Another US Mil Chopper Goes Down

[68g.1502]

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/search-5-marines-helicopter-missing/

Marine helicopter located, search underway for 5 crew

The helicopter was en route to Miramar Air Station but
didn't arrive

The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter
on a routine training flight from Creech Air Force Base,
located near Las Vegas, to Miramar, but the helicopter was
reported overdue on Feb. 6

. . .

There seem to have been a lot of such crashes lately.
Choppers are mechanically complex and hard to maintain.

This adds to the problems with the Osprey.

Together, they represent much of the primary ways to
move seabourne troops, esp quick-response troops.

When both have problems, the US Mil has a big problem.

Hmmm ... ever see the "PBY" Catalina in old movies ?
This was a conventional prop-driven "flying boat"
which was very useful and versatile in and around
the WW-2 era. They were "big enough" and fairly
reliable. In case of mechanical problems they could
just come down on land or sea. The only downside
was in launching/recovery - but modern approaches
might make that easier/quicker.

MAYBE it's a concept that should be revived ... though
use turboprops and maybe a little bit, just a little
bit, bigger. Sometimes the past can be a useful guide
for the future.

Note that a modern PBY would be relatively inexpensive
and uncomplicated to produce. It could at least be
launched from a carrier or something a tad smaller.
I *think* some were fitted for "JATO" pods during
WW2 for extra-short/heavy takeoffs.

https://cgaviationhistory.org/historical-narrative/jato-the-early-days/

MAYBE it could land on a carrier - otherwise it'd
have to be winched up. In any case, fairly fast and
reliable transport for maybe 25 marines + gear
with a crash-proofness factor you don't see with
either choppers or Ospreys. To be in the fight
you first have to arrive alive.