Firefight 2004. Dudes are dropping off supplies. Contractors defended that building for 2 weeks
>>27933781
Can you not read?
>that one section saw the destruction of 34 Serb tanks total
>of those 34, one guy did in 14 of them by himself
>>27933182
>>27933166
>>27933288
>>Triggered
NO! This is during the Battle of Fallujah and it is not Airforce.
Blackwater had 2 Kiowas in Iraq, and this was an ammo and supply drop that happened during the battle.
He is just giving them the bird to fuck with them, because that is true love of the battlefield.
>but blackwater kills da babies
Idontgiveafuq.png
>>27933695
Shit like this happens all the time in the civilian world, so why wouldn't it be even worse in the military? It's all supply and demand, there are millions of people who would kill someone to be a pilot which allows the USAF to expect 100% perfection from their pilots.
>>27933594
>UCP hate is in the same category as F-35 hate.
110% accurate, logical, and rational? Glad we agree.
>>27933567
And? It's not like the Guard ever needed Apaches in the first place.
>>27934026
The Guard sees almost as much as action as the Active Duty folks nowadays.
>>27934026
Do tell us why the majority of F-35 hate is at all rational.
>>27933841
Still proof Kiowa pilots are fucking insane
>>27933775
>And common practice in my unit was to fly with rockets already selected and armed, since none of the pilots could seem to hit shit with the .50's.
That would mean every crew member in your unit was violating multiple army aviation operating procedures and safety policies in the conduct of their duties.
Again -- bullshit.
>Also the trigger button is pretty much exactly where an elbow or face would hit if somebody between the heights of 5'4" and 6'1" started flailing about in that tiny cockpit.
Except the trigger has a flip up cover which prevents accidental launches. The cover has a spring which keeps it shut and the button itself is slightly recessed and protected. It would literally take a confluence of events that only a retard on /k/ would pass off as having actually occurred to make your story true.
So here's a question: Which unit was involved?
>>27934043
Hehehehehe no.
Anyways, 11b here, I can honestly say Kiowa pilots are some of the best dudes to work with in the aviation side of the house. The generally give a shit, want to get in the fight, and are knuckle draggers like most grunts.
>>27930530
I didn't see the pilot firing at all...
>>27933841
But its not a kiowa?
>>27930507
as a former 15R (AH-64 D-E mechanic), kiowa are fuckin cool, their an older aircraft so all the kinks and weird quirks have been worked out of them, they can start up, get ammo, and fly off in under 30min, and the pilots can get balls close to anything.
i once saw a video of a kiowa pilot flying low enough that the CPG leaned out of the bird, and kicked a dude on a motorcycle in the fuckin dome.
kiowa pilots also throw grenades at people, and do thug lyfe style fly byes lol
kiowa= cool as fuck
and thats coming from an apache mechanic.
>>27930590
I like how this guy has a grenade taped to the windshield. cause he could just shoot him with the auto cannon or rockets, or could just toss a white phosphorous nade at him.
>>27932990
I met a guy that was a Cayuse copilot in nam. He had many stories of running missions all over. One I remember being he was told by a different pilot (that he didn't particularly like) to go clean the guy's skid off because Charlie started running. There was a helmet caught on it and brain matter smeared all over it.
Idiot here
Since we're talking about coptors and shit I have a dumb question. In my picture you'll notice two large barrels with like 50 small projectiles sticking out of. They look incredibly small but apparently I was told they are missiles. Can anyone tell me more about these? How acurate were they? How deadly?
Yes I know it's a picture of a Viper and I know most of you don't like them but it's the best one I could find.
>>27934364
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydra_70
>>27934385
>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydra_70
That's it!! Thanks anon!
>>27934364
Those are rockets, not missiles. They're meant to take out tight clusters of infantry and light vehicles. Guys hiding in the trees? Unload a volley of rockets and clear the whole damn forest out.
Usually, they're unguided, but the Army is currently developing laser guided versions that will make them terrifyingly accurate.
>>27930507
Those things are badass as fuck, and the dudes who fly them are even more so!
>>27934442
they're cool as fuark and my apologies for calling them rockets I realized my mistake after it was too late. Interesting info though thanks mang
>>27930599
How many mother fuckers does it take to kill one guy on a motorcycle? lol
>>27931154
>>27930507
they're ok
>>27933620
UCP isn't ugly. Not like it's a beauty contest though.
