V22 Osprey crash killed a friend.

[Chad Sheets]

Just got a call from my "Marine family". One of the kids I went through helicopter school with was killed in the latest V-22 Osprey crash in North Carolina last Monday. He was a good kid who left behind a wife and little girl. He was only 25. He was also in my helicopter squadron (HMH-362)after helo school, and we shared alot of profesional time togather, not to mention the fun times we shared as "dumb kids" new to the military way of life.

He lost his life with 3 other Marines in a firery crash in a NC wooded area. They were the most experianced V22 pilots and mechanics in the world. The Pilot was a former HMX-1 Pilot, flying the President of the United States around in "Marine 1". They said they had to get bulldozers to clear a path to the site. The toxic fire sent 3 firefighter to the hospital because they started coughing up blood. They will be OK they said.

I hate those aircraft even more now. FAA rules state EVERY helicopter must have autorotate capability (proceedure used to cushion the blow of a crash), however the V22 can not outorotate, and since its not defined as a helicopter, it doesnt have to. Tell that to this kids family now. This helicopter/airplane is a bad deal. I wish they would scrap the idea before more people die before their time.

[This message has been edited by Chad Sheets (edited 12-18-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

Chad... I am very sorry to hear about your friend... and the others. My heart goes out to their families.

 

[The patriot]

Chad, sorry to hear of OUR loss.
I hate to hear of such things where brave men put their life forward to prepare for something nobody wants. War.
I pray for them and thier families.

 

[pointerhill]

Chad,
Very sorry to hear about your young friend. To lose someone to what I am assuming was a mechanical failure is hard to accept. I lost a colleague when the Shuttle went down. My heart goes out to you and their families.

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99 3500 QC 4x4 a/t 4. 10 SLT loaded except leather Driftwood/agate VA, PS, 18-11-99 reflash, Line-x, Geno's mud flaps/weights

 

[Dane]

Sorry to hear it Chad. Proves we never know which day is gonna be our last. Good reason to treat family and friends like it might be today and enjoy each day as best we can. Lifes too **** short! Take care amigo...

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

[Bill Lins]

May the good Lord bless them and all the others who have given their lives in the service of our country, whether in time of war or peace. Semper Fi.

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Bill Lins Wharton, TX 98 2500 QC SLT,12 (the CORRECT # of)valves,NV4500,3. 54 LSD,Manik grille guard,Semi-Psychotty Air,Amsoil everywhere, Reading aluminum utility body and bumper,Optima yellow tops- silencer ring & muffler stolen.

 

[Power Wagon]

No greater virtue is there than this, that a man gives his life for another.

Our hearts are with you, Chad...

I hope in the hereafter, after this vale of tears is left behind, that there's a special place in Heaven for those wonderful people who have made the ultimate sacrafice by giving thier lives in service for others. I could not imagine otherwise.

 

[Power Wagon]

This thread is transferred over to the "Other" forum.

Thanks
Mark


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ICQ 3807791 Power Wagon
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Forum moderator and Procrastinator extraordinaire...
Mark Koskenmaki

 

[Alan Reagan]

Chad, Sorry for the loss of your friend. As an ex Navy/current Coastie, I know what it's like. It's sad that the military keeps fooling around with this concept. There comes a time when the concept should be scrapped and that time (although too late as far as the number of lives lost) is now.

 

[Champane Flight]

I am sorry for the loss of your freind and our guardians. This bird has had problems from the begining and should be grounded. Sometimes the engineers and the pentagon have there heads up there butts and will not give up on something until it cost many lives. This sucks!As a vet and a crewcheif my heart goes out to all the men who have to put there lives on the line.

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95 Dodge 2500 Luverne grill guard,headache rack,running boards and Amzoiled. Soon to be mildly bombed. 84 Dodge d-150, 318 Hooker headers,Edelbrok intake,mallory ignition,Carter Afb,Accel coil,and Custom dual exhaust. Boat,fifthwheel,motorcycles,and shop,job to support toys. Yuck...

 

[BCFAST]

Sorry for the loss of your comrad, Chad. It will not be a happy holiday for those families ever again... . my heart goes out to them. On a political note, while he was Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney voted against the Osprey sighting it as too costly and dangerous.

 

[Pete Peterson]

I Know the feeling Chad, I have lost alot of friends to crashes. Some of those killed on that night were patrons of my humble watering hole and the girls that work for me also feel your loss. But you know better than most its the price we are willing to pay for freedom!!! Semper Fi Bro... . Pete

 

[Briar Hopper]

Chad,deeply sorry for your (and our ) loss, I have an ex-military writer friend who is trying to get things like this changed, against enormous odds... so I've been aware of things like this for a long time. Visit his website, and you'll see what I mean.
www.hackworth.com

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Tom
GLTDR B. A. D. Boys
www.lubedealers.com/meers/html

 

[danandamy]

I'm sorry too, Chad. Yes, I agree, this helicopter/plane hybrid thing is a grade A POS. But hey, some defense contractor in someone's district wants to bring home the bacon, so... ...

 

[Briar Hopper]

A co-worker and I were discussing planes and helicopters,(he's a pilot) I used to love Bell Jet Rangers, only had a ride in one, just once. Fell in love with the name, the concept, and image. So we looked up Bell Helicopters Textron on the 'Net. (it used to be AVCO Lycoming Textron) I about fell outa my chair when I saw that they make the V22 Osprey. I had no idea, but should have suspected.
As a defense contractor, Bell is as dirty as they come, they were a major contributor to keeping the Vietnam war going, in the name of profits. Not my opinion. Fact. Research it, as I did, a few years ago. It's a matter of public record. The dirty stuff is even more extensive than you'd think.
Our system sucks. We should be going to war under a flag that has dollar signs on it, not stars and stripes. We need laws that prevent armaments manufacturers from doing any lobbying (and pocket greasing) on Capitol Hill...

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Tom
GLTDR B. A. D. Boys
www.lubedealers.com/meers.html

 

[Chad Sheets]

Amen to that. Its all about the mighty dollar.

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by Briar Hopper:
... We need laws that prevent armaments manufacturers from doing any lobbying (and pocket greasing) on Capitol Hill...

We need laws dereeing that all lobbying be done at the elected representatives' home offices. The only exception would be individual citizens visiting their elected representatives, concerning individual concerns.

For that matter, we should have laws preventing residence in DC of anyone who has not been elected to federal office and is not a member of a consular or ambassadorial misson.

These two things would go a long way toward cleaning up our nation's capitol. They would also help clean up our national government.

Chad, I extend my sympathy.

Fest3er

 

[Doc Tinker]

Sorry about the loss of lives. I can never understand peacetime losses like that.

Briar... Now that's an interesting thought, flags with dollar signs instead of stars. That would make a statement at a protest rally!

font color=#000080>strong>Docstrong>br>Secretary: Great Lakes TDR font color=black>B. A. D. Boysbr>font color=#990033>strong>Ram Fast - Dream Hardstrong>

 

[Mick2500]

Chad,

Just got over here and saw your note.
I'm truly sorry about your friend, more so for his young family. This will be a horrible Christmas for all involved.

The last Osprey that crashed was about 20 miles from my house here in Tucson... . I agree, that aircraft should be grounded permanently!

Mick2500