Bad Helo Camo, No Bail-Out Parachutes = Tragedy over Iraq

A tragedy that claimed the life of a beautiful RAF pilot and her comrades. Why was this RAF Lynx helicopter not in low-visibility gray camouflage?

http:/www.combatreform.org/camie.htm

Why were the crew not wearin bail-out parachutes and Personal Defense Weapons (PDWs)?

http://www.combatreform.org/escape.htm

Blackhawk Down! is NOT an inevitability.

National Parachutes

http://www.parachuteshop.com/national_parachute_bailout_stor.htm

Air University Review, May-June 1982

To Save the Pilots Life--Soviet Air Rescue Service

By Lieutenant Colonel Johnnie H. Hall

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1982/may-jun/hall.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• helicopters
• helos
• choppers
• bad
• camouflage
• no
• bail-out
• parachutes
• pdf
• personal
• defense
• weapons
• iraq
• raf
• female
• pilot

[DemonHide]

It took the British "only" 109 deaths to learn from their mistakes in the same conflict that it took us over 4000 KIA to continue to repeat them. What's wrong with us? Don't answer that, not enough space in one comment...

[dynmicpara]

@DemonHide The Brits have less resources but an attitude of "Sort It Out and Drive On" (SIDO) which realizes not all problems can be solved by just individual improvisation (FIDO) especially those that are systemic

[barccy]

such tragedy.

and easily avoidable with paint, parachutes, and m4s.

[IWannabeJew]

If they won't give civilian air commuters parachutes, why would they give them to soldiers? The little guy is expendable. It's a numbers game for the big guys.

[takedownroddy]

A small detail, but most British helicopter crew do carry PDWs with them in the form of the L22 Carbine, but otherwise I fully agree with you - great video, and thanks.

[BlacktailDefense]

In addition to parachutes, gray camouflage, and compact firearms, another addition to military helicopters should be Flare Pods.

The Lynx, for example, is often fitted with pylons for rocket pods; Flares could be mounted there.

I say "Flare Pods" instead of the more ambiguous "ECMs", because IR-Homing weapons are the primary threat to helicopters (even in the COIN role, as this event demonstrated).

There's no point in Chaff and Jammers in Iraq, because these are mostly for Radar threats.