26Nov66-Two More 52nd Records
PLEIKU, (1st AVN-IO) -Two units of the 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion
Dragons set aircraft utilization records during September.
The 119th and 107th Assault Helicopter Companies averaged 120 hours on
their UH-1D troop lift ships. Slicks during the month while both armed and
unarmed choppers of the 119th flew a combined average of 106.7 hours per
ship.
The battalion average was 107.3 hours on its troop lift ships. Based on
Department of ARmy programmed average flight time of 60 hours per month for
UH-1D troops ships, the Dragons aircraft utilization hit 178 per cent of the
optimum. The hard flying battalion amassed over 6000 flying hours during
September.
This feat was accomplished while 52nd mechanics performed 67 periodic
inspections, six of which were the notorious 11th periodic requiring
replacement of 16 major components. And if that was not enough, more than
half the month was marked by rain, fog, and low ceilings in the battalion's
central highland operational area.