I spent 6 years as an AST and it was absolutely the most exciting,rewarding thing I have done.I can't speak highly enough of the Coast Guard and the experiences that are available to anyone that volunteers to serve.
I was a Coastie in 1967-69. When I left I became a Firefighter, for 42 years. Although FF was very rewarding, If rescue swimmers were around in the 60’s, I’d still be in the guard. I love it !!!
Great video. These guys are true hero’s. I lived in coastal Oregon in the 1980’s and always looked up to these guys as the absolute pinnacle of military service. Because of the character of the guys I met up there who did this work, I really wanted to be a coast guard rescue swimmer when I was younger. When I was 19 I tried to join, but because of shoulder injuries I wasn’t eligible. I’m 53 now and these guys are still my heroes!
Another awesome video Steve! My father was in the USCG for 26 years and was over the ASM Shop (now AST) the last several years before retiring. I have been privileged to be a part of the AST family growing up and made some life long friends. The USCG Rescue Swimmers are an incredible group of people that are a unique breed of men and women and certainly deserve the respect, appreciation, and recognition for what they do on a daily basis! From a Coast Guard brat, thank you for showing a glimpse of what the USCG Rescue Swimmers go through and why they are HERO's in my book. Thank you for USCG Air Station Traverse City for allowing FlightChops and @steveo1kinevo to ride along and experience a day in the life of the USCG and the Rescue Swimmers! Proud to be a USCG Brat!
Cool video,I was lucky enough to get a ride in one after the boat I was delivering sunk just south of Ocean City MD.Funny thing was the choppers were busy so they sent a C-130 first to make contact and throw us a survival bag to hold us over until they could get to us.Inside the bag was a life raft and your basic survival gear like a portable VHF,energy bars water etc followed by a funny note that said "While we appreciate you calling the USCG we're currently busy and you are number 3 in line.We hope you enjoy the refreshments and the the cards should help pass the time".with a smiley face........It was all in good fun and helped keep us calm and lighthearted..........They finally got a chooper from Elizabeth City NC to us after about 4 hours.But we were jabbering away with the guys in the C-130 so it wasnt too bad.I'm by no means complaining and was extremely thankful to say the least........Now to top everything off the crew member on the C-130 was a Coasty that I knew and met while he was stationed Cape May NJ.He had his CPL and was looking to fly banners is his spare time were I worked.....Needless to say it was a odd reunion of sorts lol.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Back in the 80"s, I was in the Explorer Scouts. One summer we had a jamboree near Hood Canal, WA. There was an announcement during the jamboree that the Coast Guard was sending a helicopter to allow us to experience being hoisted out of the water in a simulated rescue! Those of us who "signed up" had to demonstrate a 100 yard (each way) swim in the cold Hood Canal salt water before the chopper arrived, which we did with very little hesitation. We were 15-17 year olds, very excited but a bit apprehensive about what to expect. Unfortunately, at the last minute, we were informed that the helicopter had been diverted to an actual emergency and our simulated rescue had to be cancelled! 😖
WOW.......I had no idea what this segment would entail.........probably a good thing for your old Mom xox.......This is great Steve! So very proud of you. You're very brave along with all your other great qualities.
Honestly never considered CG aviation. I watched this series and I won't lie I want to join the CG now hahaha. Thanks for the video and thanks CG Michigan for sharing this unique experience with us!
Hey Flight Chops! Thank you so much for your cool and inspiring videos! I had knee reconstruction surgery earlier this month and watched this video 10x it was so awesome and such a great distraction from the pain! Your videos allow me and im sure so many others to escape even if just for awhile!
After watching a lot of doom and gloom in the news and what not, watching your videos are like a breath of fresh air Mr Chops. Everyone you meet are so nice and your vids are really entertaining. Without trying to sound too cheesy they really do restore my faith in humanity. :)
Aww ya! At first I was like Nooo!! a cliffhanger!? But then I was like wait that just means the whole adventure will be half an hour rather than 15 or even 20 mins. This is the kind of thing that continues to make me happy I don't have cable TV. Keep up the great work!
