FORT SMITH, Ark. —
The CH-47D Chinook helicopter is the Army's primary troop and supply transport aircraft.
Introduced in 1962, Chinooks feature twin rotor blades and 42 cubic meters of cargo space.
This legendary aircraft is supporting the Army Reserve's River Assault 2018 exercise on the Arkansas River with a helocast drop for the soldiers of the 420th Engineer Brigade.
“We have the flight crews for two CH-47s flying at 10 feet, 10 knots,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared Gay, a subject matter expert with the Army's Sapper Leader Course. “The real-world environment that the helocast will provide will be the infill for any unit. It's an engineer task, but all units can do it.”
Held July 22 outside Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, this training mission involved dropping 170 reservists into the Arkansas River with nothing more than a uniform and safety vest.
“It wasn't scary at all,” said Army Pfc. Crystal Rothman, a fueler with Forward Support Company, 489th Engineer Battalion. “Everybody thought the water was going to be cold. It was not cold — it was pretty warm, actually. There's a long swim to the shore, though.”
Helocasting
Helocasting is an insertion technique developed by airborne troops whereby soldiers step off the aircraft's rear ramp at low altitude and low speed directly into the water below….
