Tag Archives: apache

Christian Army Helo Pilot Killed in Training Accident

US Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin “Mose” Weiss was killed December 2nd when the two-seat AH-64 Apache helicopter he was flying crashed a few miles from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He is survived by his wife, Beth, and two young children, Lucas and Susie.

Beth wrote this letter about her fallen husband:

Written By Mrs. Bethany Weiss

God is my ultimate Provider, Jehovah-jireh is His name; one of the many ways He has provided for me was by giving me Kevin Mose Weiss.

At approximately the age of 12, I met Kevin Mose at AWANA Club. The mission of AWANA is to help “churches and parents worldwide raise children and youth to know, love, and serve God.” Kevin’s nickname at our AWANA Club was, “Monkey Boy”. A couple of my friends Read more

Pilot Traditions: Flying Flags in Combat

A recent Army article noted the continuation of a longstanding aviation tradition:  conducting sorties with American flags onboard the aircraft.  These “combat experienced” flags are then given to any of a variety of organizations or requesting individuals back home.

The [Army aviators] fly the flag a bit differently. They fly their flags inside an Apache attack helicopter while patrolling the skies of Iraq.  Read more

Fighter Pilots, Helicopter Pilots and Attitudes toward War and Killing

In Blackhawk Down, the dramatized events of the 1993 assault on Mogadishu, US Army Blackhawk Super 61 is struck by an RPG and begins spinning to the surface.  As the alarms blare and the helicopter loses altitude, the pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Cliff Wolcott, calmly asks his co-pilot, CWO Donovan Briley, to silence the annoying caution lights:

“Hey, Bull, you want to pull those PCLs off-line or what?”

The pilot knew his capabilities; he knew the status of his aircraft.  He likely knew he was about to die; yet his voice was calm and procedural, betraying not a hint of emotion.

In perhaps the most widely watched example in recent history, American Airlines pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger calmly told the taken-aback Air Traffic Controllers

“we’re going to be in the Hudson.”

By all accounts, the crew was calm and methodical as it executed its emergency procedures, saving the lives of all on board.

How can pilots be so stoic during life-threatening catastrophes that might bring screams and panic from others?  Read more