Thanks! And yeah, I got rid of cable years ago! We're making the content we want to see - so glad you're enjoying it! And yes, this one needed to be a 2 parter; it was too much to cram into one episode - I didn't want to sell it short, we'll be covering what it took to do the multiple hoists in the same level of detail as we covered just getting there in part 1.
Very cool series of videos by you and +steveo1kinevo!! As a former AST stationed in Traverse City ('03-'05), you guys brought back some really cool memories of flying in Northern Michigan. The people I worked with there on the hanger deck are some of the best people I've ever worked with. Thank you for posting!!
Much respect to the United States Coast Guard, this was so amazing and is another tick in the box of what makes me a proud American. WTG FlightChops, you did amazingly good in the training, being a fan of both you and SteveO i got to see both sides, you guys are awesome, hope you two collab more often, Great video !
comparing to THIS, every other Job in the world seems silly and ridicolous. You do a real great , technical, professional and dangerous service guys.. compliments from italy
Wow! The quality of these videos just keeps getting better. Thanks again to you and SteveO for putting this content out there, it's hugely important to keep the interest in aviation alive. Cheers!
I remember seeing clips of this episode in the previews but always thought it was a coming "future episode". Planing a binge day of all the old Flightchops material to see what else I might of missed! Great video as always Steve!
Well done gentlemen, you two continue to produce fantastic videos from a very humble prospective that all pilots can relate too. And again totally jealous of you both.
Thanks! And interesting... I'd sort of given up on the TH-cam playlists... do you find them useful? This series is in my top play list on the channel called something to the effect of "Gert to know the channel"
I was at a small boat station in Oregon and we did helo ops with Air Station Group North Bend. Coast Guard has the best Helo pilots in the world for one reason, they fly when no one else will. Semper Paratus.
You're inability to swim coupled with your time in the Bahamas made me sad Steveo. Next time you're in the Pacific Northwest let me know and I'll give you some free swimming lessons.
Wow... You earned even more respect for your success in taking on this adventure. This reminded me: at OSH this year, did you watch The Guardian Thursday night at the Fly In Theater? If so, we watched it together... along with about a thousand of our friends. HUGE respect for all Coast Guard personnel!
In Spanish, for spaniards El trabajo de este hombre es increible, son los mejores videos sobre aviación que se han producido hasta ahora si no entiendes ingles bien usa la función de traducción automática merece la pena
I used to watch that show on the Weather Channel about the Coast Guard, and I also spent a significant portion of my life outside of New London, CT. where we taught PPL Ground School for the Cadets there (optional course). I have the highest respect for those men and women Coasties. Watching both this and Steveo's videos on it, my commendations to both of you. Steveo, you faked the 15 yard underwater, didn't you? :p Chicken, or did Chops just win the bet for who would have the most fun? I am amazed at the CRM, it's far better than anything I've seen elsewhere. I was in the Air Force, but we were flying single seat fighters, so no CRM there, at least with other aircrew members. The Flight Engineer does an amazing job telling the pilot how to fly the helicopter. Anyway, thanks to you and Steveo for such an amazing set of videos, and to Brock, as well, for his spectacular in-water footage.
I know, right? I started a TH-cam channel to share some flying experiences and hoped it might help make some flying friends... expectations were definitely exceeded :)
Steveo was right chops has a new career as a rescue swimmer. You guys are going have a hard time topping this one lol. To bad i cant give more then one thumbs up.
OMG I soloed that very exact champ that you showed in this video. I actually am a flight instructor at the college at Traverse city I'm upset I didn't know that you were around.
Awesome video, spent 25 years of my life as a NASA Safety Diver and had the opportunity to have some of Coast Guards finest train in our facility...NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Enjoy the videos, keep them coming
I love it... I grew up there. Learned to swim at the Civic Center. I no longer live there, but have family and still visit often. I wish I would have known you were there, I could have come up and help at least with logistics! ...Great Video!
We share the same mission in this world. We crew members of "Federal District Fire Department", Brasília - Brazil. God Bless us...may we always save with excellence!! Thanks you!!!