>>27933659
No sleeves, I'd rather have my ACU.
>>27933817
>The US military is ran by cold war era 60 year old men who both fear and despise social media and have access to monitoring equipment/software.
Sergeant Major of the Army is like in his 40's. I just googled it to make sure, early 40's.
Cute example story but that really isn't proper conduct for a soldier to behave even anonymously online. Respect for example is one of the core Army values. Also I think you're jealous you don't get a sword. Heck I'm kinda jealous I don't get a sword even if it's laughably impractical and I don't really want to carry it around.
Anyway it's ridiculous to assume anything you do isn't being monitored. It's like those jackass "anonymous" declaring war on daesh taking down twitter accounts that are probably being left up on purpose so they can be monitored or tracked. There's probably a reason for it even if we're not in the know.
>>27934246
In that particular incident, it was A troop 1/17 Air Cav, 82nd Avn BDE, 82nd ABN div. Just in case you can't actually read and completely missed >>27933635
>That would mean every crew member in your unit was violating multiple army aviation operating procedures and safety policies in the conduct of their duties
Yes. Exactly. Also, -kiowa- pilots. Known for doing stupid shit.
>except flip up covers n' shit
We had OH58D Romeos, there wasn't a single fucking flip-up anything on the stick. The arming switch on the dash had one, and the screen-selector switch on the dash had one, and that was it. I'm not claiming to know the various nuances of the helo, I was ground crew, but I saw inside them enough to know this.
>>27934291
Apaches would be cooler if you didn't need a fucking socket wrench to cycle the action on the chin gun.
Also those fucking clip strips for the 30mm are a bitch.
Also their AVPU is ridiculously loud and annoying.
>>27933291
I didn't hear him say it crashed twice. He flew it twice though.
>>27935107
>We had OH58D Romeos, there wasn't a single fucking flip-up anything on the stick. The arming switch on the dash had one, and the screen-selector switch on the dash had one, and that was it.
The actual control for firing the weapons (the "trigger" if you will) is on the cyclic. It has a small cover that uses a spring to keep the button protected from accidental firing. The pilot uses his finger to flip the cover up and then depresses the button to fire the weapon after it has been armed.
Pic related is the OH-58 cyclic and circled is the firing trigger with its protective latch (black and yellow stripes).
>>27933226
>>27933384
jesus how fucking out of the loop are you faggots, the announcement of its replacement and the decision to retire the aircraft happened at nearly the same time.
>>27931154
>Key word: Rednecks.
The rest of the worlds got no idea how fucked up This place is.
It's basically Sparta with less butt sex and no alcohol on Sunday's.
>>27933383
And THAT is why we have no more kiowa airframes left.
>>27933841
no, they had MD530s
and there were 3 of them
>>27930530
they're so much fucking fun tho mate
congrats OP
wish we wouldn't have dumped them here in the US
kiowas are gods will
>>27936094
>>27936096
>>27933494
holy shit i actually had a good laugh at that, thank you. but seriously, how can one man be such a careless fucking cunt, baffles me. poor SPC
>>27934431
>>27934442
>Usually, they're unguided, but the Army is currently developing laser guided versions that will make them terrifyingly accurate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Precision_Kill_Weapon_System
Turns your run of the mill Hydra 70 into a guided missile, Hellfire style.
Makes shit a lot lighter & a lot cheaper.
Now, Hellfire has its place blowing up tanks and bunkers. However, the Hydra 70 is plenty for blowing up ISIS' technicals at a fraction of the cost.
Obviously APKWS will be great for UAVs as well. They have restricted carry capacity and you can carry 4 APKWS/Hydras for 1 Hellfire.
>>27936096
If you were sitting like that, and a hydra was fired, would you have serious burns or not?
>>27933383
Not funny story, but still a story
>entering Karbala in 2003 in the middle of night
>entering city with full air cover, AH-64s and even AC-130's 40mm can be heard (there was no clearance to use 105)
>some AH-64s bug off to rearm and refuel, Kiowas take their place
>one Kiowa runs out of luck and gets blasted by HMG, pilots wounded, but heli still flying
>they are told to land anywhere outside city, so medevac chopper takes them
>pilots refuse, probably afraid they will blast bird with Hellfire
>go all way back on their own
>copilot literally dies on way to surgery
>>27937562
>If you were sitting like that, and a hydra was fired, would you have serious burns or not?
