Username Protected wrote:
A single strand power line could really mess with their day!
Your average small strand wire has a very low probability of taking you down.The WSPS cutters are very effective against those. It's the big 150-300 foot tall massive power lines that take you out as the wire is 1 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter and unforgiving. I have hit wires a couple of times. Stuff that is along roads like here in the US. I'd prefer not to, but it happens. In training you do a wire and obstacle recon before you fly a low level or NOE route such as this, at least I hope they did!
At Illesheim Germany where I was first stationed in 1990 we lost 2 AH-64A aircraft 11 months apart to the same set of wires. Loss of 4 crew. They were about 250 feet tall, everyone knew they were there. Still hit them.
I will say they are not being very friendly to the locals going right over their houses low level. Something the AFCENT low flying handbook specifically prohibits.
This video brings back many fond memories. The AH-64 is an awesome aircraft to fly.