I was in the Coast Guard in the early 80s before the AST program was conceived. We did help Helos from our boats and cutters. The helos didn't have swimmers at that time. They would lower the basket and hope the victim, er, I mean survivor, still had the strength to get in the basket. Or if we were on scene with a boat, we would help the survivors into the basket. As a certified Scuba Diver, when I jump into cold water, I would much rather go down right away and meet my buddy diver at 15 feet than swim in a cold breeze on the surface. Or swim under an overhead hurricane maker. Everything you do is made much harder when you're trying to help someone else in a helo's propwash. The Coast Guard started the AST swimmer program after the sinking of the M/V Marine Electric in '84. When the CG Helos got on scene; they found that none of the crewmen had the strength to get in the basket on their own. It felt like a nightmare for the helo crews. Then a nearby Delta force helo diverted to assist. They had a frog man onboard whose job was rescuing downed military pilots. Uncle Sam had a lot of money and time invested in each of their pilots and wanted them back. The frogman was able to get one survivor hoisted to each of two Coast Guard Helos and two survivors hoisted to their helo. The rest were already deceased. Of about 24 crewmen, all but 4 were lost. The Coast Guard realized after that incident that they needed the same highly trained swimmers aloft, and the AST program was born. Those swimmers are considered the special forces of the Coast Guard. I doubt that I could have qualified. They are the best of the best. And they save a lot of lives. It's among the toughest and most rewarding jobs in the military.
Great video but I couldn't believed it when I heard Stevo's name. The last video I watched him fly a Pilatus TBM 940 Turboprop plane...today he's at the coast guard facility aboard an MH65 helicopter. That makes him a well rounded pilot. But let me say I enjoyed this video looking at how these highly trained men in uniform execute their call of duty. Regards from Guyana.
this looks unpleasant, but the most terrifying thing I've ever seen is the USMC training on how to escape from a helicopter that's crashed in the water upside down. the smarter every day guy did that one. the trainer isn't a seat in an open cage like this, it's an enclosed tube to simulate the actual interior of the helicopter. personally, i'd prefer to never do either one!
Thanks for the watch binky! Our crews also train with the full scale helicopter mockup mentioned, but at less frequent intervals throughout their careers. The SWET chair in this video is used at least annually by all aircrew qualified personnel to verify procedures and build muscle memory. Both are a BLAST!
I guess gone is the sled which was perched about 20' above the pool on rails which free fell at about a 45 degree angle into the pool. When it hit the water it immediately flipped inverted. The sled was metal panels instead of a tubular cage. The panels had large holes for immediate flooding of the 'flight deck'. It was even more 'fun' in the dark with the beams of the safety diver's flashlights somewhat disorienting.
Oh, and while wearing your full flight kit. I wasn't a military pilot but my dad was one of the safety divers so sometimes I got to play with their toys.
Richard H..... When I went through training in San Diego (North Island) we called that sled "The Dilbert Dunker." The open frame looks a little less intimidating. Great work by all involved, and the camera work was great.
![ประสบการณ์ จ้าง Developer ที่ผมจะไม่มีวันลืม [ภาค1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bzivN4KDg-k/mqdefault.jpg)
I spent 6 years as an AST and it was absolutely the most exciting,rewarding thing I have done.I can't speak highly enough of the Coast Guard and the experiences that are available to anyone that volunteers to serve.
how did you pass rescue swimmer school
My hat is off to you. You guys really are professional heroes.
I was a Coastie in 1967-69. When I left I became a Firefighter, for 42 years. Although FF was very rewarding, If rescue swimmers were around in the 60’s, I’d still be in the guard. I love it !!!
Great video. These guys are true hero’s. I lived in coastal Oregon in the 1980’s and always looked up to these guys as the absolute pinnacle of military service. Because of the character of the guys I met up there who did this work, I really wanted to be a coast guard rescue swimmer when I was younger. When I was 19 I tried to join, but because of shoulder injuries I wasn’t eligible. I’m 53 now and these guys are still my heroes!
I’m alive today because of you guys! Many thanks 🙏. October 18, 1995 six miles south of KJFK.
