thedrifter
03-04-07, 07:49 AM
Chopper lifts no easy task for Marines
March 04, 2007 00:01 EST
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Imagine standing under a helicopter generating wind gusts of up to 175 miles-per-hour. Don't forget to watch out for the eight-thousand-pound load. Oh, and the chopper is generating 175-thousand volts of electricity.
These are the dangers faced by Marines of the helicopter support team at New River Air Station. Their job is to run underneath giant C-H-53-E helicopters and attach cargo to hooks. The choppers can lift more than 30-thousand pounds.
It's a complicated operation that requires a coordinated team. The "hookup" man's job is to attach the load. The "leg man" watches to make sure the slings or ropes don't get crossed while the "static man" has a tool that grounds the helicopter and keeps the Marines safe from shocks. And each team has a Navy corpsman in case something goes wrong.
Lance Corporal Mark Strudas is a team member who's served two tours in Iraq. He says no one gets anywhere unless the team is doing its job.
Ellie
March 04, 2007 00:01 EST
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Imagine standing under a helicopter generating wind gusts of up to 175 miles-per-hour. Don't forget to watch out for the eight-thousand-pound load. Oh, and the chopper is generating 175-thousand volts of electricity.
These are the dangers faced by Marines of the helicopter support team at New River Air Station. Their job is to run underneath giant C-H-53-E helicopters and attach cargo to hooks. The choppers can lift more than 30-thousand pounds.
It's a complicated operation that requires a coordinated team. The "hookup" man's job is to attach the load. The "leg man" watches to make sure the slings or ropes don't get crossed while the "static man" has a tool that grounds the helicopter and keeps the Marines safe from shocks. And each team has a Navy corpsman in case something goes wrong.
Lance Corporal Mark Strudas is a team member who's served two tours in Iraq. He says no one gets anywhere unless the team is doing its job.
Ellie