U.S. military helicopter crashes (Update: Controlled landing, crew safe)

AP | 4/07/04

[kattracks]

The Associated Press 4/7/04 8:01 AM

BAQOUBA, Iraq (AP) -- A U.S. military helicopter crashed Wednesday and was seen burning on the ground in central Iraqi city of Baqouba, where Shiite militiamen and U.S. troops were battling, a witness said. There was no immediate word on casualties.

The helicopter crashed immediately after an explosion was heard, according to an AP photographer at the site. He saw the helicopter on the ground in flames. U.S. troops closed off the site.

It was not immediately known what caused the crash.

U.S. troops and Shiite militiamen clashed Wednesday in Baqouba, 30 miles northeast of Baghdad. During the fighting, militiamen hit the governor's office with rocket-propelled grenades.

[The Mayor]

This is not good..

God Bless and Protect our Troops !

[Poundstone]

Damn.

Wish we had a better idea of the AAA capabilities of the insurgents.

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[Poundstone]

It was a controlled landing, not a crash.

[kattracks]

Thank you. I'm looking for more on this.

[ArrogantBustard]

Wish we had a better idea of the AAA capabilities of the insurgents.

An RPG will do the job ... this is war ... $#!+ happens ... it won't do the muzzi bastards any good, though.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

"Controlled landing", per FNC.

[numberonepal]

Fox reporting this was a controlled landing and the chopper (OH58?) safely made it back to base.

[Mo1]

FNC just reported that it was a Controlled landing

[kattracks]

Thank God!

[ArrogantBustard]

Excellent!

[Florida_Freeper]

So it was a controlled landing, its on the ground in flames and it made it back to the base. I'm so confused!

Hope all is well.

[Mo1]

So it was a controlled landing, its on the ground in flames and it made it back to the base. I'm so confused!

Be prepared to hear a lot of inaccurate information as the Media rushes to be the first to get news out of what is going on over there

[ruiner]

Yea, MSNBC still has it as breaking news "US CHOPPER DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[UncleHambone]

I think they trucked it back to camp

[UncleHambone]

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ah-58d-178-32.jpg
Crew 2 pilots
Height 12 feet 10.6 inches
Length 41 feet 2.4 inches
Rotor diameter 35 feet
Maximum gross weight 4,500 pounds (unarmed);
5,500 pounds (armed)
Maximum airspeed 125 KIAS
Cruise airspeed 80 KIAS
Endurance 2 hours
Cargo hook capacity 2,000 pounds
Litter capacity 4 (externally)
Troop-carrying capacity 6 (externally).
Avionics Data transfer system ground station, data transfer module, data transfer receptacle in the aircraft.
Video tape recorder records up to 2 hours of copilot's MFD.
ANVIS display symbology system provides basic flight information.

Mast-mounted sight Thermal imaging sensor.
Television sensor.
Laser range finder/designator.
Optical boresight system.

Weapons .50-caliber heavy machine gun.
70-millimeter folding fin aerial rocket.
Air-to-air Stinger missile.
Hellfire modular missile system.


Communication equipment Two VHF-FM AN/ARC-186 or AN/ARC-201 SINCGARS.
One UHF AN/ARC-164 Have Quick.
One VHF-AM AN/ARC-186.
Two TSEC/KY-58.
HF capable (radio not installed).
TSEC/KY-75 (device not installed).
Retransmission capabilities.
FM homing (AN/ARC-186 only).
Airborne target handover system (digital communications).

Navigation equipment Attitude and heading reference system (Litton LR-80 Inertial).
AN/ASN-137 doppler.
AN/ASN-43 directional gyro.

Aircraft survivability equipment AN/APX-100 IFF.
AN/ALQ-144 IR jammer.
AN/APR-39A radar warning receiver.
AN/APR-44(V)3 radar warning receiver.
AN/AVR-2 laser detecting set.

[Bush Cheney]

The crew is safe, so I can breathe a little easier. It makes me queasy and very discomforting and worrisome to all those American soldiers who may, God help them, be injured or killed in Iraq. I pray daily that none others have to perish for the plight of such an evil dictator who once ran the Country. In makes me even more sick to think that the Iraqi people cannot find freedom even when it is staring them directly in the eyes. I pray continually that the great people who are running our country will find a compliant, whole-heartedly satisfactory solution, to this troubling part of the world. It will make me breathe a whole lot easier to find the world free and peaceful one day and not have people so angry and bitter as to take there own lives, knowing full well that their outcome will give them nothing beneficial in return. I pray that the U.S. will be the golden eagle and shimmer of hope that spreads peace and prosperiety throughout the world.

May God continue to bless our troops.

[InvisibleChurch]

i like the new ad company FR hired

[smiley]

...our prayers are working....