Another awesome video Steve! My father was in the USCG for 26 years and was over the ASM Shop (now AST) the last several years before retiring. I have been privileged to be a part of the AST family growing up and made some life long friends. The USCG Rescue Swimmers are an incredible group of people that are a unique breed of men and women and certainly deserve the respect, appreciation, and recognition for what they do on a daily basis! From a Coast Guard brat, thank you for showing a glimpse of what the USCG Rescue Swimmers go through and why they are HERO's in my book. Thank you for USCG Air Station Traverse City for allowing FlightChops and @steveo1kinevo to ride along and experience a day in the life of the USCG and the Rescue Swimmers! Proud to be a USCG Brat!
Thanks Mark!
Mark Denton V
@@FlightChops 0
Cool video,I was lucky enough to get a ride in one after the boat I was delivering sunk just south of Ocean City MD.Funny thing was the choppers were busy so they sent a C-130 first to make contact and throw us a survival bag to hold us over until they could get to us.Inside the bag was a life raft and your basic survival gear like a portable VHF,energy bars water etc followed by a funny note that said "While we appreciate you calling the USCG we're currently busy and you are number 3 in line.We hope you enjoy the refreshments and the the cards should help pass the time".with a smiley face........It was all in good fun and helped keep us calm and lighthearted..........They finally got a chooper from Elizabeth City NC to us after about 4 hours.But we were jabbering away with the guys in the C-130 so it wasnt too bad.I'm by no means complaining and was extremely thankful to say the least........Now to top everything off the crew member on the C-130 was a Coasty that I knew and met while he was stationed Cape May NJ.He had his CPL and was looking to fly banners is his spare time were I worked.....Needless to say it was a odd reunion of sorts lol.
SouthJerseySound crazy story man
SouthJerseySound I’m from OC.
nice!
No
Ji
Thanks for sharing your experience! Back in the 80"s, I was in the Explorer Scouts. One summer we had a jamboree near Hood Canal, WA. There was an announcement during the jamboree that the Coast Guard was sending a helicopter to allow us to experience being hoisted out of the water in a simulated rescue! Those of us who "signed up" had to demonstrate a 100 yard (each way) swim in the cold Hood Canal salt water before the chopper arrived, which we did with very little hesitation. We were 15-17 year olds, very excited but a bit apprehensive about what to expect. Unfortunately, at the last minute, we were informed that the helicopter had been diverted to an actual emergency and our simulated rescue had to be cancelled! 😖
Sorry your chance got cancelled, but it is pretty cool that they tried to make it work between real missions.
WOW.......I had no idea what this segment would entail.........probably a good thing for your old Mom xox.......This is great Steve! So very proud of you. You're very brave along with all your other great qualities.
:)
The level of production in your videos is fantastic. Great video, look forward to the next chapter.
Thanks! We're already editing part 2 :)
Honestly never considered CG aviation. I watched this series and I won't lie I want to join the CG now hahaha. Thanks for the video and thanks CG Michigan for sharing this unique experience with us!
+ElloBoppit - Boom! Thanks, and awesome that it reached you and ignited some passion!
Did you join?
Hey Flight Chops! Thank you so much for your cool and inspiring videos! I had knee reconstruction surgery earlier this month and watched this video 10x it was so awesome and such a great distraction from the pain! Your videos allow me and im sure so many others to escape even if just for awhile!
Thanks! here's to a speedy recovery!
After watching a lot of doom and gloom in the news and what not, watching your videos are like a breath of fresh air Mr Chops. Everyone you meet are so nice and your vids are really entertaining. Without trying to sound too cheesy they really do restore my faith in humanity. :)
Haha - I appreciate this comment! Happy to help restore some faith in humanity. :)
Aww ya! At first I was like Nooo!! a cliffhanger!? But then I was like wait that just means the whole adventure will be half an hour rather than 15 or even 20 mins. This is the kind of thing that continues to make me happy I don't have cable TV. Keep up the great work!
Thanks! And yeah, I got rid of cable years ago! We're making the content we want to see - so glad you're enjoying it! And yes, this one needed to be a 2 parter; it was too much to cram into one episode - I didn't want to sell it short, we'll be covering what it took to do the multiple hoists in the same level of detail as we covered just getting there in part 1.
Shaweet!
On a canoe trip 20 yrs ago I watched a CDN Coast Guard rescue. Now I have some idea of what went on inside the action. Great video !!!
