CH-47C (Super C) sling QF-102 66-1161 Holloman AFB 8-Apr-81
When I got back form 4 months at AMOC, Aviation Maintenance Officer Course, in early 1981 I knew I needed a vacation from the Army, and was going to come off Active Duty and was looking for a "Day Job". I was looking for a post Army job and set my sights on "Mountain Exploration Flying", the downside was they would not even look at a pilot until he had 2000 Hrs. and I was just shy of that.
So when I got chance to head down to Ft Bliss and the Roving Sands Exercise I jumped on it. Unfortunately it likely cost me the relationship of the gal I was dating though. I had been gone for 4 months and was taking off for another month.
Anyway, I did a lot of flying. The CH-47C unit back at Sarson got tapped to sling a QF-102 drone that lost radio lock on takeoff and plopped back to the runway. After they stripped, the bird they decided to put it at Red Reo Range in the Northern White Sand Missile complex. I have the Mach meter on my desk. Had to take s souvenir.
I got the mission to fly TSGT Lancaster while he took shots. I brought my camera along and took some shots as well. They rigged the bird with a drag chute, but it got caught up on the main gear.
The camera ship, OH-58A 70-15377, had TSGT Allen Lancaster Holloman AFB in the left seat. Doors off.
Like a lot of the OH-58's 377 faded into history, along with the QF-102.
QF-102, Last flight White Sands Missile complex
On lift off the drag chute got caught up in the undercarriage or maybe the aft end of the Duse. It made for a real slow flight because anytime the got above 45 Kts the bird started wto sway back and forth. Not sure what the payload on a CH-47C was, probably around 25,000 Lb. but when you get a load that starts to fly it can be a problem.
After I came off active duty I spent two years flying Bell 206 BIII and Hughs 500D's. with a lot of 'long line" works. Sling loads on a 100' or more line. Every once in a while I would get a load that started to fly.
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