No you wouldn't.
at 0:45 and 2:40 in the following video you can see what a launch looks like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E05Q_sXI1do
>>27930793
My personal favorite part is that, their altitude and attitude never changes in this video or most videos, it's like Kiowa pilots think 15ft is their cruising altitude and 8ft is engagement altitude.
>>27937973
>My personal favorite part is that, their altitude and attitude never changes in this video or most videos, it's like Kiowa pilots think 15ft is their cruising altitude and 8ft is engagement altitude.
"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!"
>>27935107
You also need a wrench to cycle the guns on Brads and LAVs... its not that bad.
>>27937871
>at 0:45 and 2:40 in the following video you can see what a launch looks like.
I know what it looks like, but visible flames don't mean much when it comes to burns. It's not because you can't see it that it can't hurt you.
>>27938000
Checked.
Also the combination of rotor downwash, the speed of the launch, the fairly narrow cone of the rockets exhaust and the way the guy is sitting presenting a narrow profile on the outside of the bird means the rocket exhaust won't cause any damage.
>>27937996
I wonder if we'll have a crazy series of pilots for the replacement bird. I god damn hope so, Kiowa pilots are like the Sub guys of Air. Just they're allowed to do absolute crazy shit.
Well, Loaches (Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, daddy to the MH-6 Little Bird) in the AirCav flew recon missions, taking potshots at bunkers etc in the hope someone would shoot back. Then they'd mark the target and Cobras would swoop in to join the fray.
The Loaches went down at an alarming rate, since they were nothing but plexiglass & soft shell. Those pilots were absolutely insane.
When the VC or NVA opened up on you, the only thing you had to save your skin was crazy flying, luck and the grace of god.
I'm not sure even Kiowa pilots would be crazy enough to do that.
So this is the reason we lost so many Kiowas?
>>27938021
That's if you have enough weight available before hitting OG. 2 pilots, at least a couple of rockets, third guy on the side...that's, what, 5 minutes of fuel?
>>27933494
Was at FOB Marez, and bouncing around Mosul around this time. Lived right next to the gym for a time.
Do remember the gym was closed due to structural damage for a while.
>>27938267
Sounds like guy trying to call storyteller out may be BTFO.
>>27938156
everything was going down at an alarming rate in nam, losing hueys was so routine we ditched the ones that didn't die.
>>27930644
kek
>>27933748
kek'd
![BLACK[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/YtwjmP7.jpg "BLACK[1].jpg")
>>27933841
>Blackwater
>Kiowas
Nigga what are you smoking
>fastest production helicopter in existence
>could be the Kiowa's replacement
what if the pilots are even crazier in the Raider?
>>27935107
all these things can be slolved by simply implementing a 15y lol
"hey, armament fuck" problem solved.
the apu is too wowed? awwww baby need some FUCKING EAR PRO LIKE YOU SHOULD BE WEARING?
the apu is a blessing in the winter, stop crying.
i fucking love my aircraft.
>>27939650
Cool bird. Decent chance of winning too if the Army decides to put money back into a new scout helicopter. Only real competition is the Kiowa Block II itself. The Little Bird is too small and the Euro choppers certainly aren't going to take it.
>>27932935
Is that a fuxin rubix cube at the back?
![zscreen10046[1].png](https://i.imgur.com/WkhlA6w.png "zscreen10046[1].png")
>>27937871
>you can ripple fire laser guided rockets now
>IR guidance soon
>lock-on before launch soon
ho ho ho ho ho
>>27940045
AN/ALQ-144 Infrared Countermeasure
>>27932935
All this rust..
>>27930507
Not exactly related to this thread, but after reading some I see we have some people here who might be able to answer this question for me.
Does the Army still do the program where you can be enlisted and go for flight school, without a 4 year degree? I'd love to fly helos..So sexy.
>>27940096
That's not rust its dust buildup.
The aircraft is operating in a desert environment and there is not enough fresh water to perform the periodic maintenance wash down of the aircraft. The dust clings to the POL that is spilled during servicing or naturally leaks from components.
This is why aircraft are washed periodically according to maintenance schedules -- to clean these fluids (which helps identify future leaks and problems) and to keep dust from accumulating and building up on the aircraft.
>>27940096
not rust.. its sand and oil residue probably
>>27940096
I remember all the rust, it was on the ground, in the air, even I started to rust. This guy rusted too. My boots and hat are still covered in moonrust.
>>27940103
Warrant Officer senpai