This is one of my favorite FlightChops videos of all time!
awesome thanks!
20 seconds in and this already looks amazing!
:)
Definitely subscribing I’m from Michigan and love this stuff and still live here. Traverse city is beautiful man
Glad you guys had a great time up here in Traverse City! Come back sometime!
Your documentary style and Steveo's vlog style really compliment each other.
Thanks, and agreed - this was a very fun Collab :)
Very cool series of videos by you and +steveo1kinevo!! As a former AST stationed in Traverse City ('03-'05), you guys brought back some really cool memories of flying in Northern Michigan. The people I worked with there on the hanger deck are some of the best people I've ever worked with. Thank you for posting!!
It was on the 14:06 that i noticed that i had a smile on my face for entire time. Great video! Love and Respect for the USCG!! Thanks for the video.
i'm so jealous right now, i wanna do this kind of training to. I'm a lifeguard for almost 18 years and never had the chance to do this. USCG is GREAT!
Did you ever join the CG?
So nice place to live, America is beautiful
Can’t believe this was posted in 2016, looks like something from recent times
2016 was 4 years ago
Epic video, chops! Can't wait for part 2, and more collaborations!
Mr. Santos i was stationed with him at Sector North Carolina when he got accepted to pilot school. Congrats Mr. Santos Bravo Zulu sir
I live in Traverse city! So glad you got to visit
Much respect to the United States Coast Guard, this was so amazing and is another tick in the box of what makes me a proud American. WTG FlightChops, you did amazingly good in the training, being a fan of both you and SteveO i got to see both sides, you guys are awesome, hope you two collab more often, Great video !
comparing to THIS, every other Job in the world seems silly and ridicolous.
You do a real great , technical, professional and dangerous service guys..
compliments from italy
Wow! The quality of these videos just keeps getting better. Thanks again to you and SteveO for putting this content out there, it's hugely important to keep the interest in aviation alive. Cheers!
I remember seeing clips of this episode in the previews but always thought it was a coming "future episode". Planing a binge day of all the old Flightchops material to see what else I might of missed! Great video as always Steve!
Well done gentlemen, you two continue to produce fantastic videos from a very humble prospective that all pilots can relate too. And again totally jealous of you both.
I think you should create a dedicated playlist for this series, much easier to find and watch. Love all your videos Chops!
Thanks! And interesting... I'd sort of given up on the TH-cam playlists... do you find them useful? This series is in my top play list on the channel called something to the effect of "Gert to know the channel"
Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2017 to yourselves and your families, FlightChops!
Thanks and back atcha!
Best Coast Guard Ad. I have ever seen. Looks great
I was at a small boat station in Oregon and we did helo ops with Air Station Group North Bend. Coast Guard has the best Helo pilots in the world for one reason, they fly when no one else will.
Semper Paratus.
Your videos get better and better! I'm a student pilot in Aus and love watching your videos. Keep up the awesome work!
Very very cool Steve . Such great footage and what an experience!
Thanks, Keith!
Coast Guard Aux Air, we went thru the same training at ATC Mobile for SABRE Training, It was the best evolution, we completed our PQS's there.
This was a ton of fun! Awesome video Mr Chops! That pool training was no joke. lol
Thanks buddy - yours came together great too!
steveo1kinevo fg
Kkki
Iii
You're inability to swim coupled with your time in the Bahamas made me sad Steveo. Next time you're in the Pacific Northwest let me know and I'll give you some free swimming lessons.
This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Thank you.
Awesome video!!!!
👍👍👍👏👏👏👏
I met a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer at Philadelphia International Airport a few years ago !
😁😁😁😁
so cool you did this out of Traverse City! very active Coast Guard there! would see them quite often!
You weren't lying about the nice content that would be coming...
nope :)
Wow... You earned even more respect for your success in taking on this adventure. This reminded me: at OSH this year, did you watch The Guardian Thursday night at the Fly In Theater? If so, we watched it together... along with about a thousand of our friends. HUGE respect for all Coast Guard personnel!
Thanks man! And yes, the Coasties deserve our respect and gratitude!
