Where do army helicopter pilots get trained?

Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training is located at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Training is broken into four phases that total 32 weeks with 179 hours of flight instruction.

What rank were helicopter pilots in Vietnam?

Due to the demand for helicopter pilots in Vietnam, the number of warrant officer pilots grew from about 2,960 in 1966 to more than 12,000 by 1970. In 1973, a reduction in force began and chief warrant officer helicopter pilots were offered promotion to the rank of first lieutenant to retain combat veterans.

Where does Army Aviation train?

Fort Rucker
The U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, previously the Army Aviation Center and School, is the United States Army Aviation Branch’s training and development center, located at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

How many Army helicopter pilots served in Vietnam?

Almost all were Army. Total helicopter pilots killed in the Vietnam War was 2,202. Total non-pilot crew members was 2704. Based on a databasefrom the Pentagon, we estimate that over 40,000 helicopter pilots served in the Vietnam War.

Where did Fred North get his helicopter pilot training?

Upon leaving the Army, North trained as a civilian helicopter pilot in Paris on the Bell 47, which he then flew for more than 1,000 hours giving tours.

What helicopter does the Army use to train pilots?

The H135 military training helicopter is manufactured by Airbus Helicopters to meet the flight training needs of armed forces across the world. The highly versatile platform is suitable for basic, advanced and mission training.

Is Clint Eastwood a helicopter pilot?

Clint Eastwood has been a licensed helicopter pilot for almost 30 years and admitted in a 1997 “60 Minutes” interview that flying is his favorite hobby: “You’re just a number in the sky. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Eastwood was a 21-year-old draftee when his plane went down during the Korean War.

What was the first helicopter training class in the US Army?

The first Warrant Officer Candidate class to train in helicopters was the Army Helicopter Pilot Course, Class 51A. The class started training in April 1951 with 28 students and graduated 25 students in December 1951. ( See Army Letter)

Where did Vietnam Helicopter pilots go to school?

That school was the Primary Helicopter Center at Fort Wolters, Texas. Of all the helicopter pilots who flew in Vietnam, 95 percent passed through the center at Wolters.

Where did the military train pilots in the Korean War?

Most training of both pilots and mechanics was conducted by the Department of Air Training within the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Okla., although the Army Air Forces conducted some primary training of organic Army Aviation personnel. The Korean conflict provided new challenges and opportunities for Army Aviation.

How long does it take to become a helicopter pilot?

Students—mostly warrant officer candidates, but commissioned officers too—flew day and night. Flight school had two phases of instruction, each eight weeks long: Primary I and Primary II. Thousands of Huey pilots started with the Hiller OH-23 at Texas’ Fort Wolters primary helicopter school.