Framed Finally

[ch47gunner]

I'm a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Crew Member Association.

This is a group that allows any branch of service, that served in RVN as flight crew, to be a member. It has reunions every year and while the VHCMA reunion is happening many of the individual RVN aviation companies have their own private reunions. So, this includes many separate hospitality suites and the usual for sale hats, pins, patches, t-shirts, & souvenirs.

Anyways - At the last Reno reunion, one of the kiosks set-up was operated by Joe Kline, who is a pretty famous aviation artist that specializes in RVN aviation prints, and who also is a former crewmember and current member of the VHCMA. For a couple of extra bucks, Joe customized my CH-47C Chinook print by adding my 213th ASHC (BlackCats) unit markings and modifying a few things on the aircraft.

I finally got it framed & hanged in my den. So here it is.
That would be me, at the left door.

Bruce

[ducky_0811]

man, that looks GREAT! awesome detail!

[Subotai]

Awesome! Do you have to yell "Get some!" or is that optional?

[SonofWWIIDI]

Nice! Thank you for your service!

[ch47gunner]

Thanks guys,

No point yelling "get some" - these things are incredibly LOUD. Between the Engine noise (two), transmission noise (five), and the sound of the blades popping & slapping, I could barely hear myself think.

Also - I really like the way Joe showed the dust/dirt blowing. I heard Chinooks put out approx. 200 knots of rotor-wash. Especially during the dry season, we were IFR going in & out of these dusty FB's (notice the goggles instead of the helmet's visor) goggles were worth their weight in gold and passed down.

If the landing pad was too close to the perimeter or if we were directed to place the load inside the perimeter, then the rotor-wash would blow everything away including concertina/barbed wire (igniting trip-flares), tents, crappers, & everything not staked down.

Bruce

[BillyGoatCrawler]

That is a cool rendition.

I spent some time with them being an infantryman. Kunar province required a good amount of heli for resupply and air assaults. I will never forget how loud the transmission wail is from those things. And the odd vibration when you're sitting on the ground that hones out as it spools up to take off.

I know when we would be in PZ posture or just after dismounting in the mountains they would throw all kinds of rocks at you. Hard enough to hurt at times. We had prepped an LZ with 155mm arty the night before an insertion and when the bird spooled up to take back off after dropping us off, I was at the edge of a crater mark from a time delay impact. It knocked me over into the impression when it took off from the rotor wash. I also really liked the engine heat that came off them. It was super nice dismounting into snow area and feeling the heat blowing on you, but as they took off the heat fades and the silence sets in. That's when you knew you were alone in Indian country.