This is the UH-72A. It the new light support helicopter the Army plans on giving to the National Guard units to replace the H-60 Blackhawk.






























This is the current H-60

















I wonder if the new helicopter can carry the same amount of cargo and personnel? I suppose the gross weight will be less with the new one allowing for more useful load but the H-60 is well known for carrying the standard 11 man infantry unit; the (EC-135) certainly cannot match that. It looks like speed and altitude are comparable. Looking at the panel, im not sure I would feel comfortable taking fire behind the new helicopter verses the H-60. Taking fire either way would be a downer.

What amazes me is that the army still has birds out there that are still outfitted with round gauges and not flat screens. The, not so new anymore, flat panels are far superior to the antiquated avionics that is shown in the H-60 picture. Its sad when general aviation aircraft have better displays then the Army. Of course some Army helicopters are quite up to date. I bet that the aircraft that are not are assigned Guard and Reserve units.

It will be interesting to see if Utah receives any and if they do, when. By the time I go to flight school it might be for the new Lakota. It is kinda sexy looking. I like the esthetic's of both helicopters really. The new Lakota will make the transition to civilian flying far easier as numerous companies use the EC-135 for search and rescue, Airmed, and firefighting. Should be fun.

Memorial Day.



I know its a beer thing....but the sentiment fits.

Road Trip to Michigan

I drove out to Michigan 2 weeks ago to say howdy to the Reddens and Luanne and Chuck and to get the yard cleaned up back at the house. The drive out went well except the tractor trailer that caught on fire backing up traffic for miles westbound on the very start of I-80 just outside of Salt Lake City.




You know its going to be a long wait when they show up with a portapotty!!!

I arrived in Grand Rapids at about 3am and decided to camp out on The Redden's driveway and then knock at 7am or so. This would have worked out really well until Grandma let the dog out in the middle of the night and noticed a strange car in her driveway. So she woke up Grandpa and he came out to investigate. A few moments later he knocked on the car window and I looked up, smiled and waived as if this was all perfectly normal. Darn that call of nature. So after everyone took their glycerin we all went to bed. We tried to anyway.

The yard looked pretty good when I drove up and it didn't take long to get the water in the house going and run the pipes clean. I opened the windows to let everything air out and started to change the oil in the machines. Everything went well until I over filled the motor that blows the clippings in the big hopper behind the mower. I over filled it I think and oil blew everywhere. Great!! Im having a wonderful time in Michigan. So I get everything else going and start mowing and blowing and trimming.


The next day I drive up to see Luanne and her man slave...I mean Chuck. Here are some pics of their new addition. They did an amazing job getting it put together.





I have to figure out how to have the program keep portraits as they are. I'll see what Aaron says.

Anyway. Luanne and I walked around town and ate at a pretty cool sandwich shop then headed back to the house to watch Chuck build a fire to cook Buffalo burgers!! These things were fantastic. Here is a good place to talk about the wonders of HDTV. We might give Aunt and Uncle a hard time about there internet access but let me tell ya....they have a fantastic flat screen HDTV and amazing HD channels. Commercials for deodorant never looked so good! Im jealous!

I spent a couple more days mowing and dumping goo in the woods and one morning I was even attacked by a wild turkey. Well not attacked really but he squawked, I squawked, and he ran off while I assumed by best ninja stance. That afternoon I noticed a truck parked in the south field so I crept out there trying to figure out if there was a hunting season underway. So I crept around, stalking my prey. I finally heard human foot steps from around the back of the swamp area. I knelt in the pathway and waited to get a look at him. He walked around and found the pathway 50 yards away heading right toward me. So I stood and waived and I knew he didnt know who I was. Only moments earlier did I realize it was Robby. We shook hands and talked for a while. He mentioned that he has been picking up the big branches that had fallen throughout the winter. Thats good because the lawn care people that were going to mow that day were going to charge a thousand for yard clean up and mowing. I looked around the yard and asked them what they were going to clean?!

