Dude I WISH we'd had these things when I was in a recon platoon in the 101st, would have really added to our capabilities. That was about 17 years ago though.
I flew one of these in Iraq myself, by myself. At night I had to power it up in the back of my stryker, run with it going wide open in full body armor and no weapon, move the constantine wire and walk outside our JCOP and launch it with the hopes I wouldn't crash it and get shot running around with a loud ass airplane in my hands, no weapon, and no cover and run all the way back to the stryker (100 meters) and "find" out where it flew off to, redirect it to the mission and crash it 80 minutes...
later, run outside the JCOP in full body armor and no weapon, "find" all the pieces all over the ground run back to the stryker with it. I had to piece it back together and repeat the process with success for FOUR ENTIRE days. Thank god we got an eagle eye shortly so I didn't have to run around anymore because I was the only one who could operate the damn thing. Totally beat! Very cool to remember though..
I flew these down in Basrah with the Britts. I was a 19D in a recon platoon... got tasked with this for 3 months of my last tour lol. We had to land them on the roof of building... was fun but not as fun as SKTs and hunting HVTs :-P
thats awesome... we got stuck flying the thing in Iraq part time... as 11B's in a RECON platoon it wasnt exactly the thing we wanted to do, but we made the most of it! it gets a little old but with some creativity (see above) it can also be a good time! good luck with everything brother...
yeah most deff. but how could you be an 11B and a 15W. did you train for both? cause i know my AIT is gunna be like 30 weeks or something insane like that
btw just got assigned to B Co 27th Infantry Brigade in Syracuse NY. you still in?
we were one of the first units to fly the Raven in country... we did a 2 week train up in Redstone Arsenal Alabama with the guys from AeroVironment (the creators). i didnt get an additional skill set identifier... just an 11B30P
Does the plane have any sort of auto levelling/height feature? I noticed when you let go of the controls it pulled up so you could catch it nicely.
2007TypeR 5 days ago
@GarrettHarer @OperationRebuild
15W here myself!
Leaving for basic at FT. Jackson in Feb. Super, super excited!
See you both at AIT I guess!
HOOAH
spennydenny 1 month ago
@OperationRebuild haha very nice. See you in Ft Huachuca in July!
GarrettHarer 1 month ago
@OperationRebuild Same here. BCT mid-May at Ft Sill! I cant wait!
GarrettHarer 1 month ago
LIKE A BOSS.
bzyk36 2 months ago
Skill !
prokysoft 7 months ago
LOL... Good show!!!
PerigeePower 7 months ago
Dude I WISH we'd had these things when I was in a recon platoon in the 101st, would have really added to our capabilities. That was about 17 years ago though.
lisarenee3505 9 months ago
15E here we fix what the 15W's break lmao
fireofhaven 9 months ago
WOW, thats amazing!
iamsam87v 10 months ago
now that's how you do it. awesome!!!
Crashz9 1 year ago
i would say thats nominated for catch of the year! sweet flying
Lithoushine 1 year ago
I flew one of these in Iraq myself, by myself. At night I had to power it up in the back of my stryker, run with it going wide open in full body armor and no weapon, move the constantine wire and walk outside our JCOP and launch it with the hopes I wouldn't crash it and get shot running around with a loud ass airplane in my hands, no weapon, and no cover and run all the way back to the stryker (100 meters) and "find" out where it flew off to, redirect it to the mission and crash it 80 minutes...
ridewhitehorse 1 year ago
later, run outside the JCOP in full body armor and no weapon, "find" all the pieces all over the ground run back to the stryker with it. I had to piece it back together and repeat the process with success for FOUR ENTIRE days. Thank god we got an eagle eye shortly so I didn't have to run around anymore because I was the only one who could operate the damn thing. Totally beat! Very cool to remember though..
ridewhitehorse 1 year ago
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
DigiTan000 1 year ago
Can you pick to fly the raven? I don't care to much for the big UAVs
noah3824 1 year ago
Why not just land normally? I think catching an RC-plane / UAV is pretty tricky and normal landings are safer anyways
REALDualDesertEagle 1 year ago
lol good times, i'm a 19K and can operate a raven
CommanderFerret 1 year ago
I deployed to Al Anbar with 1/34th BCT. I operated this platform and would have to say it is great asset.
jorpizarro 2 years ago
Great catch!
Can I ask how what kind of duration you get?
And how much maintenance do they need in the field?
cyberteque 2 years ago 2
I flew these down in Basrah with the Britts. I was a 19D in a recon platoon... got tasked with this for 3 months of my last tour lol. We had to land them on the roof of building... was fun but not as fun as SKTs and hunting HVTs :-P
GSXnGSXRnJeff 2 years ago
this must now be an essential part of every platoon.
danndan6 2 years ago
dude that was tits. i just got assigned MOS 15W UAV Operator at MEPS on 20080612 and i am fuckin PSYCHED
delaneyHOOAH 3 years ago
thats awesome... we got stuck flying the thing in Iraq part time... as 11B's in a RECON platoon it wasnt exactly the thing we wanted to do, but we made the most of it! it gets a little old but with some creativity (see above) it can also be a good time! good luck with everything brother...
mrduke21 3 years ago
yeah most deff. but how could you be an 11B and a 15W. did you train for both? cause i know my AIT is gunna be like 30 weeks or something insane like that
btw just got assigned to B Co 27th Infantry Brigade in Syracuse NY. you still in?
delaneyHOOAH 3 years ago
we were one of the first units to fly the Raven in country... we did a 2 week train up in Redstone Arsenal Alabama with the guys from AeroVironment (the creators). i didnt get an additional skill set identifier... just an 11B30P
and I got out shortly after i got home from Iraq!
mrduke21 3 years ago
haha good deal bro. like you said, looks like it can be boring, but it still seems pretty awesome
delaneyHOOAH 3 years ago
I just wanted to chime in. I also just enlisted as a 15W.
UAV Operators only fly the Shadow, Hunter and Warrior.
The Raven is designed to be used by troops in the field. Exactly like these Infantry men are doing.
If you haven't left already, when do you go? I presume BCT is at Fort Sill for you.
PatrioticWhale51 3 years ago
yea i learnt that real quick. i guess with the Unit i've been assigned i will be flying the new Warrior which should be fun.
I don't leave till Feb-May, no set date yet, depends on school. and no, BCT at Ft Jackson and AIT at Ft Huchuca
gamemaster0500 3 years ago
instead of a "controlled crash landing" we decided to just catch the thing
mrduke21 3 years ago