Wanna' Be a Crew Chief?

[GregP]

Aren't you glad you aren't a crew chief?



That's Corey O'Bryan and he usually gets bruises on his lower legs from the flying wires when he starts the P-26. He's glad it doesn't fly TOO frequently.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I loved being a crew chief...

 

[gjs238]

I loved being a crew chief...

 

[tyrodtom]

Army crew chiefs usually fly in the aircraft they worked on, it keeps them honest.
I was always conscious of the fact that whatever I was working on, I'd be in that aircraft the next day. Or one of my good friends would be, if I was helping another crew.

Now in civilian life i'm still a crew chief, for a race team, for 27 years now. I guess i'm stuck with it for life.
Tyrod Racing, and i'm known as Tyrodtom. 3 cars presently, was once as many as 6 cars.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Army crew chiefs usually fly in the aircraft they worked on, it keeps them honest.
I was always conscious of the fact that whatever I was working on, I'd be in that aircraft the next day. Or one of my good friends would be, if I was helping another crew.

Now in civilian life i'm still a crew chief, for a race team, for 27 years now. I guess i'm stuck with it for life.
Tyrod Racing, and i'm known as Tyrodtom. 3 cars presently, was once as many as 6 cars.

Exactly.

My name was on the side of the aircraft. If anything it was my aircraft. The pilots could be different every time, but when it flew, I was on board...

Helping clear the aircraft of obstacles.
Helping with navigation and radio calls.
Responsible for the passengers.
Door Gunner.
Sling Load Monitor.

Maintainer and Flight Crew. Best non-pilot job in the military.

 

[GregP]

This was no knock on crew chiefs. This was me feeling a bit sorry for Corey since I saw the bruises on his calfs from hitting the flying wires. He did NOT complain about it, but still ...

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

This was no knock on crew chiefs. This was me feeling a bit sorry for Corey since I saw the bruises on his calfs from hitting the flying wires. He did NOT complain about it, but still ...

Was not taken as a knock...

 

[Token]

Aren't you glad you aren't a crew chief?



That's Corey O'Bryan and he usually gets bruises on his lower legs from the flying wires when he starts the P-26. He's glad it doesn't fly TOO frequently.

That P-26 is one of my favorite aircraft to see fly at Planes of Fame. Always has been. Whenever I know it will be flying I make the trip. The other big draws for me are the P-38 and the G-32A / F3F (when it comes to visit).

T!

 

[gjs238]

Exactly.

My name was on the side of the aircraft. If anything it was my aircraft. The pilots could be different every time, but when it flew, I was on board...

Helping clear the aircraft of obstacles.
Helping with navigation and radio calls.
Responsible for the passengers.
Door Gunner.
Sling Load Monitor.

Maintainer and Flight Crew. Best non-pilot job in the military.

Interesting - I just ASSumed helicopter pilots were generally assigned to a bird, like fixed wing pilots.

 

[gjs238]

Army crew chiefs usually fly in the aircraft they worked on, it keeps them honest.
I was always conscious of the fact that whatever I was working on, I'd be in that aircraft the next day. Or one of my good friends would be, if I was helping another crew.

Now in civilian life i'm still a crew chief, for a race team, for 27 years now. I guess i'm stuck with it for life.
Tyrod Racing, and i'm known as Tyrodtom. 3 cars presently, was once as many as 6 cars.

Awesome! If you don't mind sharing, which birds? I'm assuming Army.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Interesting - I just ASSumed helicopter pilots were generally assigned to a bird, like fixed wing pilots.

Nope. Even Crew Chiefs could change. If I was not on the flight schedule for crew rest, but my aircraft was flying, another Crew Chief would crew it.

Aircraft however were only assigned to Crew Chiefs. Our names were on them. That changed though in Iraq. We were ordered to remove the names for various reasons.

 

[BiffF15]

To the Wrench Slingers I salute you! Every plane I was loaned brought me back and for that I will be forever grateful!

Cheers,
The Guy Who Bent Them

 

[tyrodtom]

Awesome! If you don't mind sharing, which birds? I'm assuming Army.

Yes Army , a OH-6. A pretty simple machine as helicopters go.
Most of the pilots were Warrant officers, several years younger than me. I was 24, several of the WOs were 20-21.

 

[gjs238]

Yes Army , a OH-6. A pretty simple machine as helicopters go.
Most of the pilots were Warrant officers, several years younger than me. I was 24, several of the WOs were 20-21.

Birds:
How do the Hughes OH-6 and the Bell 206 compare?
I've always wondered why the Army chose derivatives of both.

Pilots:
Did those 20-21 year old Warrant Officers have college educations?

 

[tyrodtom]

The Army required the OH-58A, to have the same engine as the OH-6. but the Bell was a great deal heavier. Like about 1200 lbs empty verses 1600 lbs.. So the OH-6 was faster, could lift more, had a greater rate of climb.. There was OH-58s in use while I was there, but all I saw them used for was non combat duties. Later upengined models had to have improved greatly. The light helicopter contracts went to the lowest bidder, Bell's bid was lower than Hughes for the later contracts.

The Army required a high school graduate for WOC training, no college required in my era.
I went half way thru the WOC program, washed out because of a flight violation. In my group that started with about 120 students , maybe 6 were straight out of high school, most had some college, and over a dozen of us were retreads, former enlisted men who wanted to fly. Former enlisted men from all services , Army, Navy, Marines, and like me, former USAF.

We were down to about 80 students when I exited, almost completed primary flight training, 90 flight hours. By that time we had 3 students and one instructor killed during training .

The kids right out of high school did just as well as anyone else.

 

[soulezoo]

Even after moving up the ladder over the years as flight line expediter or pro super (even as first shirt), I still took frequent missions as a flying crew chief. That was really what being in the AF was all about for me.

Besides, being red x certified has its benefits on the road!

And there is little to replace the pride that exists when it is your name on the side of the plane and in the Aircraft forms.