On Friday we all went out with the Reddens and Ron to a steak place. The cook didn't do well on Grandma's sirloin so she had to get a new one. Ron was too hungry to wait for another. Mine was perfect. I suppose the waitress knew that I wasn't to be messed with. I don't mind smackin servers around. I think she knew that. hehe.

By Saturday night the yard was done and I was ready to get home to Corbin. The drive back took about 24 hours or so with clear skies the entire way.

It was great seeing the Reddens and Higgins folks. As is their way, Grandma and Grandpa will bend over backward to help out anyway they can. It was good to just hang out and work on the yard. Its therapeutic at times.

As for Corbin, he didnt seem to care that I was home at first. After a few minuets he figured out I was back finally and was happy to see me. Next time I will take him with me. Im not sure how leaving for OCS in October is going to go for him. Well see.

Here is some information on my Utah Army Guard unit.


The 211th Aviation Group is located in West Jordan, UT. They fly and maintain primarily AH-64 Apache's and UH-60 Blackhawk's.

So the chain from top to bottom is I Corps, 66th Aviation Brigade, 211th Attack, 2nd Battalion (Black Hawks), HHC (Headquarters), S3 (Communications and Training), and me. There it is. I have been assigned to HHC in S3 that sets up the communications with the aircraft for air to ground coms and also coordinates training during drill weekends. There are also other Battalions of the 211th scattered around the country which represent the Chinooks (lift helicopters) and other aircraft. It took me two months to get a handle on the structure. I have realized that I am in a sort of limbo here. Im not really able to help out much. I get the feeling that the command is not exactly sure what to do with the OCS guys because, like myself, I have had no Army training and no Army personnel record to speak of. So getting an ID card, my OCS packet ready, and things like that done seem to be up to me.

The 211th Aviation Regiment (Attack) mission is to provide command and control and supervision of the Corps Attack Helicopter Battalions. The Regiment's Utah Army National Guard subordinate units include: Headquarters Company, 211th Aviation Regiment; 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment ; Company D, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Combat Service Support Battalion; and Detachment 1, Company B, 193rd Aviation Intermediate Maintenance.





Last drill weekend we spent the entire time inspecting a number of Humvees and other military trucks. This is a pic of the Humvee from the back seat. Not overly impressive huh?

It is interesting that many of the career minded people have a love for aviation. Many of the people I have met are very much into general aviation and are pursuing private licenses. With my Navy squadron the interest in aviation in general simply wasn't there. I have enjoyed "talking flying" with some of the people here.

With everything going on here Im not sure how to juggle everything I have to do. I am studying for the ACT. My scores are over 10 years old and to go to OCS they need to be less than that. I am also studying for my ATP (Air Transport License). Thats the little paper that your airline pilot has. Thirdly I am working on my OCS packet. So I have been trying to manage those things effectively. I have realized that I am a one thing at a time type of guy. Not good. But I'll make do. The next blog will be about my trip to Michigan.

In Washington DC live an Administrative Law Judge. This judge sent his pants to a laundry to be cleaned and pressed. The laundry, owned be an older South Korean couple (yes...they are legal residents!!) lost his pants for a couple of weeks if I remember correctly. They did find his $800.00 dollar pants yet he refused to take them back and instead is suing the couple and their eldest son for 46 million dollars.

46,000,000. Thats right! The couple offered the man 3000, then 4500, then 12,000 dollars to settle the suit...yet he will not relent.


This is the type of BS that keeps commonsense out of the court system. This man has lost touch with reality and has was obviously sick the day they taught ethics at whatever college he attended. The lawsuit has been pending for 2 years already.

This report was aired on ABC, or CBS tonight.

This guy needs to lose his job. He needs to be audited. He deserves to to have his family ruined. He is lucky that the law of Moses no longer applies. Prick! Just another example of what is legal is not right.

So google this story if you can. Find the guys name...and write him a letter. Tell him how you feel about his abuse of our legal system.