What's the best helicopter to fly in the big army if you want to pilot MH-6 Little Birds in the 160th?

Jack Halley — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 12:47:50 -0400

I'm assuming that there's no killer eggs in the conventional army and that they only exist within SOAR

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2019 1:22 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 13:22:01 -0400

The best helicopter to fly is the one you choose during aircraft selection day. Are you putting a WOFT packet together?

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Aug 25 at 2019 1:41 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 13:41:47 -0400

I'm totally unqualified to speak on things Army aviation, however, I can tell you one thing. It was very rewarding to look into the eyes of a young Marines who thought you were saving his life on an emergency extract even though you had just had more holes punched in your aircraft by AKs when I was flying the H-46; but it was also very satisfying to know that the guy with the AK thought twice about spraying you because he knew he would not survive when I was flying the Cobra
Any bird that gets close and personal with either side is a bird worth strapping on.

Response by LTC Gary Earls made Aug 25 at 2019 1:43 PM

LTC Gary Earls — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 13:43:31 -0400

Unless the 160th has really changed. You don't come out of flight school and go into the 160th. There are flight hour requirements and NVG time before you can submit an application for the 160th. There is a selection committee that will look at your application. At least that was their procedure in 1990. BTW the original OH-6s for the 160 came from the Mississippi National Guard. As the 160th guys told me in 1990s, they get their budget from God. :-)

Response by LTC Gary Earls made Aug 25 at 2019 8:07 PM

LTC Gary Earls — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 20:07:20 -0400

Seems like they wanted two or three thousand flight hours. I may be wrong. Also they have or did have a high divorce rate. Those guys would go off on a four or five day mission and come back and resume what they were doing. They didn't tell anyone including their wives where they had been.

Response by LTC Gary Earls made Aug 25 at 2019 8:26 PM

LTC Gary Earls — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 20:26:27 -0400

Also read Mike Durant's books. I met him at the Blackhawk flight simulator at Fort Campbell in 1990 when he was assigned there. He had completed a tour in South Korea.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 26 at 2019 10:25 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 10:25:25 -0400

I assure you you will not jump straight into flying for the 160th. Worry about being accepted as a pilot first. Good luck.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 26 at 2019 2:56 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 14:56:18 -0400

UH-60

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2019 9:58 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 21:58:22 -0400

None of the current helicopters in the Army's inventory will prepare you for the MH-6. Having said that, the 160th is going to select you based on your character and not really what aircraft you fly. They will also ASSIGN you an aircraft based on what they feel you will be best in. I fly the UH-60A/L/M and I love it. I flew a Kiowa in flight school and that was awesome. I would recommend UH-60 or CH-47 honestly. Good luck!