Since this thread is about as derailed as it can get...
Son 2 was in Iraq in 2006& 2007 (16 month deployment). They were stationed at Fallujah, with the Marines, even though he was MnANG. The ride of the day was typically a CH-53 Sea Stallion. Matt *hated* riding in them! The Marines generally took out the windows, so when they were flying, the hold was hammered with turbine exhaust, dust and rotor blast.
The things leaked hydraulic oil inside, were noisy as hell and not particularly fast. They also needed to wait around for an armed escort.
When they were able to use a Blackhawk, it was a whole 'nuther story. Quiet (relatively, for a rotor-wing), fast, not noisy or stinky or windy inside. No oil leaks, either.
No waiting for an armed escort, either, since the Blackhawk *was* the armed escort.
jb
ps: when flying over Baghdad, his though was: "This place was a shithole *before* we bombed it flat!" 'Course, he said the same of Louisiana and Katrina...