Three recordings of a UH-1 Helicopter landing, loading passengers and then taking-off. Each of the recordings is slightly unique based on where it landed and wind conditions.
Type
Mp3 (.mp3)
Duration
1:17.963
File size
1.8 MB
Sample rate
44100.0 Hz
Bitrate
192 kbps
Channels
Stereo
Comments
13 years, 10 months ago
Awesome! Exactly what I was looking for
13 years, 10 months ago
I served in Vietnam. I'd know that sound anywhere. It is as much a part of me as breathing. Anyone who served in combat in Vietnam would know that sound. It was unique in every respect. The rhythmic slapping of the blades with the low growl of the engine. You can't put it into words but you recognize it instantly when you hear it.
It still puts the hair up on the back of my neck. It brings back good and bad memories.
Good memories of getting our wounded back to the hospitals, providing gunship support, resupply, or taking us back to base.
If you saw the movie "We Were Soldiers" (Mel Gibson) about the battle of the Ira Drang valley in Vietnam, then you have only a tiny glimps of the routine heroics of the Huey pilots and crew.
The Huey pilot upon which the movie was based was awarded the Medal of Honor. But I can tell you of many other Huey pilots who I think deserved it as well. But I'm prejudiced because they saved my (and my Marines') narrow little butt more times times than I have fingers and toes to count.
I was a Marine and normally Marine CH-46 and CH-53 helicopters supported us. But when the weather was below minimums and the LZ was taking fire, it was the Army's Huey's from the Black Cat squadron that saved our asses and got our wounded out. Those were days I was thankful to be on the ground and marveled at the courage of the Huey pilots.
If I meet a Huey pilot in a bar to this day (I only need to ask two or three question to tell if he is a true Huey pilot), his drinks are free for the rest of the evening.
There were Bad memories: evacuating our dead, going into hot landing zones, the sound of bullets exploding through the sides, blood covering the floor, or the sound of the Huey's overhead when the weather was too bad for the pilot to locate our unit.
Those good memories bring me peace. The bad ones taught me to honor the brave Huey pilots.
I also spent two years in El Salvador supporting the counterinsurgence effort there and I flew with both US and Salvadoran Huey pilots just about every day. I have the same admiration for them as I do for those pilots and crews in Vietnam. The stories I could tell.
The Huey was the greatest helicopter to ever be built--hands down.
Sorry for the nostalgic post. But just the sound of the Huey causes a tsunami of memories that can overwhelm me at times.
If you haven't been in combat with the Huey and if you are not alive today because of them and their heroic pilots, then you simply cannot understand the emotions behind my comments.
13 years, 10 months ago
Fantastic panning!
13 years, 11 months ago
awsome, thank you
14 years ago
grazie