In Spanish, for spaniards
El trabajo de este hombre es increible, son los mejores videos sobre aviación que se han producido hasta ahora
si no entiendes ingles bien usa la función de traducción automática merece la pena
So impressed by all you boys work. And thank you to our cost gard.
Saludos!
Anyone else almost pass out holding their breath throughout the video???
Great video as always guys :)
Those choppers are so beautiful!!
His beard looks like captain price out of cod 4
Bravo Six, going dark
⬛
Got some good mutton chops going.
Gaw that's an ordah
I was thinking about that and it’s the first comment I look at
excellent work - thanks for being who you are uscg !
beautfiful video, beautiful people. What a training!!! Complete dedication to save lives. Stunning.
Quality video Steve, great production. Looked like you guys had a lot of fun.
yes, it was a lot of hard work, but definitely fun as well :)
Very well done and informative Steve. Great job passing the swim tests, you are a badass.
Haha, thanks, I'll take it :)
My god this should have way more views and likes. This is so good.
I want to be a Coast Guard helicopter pilot when I’m older, great vid!
Really well done Flight Chops, great edit !
Thanks! Props to Dan for doing most of the editing work on this one, he is a big part of the Flight Chops post production team.
Epic content Steve(s)! Really enjoyed that. Kudos to the Coast Guard guys for all they do for giving us such a great view into what they do.
Thanks Chris! And agreed - those guys are awsome
Gosh... I get nervous just watching this stuff. You did a great job!
+Martin Dörsch - oh, I was nervous :). But thanks!
I used to watch that show on the Weather Channel about the Coast Guard, and I also spent a significant portion of my life outside of New London, CT. where we taught PPL Ground School for the Cadets there (optional course). I have the highest respect for those men and women Coasties. Watching both this and Steveo's videos on it, my commendations to both of you. Steveo, you faked the 15 yard underwater, didn't you? :p Chicken, or did Chops just win the bet for who would have the most fun?
I am amazed at the CRM, it's far better than anything I've seen elsewhere. I was in the Air Force, but we were flying single seat fighters, so no CRM there, at least with other aircrew members. The Flight Engineer does an amazing job telling the pilot how to fly the helicopter.
Anyway, thanks to you and Steveo for such an amazing set of videos, and to Brock, as well, for his spectacular in-water footage.
This was amazing the Coast Guard are real pros. Did you ever think in your wildest dreams that it will get to this?
I know, right? I started a TH-cam channel to share some flying experiences and hoped it might help make some flying friends... expectations were definitely exceeded :)
I saw on Steveo1kenivo that he might have trouble with TH-cam any idea what it is all about?
Steveo was right chops has a new career as a rescue swimmer. You guys are going have a hard time topping this one lol. To bad i cant give more then one thumbs up.
This was a really awesome video!
OMG I soloed that very exact champ that you showed in this video. I actually am a flight instructor at the college at Traverse city I'm upset I didn't know that you were around.
I love the sound of the dolphin, its distinctive
You guys did a awesome job. You quality and story telling are wonderful. Incredible to see how you have progressed. Keep up the good work!
Awesome video, spent 25 years of my life as a NASA Safety Diver and had the opportunity to have some of Coast Guards finest train in our facility...NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Enjoy the videos, keep them coming
@channing, I was one of them! Proud AIRSTA Houston alum - always loved our time with the NBL crew. Thank you!
Easily the best TH-cam Production I have seen. Awesome work guys
totally agree.
Thanks :)
Wow! im exited for this new rescue series! good luck!
I love it... I grew up there. Learned to swim at the Civic Center.
I no longer live there, but have family and still visit often. I wish I would have known you were there, I could have come up and help at least with logistics!
...Great Video!
This was fantastic! Glad to see the collab!
WOW man! This video was mind blown well made!
We share the same mission in this world. We crew members of "Federal District Fire Department", Brasília - Brazil. God Bless us...may we always save with excellence!! Thanks you!!!
Great video! Waiting for part two!
Awesome!! I admire you and how you have been able to accomplish all this!! Good job!
Appreciated :)
I love aviation and yous together best video ever
Not going to lie, I have family that loves 5 blocks from there and it took me a minute to find them as well! Great video
So cool, can't wait for part 2!
