# Why does the military still use propeller planes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 17, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687 "2008-04-17T03:08:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687/21 "2008-04-18T03:05:25Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] Hell, it took forever to phase out the Huey (and they might even still be used in some cases today, IDK anymore) becuase of it’s reliabilty and parts inventory. [/QUOTE] It’s still used. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687/22 "2008-04-18T03:09:03Z")
[QUOTE=pravnik] C-130 rolling down the strip, Airborne daddy on a one way trip! Mission top secret, destination unknown We don’t know if we’re ever coming home! Airborne, airborne, have you heard? We’re gonna jump from a big-ass bird! Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door! Jump right out and count some more! 😃 [/QUOTE] Don’t forget the “If I should die in a combat zone, box me up and send me home”. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687/23 "2008-04-18T03:10:26Z")
[QUOTE=Dag Otto] It’s still used. [/QUOTE] Figures. Cobras are too, IIRC. Hueys are pretty cool helicoptors. Rode in one once, almost lost my lunch at takeoff. My one and only helicopter ride, thankfully. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687/24 "2008-04-18T04:06:46Z")
One of the last times I flew in a Huey was 100’ AGL in 40 mph winds. I really didn’t want to be up there. 1000’ with the doors open is pretty cool though. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687/25 "2008-04-18T05:03:23Z")
And a 130 needs to be able to fly slow so the helicopter are able to [air refuel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nmKP7fbrbs). And yes, it is friggin scary. I hate AR. I mean seriously, you take two things which sure as hell shouldn’t fly then pass gas from one to the other? I have a couple of pics if anyone wants to see them. I’d have to find and load them up on my computer, but I’ll do it if someone’s interested. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687/26 "2008-04-18T05:27:33Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] Don’t forget the “If I should die in a combat zone, box me up and send me home”. ☹ [/QUOTE] Or, “If I die on the Russian front Bury me with a Russian… Rifle” :smack: SSG Schwartz (Airborne) ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687/27 "2008-04-18T05:28:26Z")
[QUOTE=Whack-a-Mole] What could a pissed off CO really add to that? [/QUOTE] Personally, I cant think of anything , but a really good CO might have the unfortunate redshirt wish he was sucked into the blades. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687/28 "2008-04-18T06:04:41Z")
[QUOTE=RandMcnally] I have a couple of pics if anyone wants to see them. I’d have to find and load them up on my computer, but I’ll do it if someone’s interested. [/QUOTE] I’d be interested! ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687/29 "2008-04-18T13:18:28Z")
[QUOTE=RandMcnally] And a 130 needs to be able to fly slow so the helicopter are able to [air refuel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nmKP7fbrbs). [/QUOTE] Well, that’s madness. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687/30 "2008-04-23T20:00:13Z")
[QUOTE=pravnik] C-130 rolling down the strip, Airborne daddy on a one way trip! Mission top secret, destination unknown We don’t know if we’re ever coming home! Airborne, airborne, have you heard? We’re gonna jump from a big-ass bird! Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door! Jump right out and count some more! 😃 [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] Don’t forget the “If I should die in a combat zone, box me up and send me home”. ☹ [/QUOTE] Or… “C-130 rollin’ down the strip, Marine Corps daddy gonna take a little trip! Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door, Jump right out and shout MARINE CORPS! If my chute don’t open wide, I’ve got a reserve by my side. If that chute don’t blossom round, I’ll be the first Marine on the ground!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-military-still-use-propeller-planes/445687.md?page=1)