If flying a helicopter is very difficult then where in hell did all the pilots come from during thevietnam war

Question

flying a helicopter is supposed to be one of the most difficult things to do its harder than flying a plane.
So how did the americans manage to get so many pilots trained for the vietnam war astheir were thousands of helicopters used?

Answer 1

Well, young lad, I think I can answer your question. First, flying helos;;;not really harder than an airplane, just a lot different, with basic aviation requirements and considerations thrown into both.(I'm still flyin' both after 41 years) With helos, there is almost constant usage and coordination of both hands and feet, and, unlike airplanes, a helicopter is more of a "tool". By that I mean, it is an airframe that actually accomplishes "work". It is akin to operating a piece of large construction equipment, in that it is used for specific jobs that require more than simply turning it on and going down the road (or sky). Confined area ops, high density altitudes, heavy sling-loads, mechanical difficulities or marginal engine-power conditions all present different requirements and flight management principles to the pilot. In an airplane, one can, many times, fly with less regard to variousrequirements and get away with it. A helo on the other hand, will "bite you" hard, quick, and costly if you ignore what it is telling you as you exceed its parameters. Now, Viet Nam;;;Army cadets attended basic training, Warrant Officer training, and Flight Training combined, unlike the Navy or Air Force. It was a gruelling, and relatively short program. When they hit the combat theatre, they were Day VFR qualified only, with minimal flight time. There was no such thing as "flight duty day" back then, and many times, you slept under the helos, especially if you were in a Cav outfit. The Hueys (God love em'!) were looked upon just like the old cavalry horses;;; "mount up and go!". It was the first time in history than airborne helo ops were conducted on a grand scale, and pilots were needed in a hurry. (So were their replacements) Were the new pilots fully qualified? No. Were the new pilots up-to-par for combat ops? Certainly not. Did many pay the ultimate price? Yes, they did. Training today cannot be compared to training back then, its the difference in apples and oranges, and I hope it never has to return to those days. But for those that lived through it,,,, it was an experience never to be forgotten. Best Regards, RF

Answer 2

The Army trained them at Ft. Rucker Alabama. From what I hear, the training is fairly intense but not really that hard. After all, the Army has had plenty of time to figure out how to do it. Again, based on what I have heard, the Army can teach a new pilot to hover within the first week he is actually in the helicopter.

Oh yeah, Kitten, the Army can still do that and is always looking for recruits who want to learn to fly. Check the www.goarmy.com website for more information on it.

Answer 3

find a book called chickenhawk, written by bob mason and available on e bay or amazon. its all about flying hueys, from day one in the 10,000 acre field, to his tour.

its an incredibly powerful book, so full of details you feel you can fly a huey. and although its difficult to fly copters, its no more difficult than any other skill... practice makes perfect. and the american forces "trained pilots" in exchange for two tours.

and of course the huey was/is legendary. its a real workhorse. 48 feet rotor with weighted ends... honestly, go read teh book. then, maybe youll understand.

my nephew is in helicopters in the gulf... he's the daft sod hanging off the side with a machine gun... (chinook, twn rotor) and he loves it. hes already done two tours, afghanistan and basra.

enjoy the peace. LL&P

Answer 4

Flying a helicopter is difficult, but not impossible to learn, especially if one is motivated.
Flying (helicopter or fixed wing) is kind of sexy (for lack of a better word) and there is never a shortage of volunteers to be trained.
Also, it is a skill that can be useful after one's stint in the military.

Answer 5

Driving a car is also quite difficult, but we manage to train millions of people every year.

Same principle - they just put a lot of resources into increasing training school capacity. Although it's hard, it's not so difficult that most people can't learn to do it if they are trained properly.

Answer 6

i beleave all helicopter pilots in vietnam were volunteers and presumably trained by the army .
if u fancy a good read try chickenhawk about vietnam helicopter pilot its a cracking book

Answer 7

maximum SAMs have been radar guided yet despite if it exchange into IR there exchange into no could desire to close down the engines. Sams have been incredibly worry-free to stay sparkling of in case you knew they have been coming. All you had to do exchange into make a stressful turn because it approached. Vietnam era SAMs weren't maneuverable and flew in basic terms approximately in a immediately line.

Answer 8

Mc Donalds/skateboard parks

Answer 9

Flying a helicopter is not hard. Hovering is hard. But, as with everything PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE!

Answer 10

is difficult-as for the pilots from nam-you know the ones that lived-a lot didnt-keep the peace old hippie here