Did I first fly a helicopter by myself on 5/9/1965?
From 3/4/1959 to 5/9/1965 (helo ?) is: 2258 days
From 5/9/1965 (helo ?) to 5/10/1972 (A-10 Thunderbolt II) is: 2558 days
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-10_Thunderbolt_II
Maiden flight 10 May 1972
The Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed to provide air interdiction and close air support (CAS) of ground forces by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets. As a secondary mission, it provides airborne forward air control, guiding other aircraft against ground targets. It is the first US Air Force aircraft designed exclusively for CAS. The official nickname comes from the P-47 Thunderbolt of World War II, a plane that was particularly effective at the CAS mission. However, the A-10 is more commonly known as Warthog or simply Hog. In the USAF inventory, the same airframe is also designated OA-10 when used primarily in a forward air control role.
From 5/9/1965 (helo ?) to 8/11/1972 (F-5E) is: 2651 days
2651 / 2 = 1325 days
From 5/9/1965 (helo ?) to 12/24/1968 (Apollo 8 on Moon) is: 1325 days
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5
Maiden flight 11 August 1972 (F-5E)
The F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop in the United States, beginning in 1960s.
The USAF made a combat evaluation of the F-5A under the Skoshi Tiger ("skoshi" is derived from the Japanese word sukoshi, meaning "little," thus the program was "Little Tiger" [2] [verification needed]) program in 1965. 12 aircraft were delivered for trials to the 4503rd Tactical Fighter Wing (subsequently the 10th Fighter Commando Squadron), redesignated F-5C. They performed combat duty in Vietnam, flying more than 3,500 sorties from the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Bien Hoa in South Vietnam. Two aircraft were lost in combat. The program was short-lived, more a political gesture than a serious consideration of the type for U.S. service.
The F-5E eventually received the official popular name Tiger II.
From 5/9/1965 (helo ?) to 9/30/1975 (Apache) is: 3796 days
From 3/3/1959 to 7/24/1969 (Apollo 11 splashdown) is: 3796 days
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AH-64_Apache
Maiden flight 30 September 1975
The AH-64 Apache is the United States Army's principal attack helicopter, and is the successor to the AH-1 Cobra. The AH-64 is a two-seat attack helicopter powered by two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines. The crew sits in tandem, with the pilot sitting behind and above the copilot-gunner in an armored crew compartment. The AH-64 is armed with a 30mm M230 chain gun and carries a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire and Hydra 70 rockets on four hard points mounted on its stub-wing pylons.
http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/jawa/jawa001013_1_n.shtml
BOEING AH-64 APACHE
Original Hughes Model 77 entered for US Army advanced attack helicopter (AAH) competition; first flights of two development prototype YAH-64s 30 September and 22 November 1975; details of programme in 1984-85 and earlier Jane's; selected by US Army December 1976; named Apache late 1981.
From 5/9/1965 (helo ?) to 10/17/1974 (YUH-60) is: 4 days, 492 weeks
'4492'
From 7/16/1963 to 11/2/1975 is: 4492 days
'4492
http://www.helis.com/70s/h_h60.php
Sikorsky S-70
( H-60 Hawk series )
Requests for proposals were issued to the US industry on 5 January, 1972. Bell, Boeing Vertol and Sikorsky submitted five proposals and the last two were selected to proceed to prototype construction with contracts being placed on 30 August, 1972. The Sikorsky S-70 was declared winner on Dec. 26,1976
1974, Oct 17: YUH-60 First flight
1978, Oct: First flight of production aircraft UH-60A
1979, Dec 12: SH-60B First flight
From 3/3/1959 to 7/21/1969 (Apollo 11 lunar EVA) is: 3793 days
From 7/24/1969 (Apollo 11 splashdown) to 12/12/1979 (SH-60B First flight) is: 3793 days
From 5/9/1965 (helo ?) to 9/13/1978 (Eurocopter Super Puma) is 13 years, 4 months, 4 days
'1344'
From 3/3/1959 to 7/16/1963 is 13 days, 4 months, 4 years
'1344'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A9rospatiale_Super_Puma
The Eurocopter Super Puma (originally built by Aérospatiale) is a helicopter marketed for civil and military use. It is an enlarged and re-engined version of the original Aérospatiale Puma and first flew on September 13 1978.
The type has proved immensely successful, chosen by 37 military forces around the world, and some 1,000 civil operators. The Super Puma has proved especially well-suited to the North Sea oil industry, where it is used to ferry personnel and equipment to and from oil platforms. In civilian configuration it can seat approximately 18 passengers and two crew.
A wide variety of specialised military variants are in use, including dedicated SAR and ASW versions. Since 1990, military Super Pumas have been marketed as the Cougar.
