[CPTAUSRET]

Good discussion!

Panic, vice mob mentality/panic.

I like the training analogy, certain professions, several of which are represented on this board allow no room for panic, period! You panic, you or someone else dies as a direct result.

Flying a helicopter in combat allows no time for panic. Blood on the inside of the windshield (some of which is yours), Co-pilot slumped over the controls, instruments all dropping except the ones which warn of overheating, engine and rotor RPM plummeting, screaming noises from the transmission, which you can hear over the bullets smacking the aircraft, controls seizing up, bad guys everywhere, the ground is rapidly approaching and the aircraft is in a pitch up, or pitch down attitude! Panic is a luxury you can't afford, your job is to fight that helicopter with every ounce of your ability, all the way to the ground. And when it hits (hopefully right side up), you must shut off the battery switch, and everything else which could contribute to a fire, then you get your crew out. Set up a defensive position, and hope that someone is coming for you!

I heard a radio transmission on "Guard channel" in VN, it went something like this; "This is CPT XXXXXXX" he then gave his callsign, followed by "We are at 2000 ft, just lost my main rotor, tell my wife I loved her!"

Hope this doesn't detract from the discussuion.