Helicopters Thunder Across Afghanistan Territory
By: Tim King Salem-News.com DISPATCHES FROM AFGHANISTAN
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The helcopters fly fast and low is because a fast moving target is difficult to hit when it is close to the ground.
(KABUL, Afghanistan) - The thunderous blades of U.S. Army helicopters mean many things to soldiers at war.
Sometimes the sound means an infantryman is approaching battle, while other times the deafening roar is the sound of rescue and evacuation.
These helicopters making an approach in an Afghanistan mountain valley carry combat troops that are on the move. This CH-47 Chinook was also my ride back to the Afghanistan capitol, Kabul.
The Blackhawk helicopter represents the new technology in place in the U.S. military. Blackhawks are used in a number of combat roles and they are also widely used in military and civilian rescue operations.
The CH-47 Chinook helicopter is used primarily for troop transport. Afghanistan is a high country and the extra elevation limits the capabilities of these aircraft. While the twin overhead blades of the CH-47 are powerful, these helicopters fly very low to the ground, often lower than nearby mountaintops.
Aircraft in war often fly in pairs for protection, and the crewman aboard this helicopter wastes no time after getting airborne in locking and loading his machine gun. Increasing hostilities in Afghanistan and Iraq have put aircrews on high alert and the recent loss of a helicopter like this one in a similar location in recent weeks is a reminder of how vulnerable they are to everything from groundfire to mechanical failure.
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By: Tim King Salem-News.com DISPATCHES FROM AFGHANISTAN
Article Link
The helcopters fly fast and low is because a fast moving target is difficult to hit when it is close to the ground.
(KABUL, Afghanistan) - The thunderous blades of U.S. Army helicopters mean many things to soldiers at war.
Sometimes the sound means an infantryman is approaching battle, while other times the deafening roar is the sound of rescue and evacuation.
These helicopters making an approach in an Afghanistan mountain valley carry combat troops that are on the move. This CH-47 Chinook was also my ride back to the Afghanistan capitol, Kabul.
The Blackhawk helicopter represents the new technology in place in the U.S. military. Blackhawks are used in a number of combat roles and they are also widely used in military and civilian rescue operations.
The CH-47 Chinook helicopter is used primarily for troop transport. Afghanistan is a high country and the extra elevation limits the capabilities of these aircraft. While the twin overhead blades of the CH-47 are powerful, these helicopters fly very low to the ground, often lower than nearby mountaintops.
Aircraft in war often fly in pairs for protection, and the crewman aboard this helicopter wastes no time after getting airborne in locking and loading his machine gun. Increasing hostilities in Afghanistan and Iraq have put aircrews on high alert and the recent loss of a helicopter like this one in a similar location in recent weeks is a reminder of how vulnerable they are to everything from groundfire to mechanical failure.
More on link
