Fort Bragg
Interpreting the Huey helicopter Rambo was piloting was no easy thing.
Other vehicles usually have just one main control, a steering wheel or control stick... But a helicopter is no standard vehicle at all. The manoeuvring of a helicopter goes through the use of two very different controls: the control stick and the pedals, and this made everything much more difficult.
“The important thing – shouted the instructor beside him, while the engine was starting to rise its RPM for real – is that you get a flying license, and nothing more than that. Taking off, landing, getting from point A to point B. Am I clear?”
Rambo nodded gazing into space; all of his attention was toward the helicopter's reaction to his commands.
“What I am trying to say – the instructor continued – is that you are never going to be as good as one of our pilots, not with the very few flying hours you are going to do here in Fort Bragg. Do you understand?”
Rambo nodded again, but this time with more emphasis.
He was hearing him, but he was really focused too.
The helicopter lifted itself a little from the ground.
“Keep it... Do keep it, always. Never let it lead. Manoeuvring a helicopter is just like skating on ice.”
The helicopter finally rose into the air.
After a while of suspension in the air, Rambo tilted the helicopter forward, and it started flying.
“Good work Rambo. Very good”
Then Rambo laughed.
He was tense and concentrated, but rising toward the clouds was a unique feeling, and he didn't let it go.
As the helicopter finally took it's direction with no more hesitations, Rambo relaxed a little bit..
“Now I want to see some speed”
The helicopter tilted all of itself forward, like a roller Coaster before the dive, then it steeply started speeding up, flashing past.
Rambo looked around, then gave a pat on Fergunson's shoulder.
And while the helicopter was flashing past in the air, he started laughing
He was happy.
***
When they finally landed, Rambo removed his headset and the instructor did the same.
“That was a good start, Rambo. You now have to just get used to it some more. But you have to remember that you are never going to be fit for combat flying. With a basic course like this one is, you'll never be able to do things such as landing on hot landing zones, or narrow ones, and don't you even dare do things like that if necessity arises, because these are not the kind of things you can just improvise. In order to get such things done properly, you need an observer on the ground to coordinate with. He gives you indications by radio and your landing is practically a blind one. But that's a whole different story”.
Rambo nodded and the two got out from the helicopter.
“Another thing, Rambo. This is a Huey standard, made for troops transportation, but if you ever have to pilot a Gunship one, you'll be able to pilot it too. It just has some more sights than usual, in order to aim with the extra weapons too, but the commands are the same. The only real difference is that it's much heavier. If you ever have to fly one, you will have to take your time to get used to its heavier weight and the different way it responds to your commands. Also note that as you shoot, it gets lighter, and so its weight and balance changes, becoming more reactive as it loses weight. This fact can catch the best pilot out too. Anyway, the commands are the same, so in theory you should be able to fly one of them too. Is everything clear?”
“Yes, sir” said Rambo.