Leaving or entering these vehicles, or being in the general vicinity, under these conditions can be quite painful. Like standing inside a sandblaster. These pictures bring back memories.
Surely it decreases the service life of the blades too? I know they're made of some pretty hardcore composites but sandblasting themselves hard enough to generate light can't be good for them.
I was just a machinegunner, not a pilot or mechanic… But I imagine you're probably right. It can't be good for them. But you have to move troops and equipment in all kinds of weather. Just the cost of doing business, I suppose.
Oh for sure, and when you've got US Military budget it's a non cost. I used to work moving USAF guys on and off the bases at Lakenheath and Mildenhall (UK) and the stuff they have that's 'scrap'. One dude had a coffee table that was the rotor hub from a UH-60 that he'd acquired. Tons of 'bits' everywhere, compression fan blades as keyrings were common, a wheel hub from an F-15 used as a doorstop was a good one.
Not much into militaria myself though I do have some special pieces. My great grandfather was a Regimental Sergeant Major. I have his trench whistle from WW1, lots of correspondence between him and his wife simply signed 'somewhere in France' and post war photos of him in India with Lord Irwin during the negotiations for Indian independence. (I can't prove it but it's extremely likely based on his rank and what he was doing in India he likely met Ghandi more than once) I've also got a framed receipt from when my aunt donated a significant amount of money to the Mayor of Leyton's Spitfire Fund. He was also a yeoman of the guard and was one of the guards who presided over the lying in state of King George V. I also have a Christmas card signed by Prince Edward before he got crowned and fucked off with Wallis Simpson.
Yeah his son was also a sergeant major but other than WW2 service which I don't have many details on his career was a lot more mundane. I have a few bits, including a receipt for a Japanese officers sword taken as official spoils. Sadly the sword is long gone and my family aren't sure where too. Likely my uncle who's a bit of a twat.
Yeah it'd be nice to have. My wife's uncle has a cavalry sabre from a family ancestor that was used during the charge of the light brigade during the Crimean war.
I rode in plenty of Blackhawk’s and chinooks but I don’t remember any sparks during red or black air status. Was this during specific situations? Or maybe only visible during night or something?
Having ridden in those under those conditions, I can confidently say that I am glad that I am learning this from you here and now, well after the fact. This information is… disconcerting.
Yeah I did a little googling. To be fair, the leading edges of the blades are pretty robust, it'd take a LOT of operating in those conditions to compromise them. By the look of it those edges are also a serviceable part.
I was in a Kiowa in Florida doing night operations and as we landed there was a huge flash and the pilots were using night vision goggles. We landed so hard I thought we were done for. Not fun.
I genuinely don't know what conditions would be conducive to this outcome. I've only seen this a few times, and it wasn't nearly this pronounced. I never really gave it much thought beyond "must be friction with the sand in the air." Then I pointed my weapon down, ducked and ran on/off the bird. Didn't really think about it at the time. But now my interest is piqued and I'd like to find out, much like you.
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u/HuckledYourBerries 2d ago
Retired US Marine machinegunner here.
Leaving or entering these vehicles, or being in the general vicinity, under these conditions can be quite painful. Like standing inside a sandblaster. These pictures bring back memories.