Word: choppering
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...desert and landed on the strip marked out on the salt flats near Posht-e Badam. Meanwhile, the eight RH-53 helicopters were finding the going much more difficult. As they emerged over land from the Gulf of Oman, flying without lights in the moonlit night, two of the choppers ran into a fierce desert sandstorm. Both developed crippling problems. One could not stay aloft because of hydraulic troubles and settled down in the bleak desert. Another helicopter crew found the disabled craft, picked up its occupants and completed the five-hour, 500 nautical mile flight to the landing strip...
Actually, two aircraft were ablaze. One of the helicopters had refueled on the ground from a C130. When the large plane's tank ran dry, the chopper lifted slightly to move toward another C-130 to pick up more fuel. But in doing so, the pilot turned his RH-53 too abruptly; its rotary blade ripped into the transport's fuselage. Instantly, flames roared through the two aircraft. Ammunition began exploding, striking other aircraft. Three Americans in the Hercules were killed. Five died in the Sea Stallion. Four others sustained severe burns, one of them hauled to safety...
...there were no honors last week for the grand old trooper. It was the Navy model, known as the RH-53 Sea Stallion, that malfunctioned during the rescue attempt in Iran and forced the operation to be scrubbed. The hero of so many missions suddenly became the chopper that couldn...
...aircraft. With its two turboshaft engines, it can carry an eight-ton payload. In one configuration, it can seat 37 combat troops. With extra, disposable fuel tanks, the aircraft has a range of up to 800 miles, and even this can be extended by airborne refueling. Last week the chopper had to fly only 500 nautical miles. But theoretical ranges can be reduced by a number of factors: extra-heavy loads, such as weapons and other equipment carried by last week's rescue team, strong head winds and fuel-costly low-altitude flights...
First baseman Bingham speared a chopper, whirled and threw to Brad Bauer at short, and the Yardling made a perfect return throw to Brown covering first, nipping Ed Wilcox by a step...