Today we got to go play on a CH-47 Chinook. We brought two fully packaged "Rescue Randy" mannequins to allow us to see what loading and unloading would be like with this particular airframe. First off it was LOUD!!! The little foam earplugs didn't do as much as I had hoped.
As we watched other Chinooks take off and land the excitement level continued to grow. Once we had our "patients" loaded and secured we all gathered for our safety brief from the Crew Chief. We then all sat down and buckled in as the engine
s started. Soon after the engines started the rotors began to spin. That is a cool feeling as that helicopter is so huge. Not long after the rotors began to spin we all could feel the rotors slowing down and eventually stopping just before we h
eard the engines turn off. Our helicopter broke. Yup, it broke. (Although I would rather have it break before taking off then while we were in the air...)
Sad day for me as I did not get to fly. But I had a blast getting to be so hands-on with our helicopters and getting to talk with the pilots in training that will soon be deployed with us. And the huge bonus was that the weather agreed with us for a change. It was only 
in the 80s and oober humid and not the 90s. It is the little things that I am often the most grateful for.
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