Ranger Helicopter Assault Force: Learning to assault from the Little Bird

by Jack Murphy · February 24, 2017

While going through some old photographs the other day I came across several from a training exercise that I participated in back in 2005 on Fort Campbell. The base is home to the 101st Airborne and 5th Special Forces Group (where I later served) but 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment also resides there. At the time, I was in 3rd Ranger Battalion and our entire battalion was conducting a rotary wing training exercise, using the same helicopters we would have available in future deployments and running what were essentially rehearsals for the types of missions we were already running in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The 160th pilots flew their helicopters just outside their compound into a large field were we would stage for training missions. The pilots started by introducing the airframe, the flying black egg of death, or more accurately a highly modified MD500D helicopter with a whole lot of special components that are made specially for 160th. The aircraft familiarization concluded and soon we got started.

About Jack Murphy

Jack served as a Sniper and Team Leader in 3rd Ranger Battalion and as a Senior Weapons Sergeant on a Military Free Fall team in 5th Special Forces Group. Having left the military in 2010, he graduated from Columbia with a BA in political science. Murphy is the author of Reflexive Fire, Target Deck, Direct Action, and Gray Matter Splatter. His memoir, "Murphy's Law" is due for a 2019 release and can be pre-ordered now.

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lesley y
Thank you for sharing the experience Mr. Murphy, very exciting read.
peter h
Great story, I was unaware Rangers got to do this stuff. I was the generation who said "Where are all our OH6's going?" when 160th was sucking them all up. Funny thing is I was in ROTC with a prior service ch47 crew chief from the Nightstalkers and a couple Ranger/SF vets who had been around the block. But back then Delta was still just a rumor.
WayTooMuchGear
Nice article and Damn right, Jack. My respect for 160th pilots goes through the roof every time I get a glimpse into what they do. Frankly, it's near supernatural to fly that twitchy little sonofabitch so precisely. It has no electronic flight assistance or even a governor. You run the throttle with a twist grip on the collective. The thing wants full left pedal to get off the ground, and it's so cramped that long legs like mine get in the way of the cyclic and I had to grip the sticking an odd way from the top to avoid it. Compared to a Blackhawk it's not fun to fly. It's a workout and those guys are one with their Little Birds as an extension of themselves. Glad you got to ride off the side without having to think about what it takes to fly them.
mark m
Landing on a hospital rooftop is always exciting, even if it seems unnatural. Trying to scooch off the side onto a hut sounds like hoot! Good read Jack