Now I’ve seen footage of SOF dudes catching a ride in the ammo bay of a Cobra in Afghanistan. And I’ve heard of other operators flying the “wings” of Apaches during an evac near Ramadi, but this is a tough one to believe…
Photoshopped or not?
– Christian
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks to me like his head is right up against the air in take. I would guess those motors would suck your kevlar right off your head. Photoshop.
Christian,
Off the top of my head, I believe this technique has been used at least three times. Here is a link to some IR video of a Brit being rescued followed by a short desciption of the rescue: http://www.revver.com/video/158089/apache-rescue/
Dramatic video footage can now be seen of the daring rescue attempt of Lance Corporal Mathew Ford, carried out by Royal Marines on Apache helicopters in Afghanistan on Monday 15 January 2007.
Here is another link to a story where an American Apache pilot got out and gave his seat to a wounded soldier and rode outside.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3723/is_200709/ai_n21032643
There are some brave folks out there!
Though it’s hard to tell from the angle, it doesn’t look like he’s _right_ up against the intake.
I seem to remember an AH-64 can still run relatively effectively on only one engine if it has to. But then, with reduced crew and injured personnel onboard, I’d probably prefer to be lashed on the bottom of the wing rather than be operating on only one engine if it came down to it.
It’s real. There was a lot more information on the blogs a year and a half ago when four British Royal Marines went back into a hot LZ in Afghanistan to try to rescue a fellow marine, hanging on the outside of Apache helicopters. It was real, and there is a video of it as well. Here is my post on the topic from January of last year:
http://digitalirony.blogspot.com/2007/01/real-life-superheroes.html
It could very well be real. A quick Google search got me this:
http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/140768.html
Not to mention, the guys foot is actually on one of the weapons.
Several pic’s of the Apache & Cobra Evac.
“Riding Shotgun AH-64 Apache Style”
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=126443
Just because it has been done before doesn’t mean you should jump to the conclusion that a pic of it is real. Camp’s post has the explanation along with a bigger/more real-looking version. Although it doesn’t say why the guy is in desert camo.
It could very well be real
Come on look at the black outline around the soldier, I’ve seen better special effects on a made for sci fi movie.
i deployed with 1st cav’s air cav brigade and we had crews do this twice to pick up downed wingmen.they simply clip their monkey strap from their harness into these harpoints on the bird used for liftinf and voila.insta evac.
Asterix,
ACUs (your “desert” camo) are the standard uniform. Do I buy the pic? Yes, though I’d like to see a bigger version. The technique is known and established.
Here’s a link to a forum where lots more photos are shown of the same things. It’s tricky, but can be done.
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=126443
That is a certain photoshop. He is on the shadow side of the helicopter, yet he has no shadows on him. He is too bright for where he is.
Plus depending on what speed it is flying at, his leg shouldn’t be able to lay there. It would probably break backwards. I don’t believe his hand could stay there either.
I do not doubt that things like this happen, but his particular image is a photoshop image.
Yes, it is training, it has been done at Hood several times since 2003. The method has been used several times in combat.
Just to put this to rest, here is the link to the picture via US Army’s flickr.com site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/1335147481/
It is not a photoshop, if one simply checks the links provided then it can be seen that it is indeed a real photo showcasing a capability that has been repeated several times.
The original caption provided with the photo:
“In the extreme case of a battlefield or natural disaster area rescue, the pilot or co-pilot of an AH-64 Apache will ride on the outside of the helicopter so the passenger(s) can sit inside. At Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Aug. 25, Soldiers practice the tricky operation. Photo by Sgt. Stephen Proctor”
Correction:
“A Multi-National Task Force (East) Soldier, rides shotgun on an AH-64 Apache during an Apache extraction exercise Aug. 25 at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo”
It’s a well known technique in the UK for extreme SAR missions. I think the British mission was to retrieve the body of a dead soldier. One Apache provided cover whilst two soldiers rode in on an Apache to do the rescue.
It’s real people. He is not on the shadow side of the Apache. Some of you need to spend more time looking at it. There is a handle bar on the side of the heli that the soldiers can hold onto and strap themselves to, it’s not new.
Yeah, I think we need CSAR-X DESPARATELY!!!!!!! lol.
What the Hey is CSAR-X?
For Alexander:
Look at the highlights on the nose of the aircraft, the light is from the front, not the viewers left side.
And here’s an actual Apache pilot’s blog talking about how his unit did this 3 times in OIF 06-08.
http://guidons.blogspot.com/2008/07/do-these-guys-ever-watch-news.html#links
Its not new but frowned upon. Apache guy.
A SF buddy of mine was part of the testing for this type of operation.
Mostly it is like stated..case of emergency evac.
When a group is in trouble and needs firepower to cover their withdrawl..this is what options they have.
It is real.
SFC K
Just get a AH-60L for attack + transport.
During a battle in Bo Dap Viet Nam Jan 20 1970 Members of the Air Cav Trp 11th ACR rescued an air cav troop member shot down during the battle using a Cobra. Cpt Carl Marshall received the DSC and a couple of Siver Stars were also issued
This technique is old as at least Desert Storm. We couldn’t count on CSAR so we settled on this technique. Probably suggested by some 160 vets we had in the battalion. We had extraction harnesses sewed into our ALSE vests. Three snaplinks were used to hook onto the handle below the canopy. We never had to use it but at least we new that our wingmen would be there for us.
It’s real. I work ALSE which is Aviation Life Support. They give you a 4 foot loop of nylon rated to 5000lbs of breaking force just for riding in birds without internal compartments. It is called a Safety Restraint Tether and attaches to the front of the AirWarrior vest. Works just fine. In a snap though, you could do what the british do and use cargo straps.
Real. I have photos of a few of us doing it too.
Nothing gets past Army Aviation in a pinch. If its possible, Army rangers, SF and Brit SAS & Marines will try something like this when there is a lack of any other available rotary extraction.
Pic: South-Western Germany
looks like kosovo terrain and red roofs i remember so vividly,,,,
after review of my permiter pictures this looks like a distant shot of the helo to the N/E of bondsteel gate #3 as it heads up to avation hill area.
Its not likely ACUs that are worn in the PIC, but more likely A2CUs. The aviation version.
most def Kosovo, I have the KFOR mag with a side shot of the bird
Yeah … let
To the guy who stated, and i quote “What a great shot. Afghanistans operations pics keep getting better and better….”
obviously you’ve never been. My basis for this, the trees and roofs in the picture… i dont think i ever saw a pine tree in afghanistan. let alone many of them. way to be a tool.
J!H4D J3W
OEF 06-07
OIF 07-08
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Dunno if this pic is real but the technique is real. UK soldiers used it on a rescue mission last year.