Marine CH-46 makes final flight

The Miramar Air Show is the last chance for people to see Marine CH-46 helicopters. The aircraft are being replaced by V-22 Osprey, and are about to be phased out of the inventory. The Osprey gives them more cargo, more range, and more speed getting to the area. The CH-46 has been serving since Vietnam.

SAN DIEGO - For some, the Miramar Air Show was a chance to look around and get inside a real military aircraft. But for others, a CH-46 helicopter means so much more.

Air show attendee Erin Millikin told 10News, "The smells of the fluid and how old even the fabric and it feels like home." It reminds Millikin of her dad, a Navy pilot who spent his career flying a CH-46.

The aircraft has been around since Vietnam, primarily used to transport Marines and drop off cargo. It is now being phased out and replaced with an Osprey, a faster helicopter/airplane.

www.10news.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

Wow a real work horse that it's time has passed.. RIP CH-46 you will be remembered by many...

Let's hope the V-22 lives up to expectations...

We have the V-22's use our little muni every once in a while for fuel during certain training excercises and they are awesome to see but I have to admit I'm a bit sentimental on this phase out. Anyone in combat over the last few decades will tell you the sound of a 46 coming into a hot zone to get you is like angels singing. SF

a reply to: Zaphod58

No more frogs!?
Sad day,

I did my final static-line jump out of a CH-46 and many free falls after that. I love that old bird!a reply to: Zaphod58

a reply to: Zaphod58

I'll never forget my times watching Vert-Reps flown in the 46's. Those chopper pilots were amazing, like a aerial ballet.

See ya around CH-46. You were stalwart, dependable and pretty much signified "The Marines are here."

From the last Seattle Seafair:

Man, my "time" is going by fast. I have been in many a #hook.

One warrant once told me "You don't so much fly this thing as give it suggestions where you'd like to end up". However, I noticed that he always managed to suggest them into the proper place faster than you'd have expected.

eta: Are only the Marine variants going away? Does the Army get to keep them?

a reply to: Zaphod58

You, among others here are the go to guys concerning ageing aircraft. So I'm wondering...

Would these CH-46's being retired make for good fire-fighting aircraft? I believe I've seen others doing that.

The Government gives Law Enforcement MRAPs and such, why can't they also give aircraft (and other equipment) out for fire fighting?

a reply to: kelbtalfenek

I always liked watching small boat recovery with them. Now THAT was insane.

a reply to: TDawgRex

They give helicopters away too, so some of the -46 fleet will almost certainly end up on the list in a year or two, after they get them all stored and decide how many to keep in ready storage.

And yes, they'd be good for fire fighting. The military uses them for it occasionally. They used to use them in Hawaii, and we'd always laugh, because the Blackhawk had a tiny little bucket slung under it compared to the -46.

I flew on the CH-46e when I was in crew chief training in the Corps. Reliable old bird, loved the smell of the APU running LOL. To the poster who replied about he Army; the Army has CH-47s, not CH-46s. The CH-47 is larger and newer than the 46, and I doubt is in any danger of being phased out by the Army. You can distinguish between the two easily by looking at the gear the -46 has 3 in a tricycle gear configuration, the -47 has 4.

Long Live the Phrog!