US European Command2005-06-14 11:31:26
Russian Federation KA-27 Helix helicopter made the first Russian night landing aboard a U.S. naval vessel here June 7 during exercise Baltic Operations 2005.
Russian Col. Viktor Kalika made a series of six "touch and gos� aboard USS Anzio (CG 68) to test the ability of a Russian aircraft to make night landings aboard a U.S. warship during multi-national operations.
The KA-27 took off from its ship, RFS Nastoychiviy (DDG 610), a Russian guided missile destroyer, and made its way to the U.S. warship. The crew circled the ship once to get their bearings, and then, on the first approach, used the helicopter's spotlight to see the location of the flight deck as they landed.
Navy Ensign Heriberto Cruz, the helicopter coordinator for Carrier Strike Group Twelve, watched the entire event from the flight deck of Anzio. He stated that the U.S. was approached in December 2004 by the Russians about the possibility of landing on a U.S. warship at night. Cruz went on to say that part of the Baltic Operations exercise is about "interoperability between our helos and foreign helos, which have in the past landed during daytime operations only.�
Kalika returned to Anzio the next afternoon to test the refueling capabilities of the KA-27 with a U.S. warship and to give Navy Capt. James Carr, Anzio's commanding officer, a familiarization flight.
After the brief flight, Carr returned to his ship impressed with the acrobatic capabilities of the Russian aircraft.
"Colonel Kalika is the number one helicopter pilot in Russia,� Carr said. "He and I have developed a relationship over three or four planning conferences. When there was an opportunity for him to visit my ship, and for me to fly in his aircraft, that just further develops a bond between warriors who share this interest and love for the sea. So, a very rewarding experience ... that aircraft can spin on a dime. I've never seen anything like it, and it was an amazing ride.�
The historic landing and refueling became routine for the crew of Anzio as Kalika as his KA-27 helicopter continued to land and take off from the U.S. warship's flight deck.
Russian Col. Viktor Kalika made a series of six "touch and gos� aboard USS Anzio (CG 68) to test the ability of a Russian aircraft to make night landings aboard a U.S. warship during multi-national operations.
The KA-27 took off from its ship, RFS Nastoychiviy (DDG 610), a Russian guided missile destroyer, and made its way to the U.S. warship. The crew circled the ship once to get their bearings, and then, on the first approach, used the helicopter's spotlight to see the location of the flight deck as they landed.
Navy Ensign Heriberto Cruz, the helicopter coordinator for Carrier Strike Group Twelve, watched the entire event from the flight deck of Anzio. He stated that the U.S. was approached in December 2004 by the Russians about the possibility of landing on a U.S. warship at night. Cruz went on to say that part of the Baltic Operations exercise is about "interoperability between our helos and foreign helos, which have in the past landed during daytime operations only.�
Kalika returned to Anzio the next afternoon to test the refueling capabilities of the KA-27 with a U.S. warship and to give Navy Capt. James Carr, Anzio's commanding officer, a familiarization flight.
After the brief flight, Carr returned to his ship impressed with the acrobatic capabilities of the Russian aircraft.
"Colonel Kalika is the number one helicopter pilot in Russia,� Carr said. "He and I have developed a relationship over three or four planning conferences. When there was an opportunity for him to visit my ship, and for me to fly in his aircraft, that just further develops a bond between warriors who share this interest and love for the sea. So, a very rewarding experience ... that aircraft can spin on a dime. I've never seen anything like it, and it was an amazing ride.�
The historic landing and refueling became routine for the crew of Anzio as Kalika as his KA-27 helicopter continued to land and take off from the U.S. warship's flight deck.
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