1981 US World Champion Helicopter Team Website

[robrob]

I was a pilot member of the 1981 World Champion US Helicopter Team. The team competed in the 4th FAI World Helicopter Championship in Piotrkow Trybunalski, Poland in August 1981 and defeated teams from the Soviet Union, West Germany, Poland, France and Great Britain to win the individual and team world championship.

I put up a website for the team here: Helicopter Team

[grumpytroll]

Interesting

I was a WOC (warrant officer candidate) in 1986. Prior to starting the WOC course, while awaiting a class, my extra duty was to help support the 86 U.S. team. Every morning we would jump in the back of a huey and fly down to Mariana Florida and set up the courses for the team. We timed events, measured distances of dropped items near targets, brought the pilots water and had a great time running around the fields and woods of southern Florida. It was a great experience. I was one of a very few chosen for the assignment. Great stuff for a young aspiring rotorhead. We left early in the morning and returned fairly late in the evening. No PT! The competing pilots flew 58's. They were very good. Very dedicated.

Cheers

[VNAV SPD]

I was a flight student (WOC) at Ft. Rucker in 1983 when the OH-58A that was used in the competition was at Hanchey AHP. It still had the shiny green paint and was referred to as "The Polish Pickle." I flew the "Pickle" many times as a student in the U.S. Army Aeroscout Pilot track.

SCOUTS OUT!