Does anybody know anything about the Army Helo “Agressor” Squadron at Fort Polk, LA? They fly captured Hinds, Hips and other various Russian/Soviet-block helos. I saw a Discovery Wings episode a couple of years ago about the Hind and they interviewed some of the pilots and showed their aircraft from this unit. I did a internet search and couldn’t come up with any pics or details, just a brief article that gave less than basics.
I have a couple Monogram 1/48 Hind kits and wanted to build one as one of these aircraft. Any pics or links would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
I know they exist and they are the pilot that have the most flight time on Hinds at this time. I think I have some DOD photo’s on a disc and will have to find them and load to my phtobucket account. Can not swear the are the Army birds, but they are operated by the US military(May be operated by US Navy)
What is OPTEC? Do you have any more info? I am looking for info on markings, and/or a unit patch, also what sort of weapons do they hang on these birds (Hinds, specifically)? Any sensors or other equipment for wargamming (like the sensors, smoke generators and yellow strobes used on armor for war games to simulate kills.)? Thanks again for the info so far.
I do not know for sure, they are DOD photo’s and are two different birds, I take it from chief snake’s post that they are. Believe the photo’s were taken at Fallon NAS, Nev
last time i was at Fallon summer of 2003 for dessert rescue. There was a Hind there, I asked the pilot were it came from he said that he couldn’t say so i didn’t ask many questions other than stuff about maintaining it. Our aircrew said that it was pretty fast for a bird that size. i was ammazed I thought that it would be much bigger.
enjoy i think i have a few more I’ll look i had to scan this one
OPTEC = Operational Test and Evaluation Command and it is the OLD NAME for the directorate that test experimental and threat equipment for the U.S. Army.
The “new” name is ATEC = Army Test and Evaluation Command.
You will find a big ATEC sign if front of the gate to the Biggs AAF hangar where they keep the Ft. Bliss, TX based 3 x Mi-24, 1 x Mi-8, 1 x Mi-17, 1 x Mi-2, an AN-2 Colt, and an inop KA-32 “Double Trouble”, and inop naval Mi-8. There also is a glider like the one John Denver died in (they use it to simulate UAV threats). The inop birds are inop because the threat inventory is run by a contract agency under ATEC and there is no “customer” for KA-32 and naval Mi-8 threat requirements, so they sit unused. The Ft. Polk based fleet is a little smaller.
There was a cost analysis done to see if a third fleet could be established at Ft. Irwin, CA. the idea wasn’t approved so we are stuck with a bunch of goofy hueys made up to sorta look like Hinds at the National Training Center. Bummer.
These aircraft are the BEST maintained Russian helicopters in the world and the American mechanics and pilots that fly and maintain the fleet are just salt of the earth people and simply awesome Americans. You will see the Mi-24 F (P) variant in the Harrison Ford movie “Air Force One.”
By the way, I just purchased the Flight Simulator 2004 Mi-2, Mi-17, and Mi-24 ADDONS made by the Nemeth brothers. If you want to learn how to crank these birds and fly them as close as the real deals, check out the addons. It took me almost 10 minutes to crank the Mi-24 because the start-up procedures are accurate to the real aircraft. If you dont switch the right switches according to the start up procedures, etc. the bird won’t fly. Once you get it up, you can fly around El Paso, Biggs AAF, etc. just like the real ATEC pilots do!
There was an article about those Hinds in a Smithsonian Air & Space magazine a couple of years ago, I’ll see if I can dig it up for you; had some pretty good pictures in it. If I can, I’ll scan them & post them here.