Man, dunker training is something I'd love to never do again. Great video!
Epic video! Great content, well edited, and just overall terrific production!
I was in the Coast Guard in the early 80s before the AST program was conceived. We did help Helos from our boats and cutters. The helos didn't have swimmers at that time. They would lower the basket and hope the victim, er, I mean survivor, still had the strength to get in the basket. Or if we were on scene with a boat, we would help the survivors into the basket.
As a certified Scuba Diver, when I jump into cold water, I would much rather go down right away and meet my buddy diver at 15 feet than swim in a cold breeze on the surface. Or swim under an overhead hurricane maker. Everything you do is made much harder when you're trying to help someone else in a helo's propwash.
The Coast Guard started the AST swimmer program after the sinking of the M/V Marine Electric in '84. When the CG Helos got on scene; they found that none of the crewmen had the strength to get in the basket on their own. It felt like a nightmare for the helo crews. Then a nearby Delta force helo diverted to assist. They had a frog man onboard whose job was rescuing downed military pilots. Uncle Sam had a lot of money and time invested in each of their pilots and wanted them back. The frogman was able to get one survivor hoisted to each of two Coast Guard Helos and two survivors hoisted to their helo. The rest were already deceased. Of about 24 crewmen, all but 4 were lost.
The Coast Guard realized after that incident that they needed the same highly trained swimmers aloft, and the AST program was born. Those swimmers are considered the special forces of the Coast Guard. I doubt that I could have qualified. They are the best of the best. And they save a lot of lives. It's among the toughest and most rewarding jobs in the military.
I'm a relatively new subscriber so I missed this video! Thanks for mentioning it in your 2017 recap video because this was fantastic!
Outstanding job Steve!
What a great experience you guys had
That's some quality content..love your channel.
Wow, great video Chops...!
Looks like good fun! But also looks very tiring, great job!
Awesome vid! Thanks for posting and making it! First steps to Rotorchops. (thumbsup)
RotorChops is inbound :)
Great video but I couldn't believed it when I heard Stevo's name. The last video I watched him fly a Pilatus TBM 940 Turboprop plane...today he's at the coast guard facility aboard an MH65 helicopter. That makes him a well rounded pilot. But let me say I enjoyed this video looking at how these highly trained men in uniform execute their call of duty. Regards from Guyana.
Great job! Thanks for sharing your adventures!!!
this looks unpleasant, but the most terrifying thing I've ever seen is the USMC training on how to escape from a helicopter that's crashed in the water upside down. the smarter every day guy did that one. the trainer isn't a seat in an open cage like this, it's an enclosed tube to simulate the actual interior of the helicopter. personally, i'd prefer to never do either one!
Thanks for the watch binky! Our crews also train with the full scale helicopter mockup mentioned, but at less frequent intervals throughout their careers. The SWET chair in this video is used at least annually by all aircrew qualified personnel to verify procedures and build muscle memory. Both are a BLAST!
this is great can't wait for part two
As I'm watching this I'm getting flash forwards to my CFI checkride.
Like I said on steveo1 awesome work guys! I love it! Keep up the awesome work! I saw the Snapchats of some of the edits and wow you guys!
Awesome video mate!
That was Epic Steve!
This is great! Added plus because i'm from Michigan
Great Vlog Flight chops
Absolutely brilliant. That must have been very exciting but also pretty scary too. 👍
I guess gone is the sled which was perched about 20' above the pool on rails which free fell at about a 45 degree angle into the pool. When it hit the water it immediately flipped inverted. The sled was metal panels instead of a tubular cage. The panels had large holes for immediate flooding of the 'flight deck'. It was even more 'fun' in the dark with the beams of the safety diver's flashlights somewhat disorienting.
Oh, and while wearing your full flight kit. I wasn't a military pilot but my dad was one of the safety divers so sometimes I got to play with their toys.
Richard H..... When I went through training in San Diego (North Island) we called that sled "The Dilbert Dunker." The open frame looks a little less intimidating. Great work by all involved, and the camera work was great.
Don't worry the dunker is still required. Just not yearly. The current one is the 9D6 dunker.