"John Hart" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Lone Haranguer" wrote in message
...
Fuzzy Footie wrote:

John Hart wrote:

"Fuzzy Footie" wrote in message
...


Glad to hear it, but what's that got to do with the small on post
flight
area for first phase trainees at Fort Rucker? The post has worked
for
years in trying to gain more restricted air space for training.

--
Fuzz



That's the point. It ain't all done in a small area in the first
phase. I
went through rotary wing primary training in Ft Woters, TX myself,
then
after my first tour in 'Nam, I worked there three years as a primary
flight
instructor. To handle 200 or 300 primary students, a helicopter
primary
school uses up a hell of a lot more airspace than is available at any
post
with an active arty impact area. Got to keep'em clear of the GT
line,
out
of the impact area, and completely away from such things as parachute
drops,
not to mention out of commercial air traffic, and seperated from each
other.
Might be able to do all that if you draw a 250 - 300 mile radius
around
a
given place, and can control ALL the airspace from the surface
upward.



Understood. It sounds like Fort Irwin is the place. Of course, all
those new WO's and Eltees would hate it being so far from Barstow. Of
course, they could make thunder runs to Las Vegas on the weekends.

It is clear there is no easy answer. Therefore, as the government is
wont to do, primary rotor wing training will stay at Rucker, probably
until the end of time.

--
Fuzz

I hear Yuma Proving Ground is on the closing list. Lots of room there
for flight training. A little toasty in summer.
LZ


Yes. However, it's a little too close to the southern international
boundry. Might give rise to an international incident or two, should a
student pilot inadvertantly meander to the south of the line!

I recall my brother relating a story of one of his classmates (this would
have been about 1970) getting a bit turned around on a flight and finally
landing his TH-55 and walking to a nearby farmhouse to ask where the heck he
was; he supposedly did so still wearing his helmet with the visor down...one
can only wonder what the lady's reaction to that sight was.

Brooks