I know you guys are talking jets, but there is nothing in the NATOPS against
flying heloes right down in the rotorwash - ten to fifty feet was completely
common, depending on what we were doing. While that much is obvious, there was
also no restriction against scuttling around at insanely low altitudes and
lethal speeds. I know 120 knots is peanuts to you guys, but I have had pilots
(a particular one in mind) that would fly the helo at absolute top speed, with
the nose of the helicopter 10 feet above the sea. Being in the back during
such a stunt, I felt that one ill-timed glance and the pilot would dump us face
first into the water.

Each time a pilot elected to fly in this particular flight attitude (tail high,
nose down, balls out and skimming), I made it a habit to unstrap and go
forward, carefully sitting on the radio control panel between the pilots.
(Kind of sidesaddle, with my legs toward the door and my torso turned
sideways, with my left shoulder almost up even with the pilots.) Excellent
vantage point, providing me with every bit as exciting a ride as the pilots.
Typically, my choice of seating caused a bit of ICS chatter, with one or both
of them asking some variation of WTFAYD? I said, "If I'm going to get
vaporized on impact while you guys are having fun, I at least want to be able
to see it coming." Discussion never went beyond that and at whatever point
they switched to practicing something else, I'd go back, give a cabin status
report and strap in.

My reasoning for this is that there is no way to use my radar when we have the
tail 30 degrees higher than the nose, with a radar horizon fifty feet out, so
why stay in my seat during one of those sprints? I would have preferred sitting
in the door, but NATOPS commanded the door be closed over 90 knots -
spoil-sports...

v/r
Gordon
====(A+C====
USN SAR Aircrew

"Got anything on your radar, SENSO?"
"Nothing but my forehead, sir."