1 00:00:00,534 --> 00:00:03,617 (lighthearted music) 2 00:00:17,490 --> 00:00:20,090 - The SuperCobra is the AH-1 Whiskey model 3 00:00:20,090 --> 00:00:22,230 that we're retiring here today. 4 00:00:22,230 --> 00:00:25,870 The family of Cobras began back in the Vietnam War. 5 00:00:25,870 --> 00:00:28,140 So it's over multiple iterations 6 00:00:28,140 --> 00:00:29,880 in different type model series. 7 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:31,980 Culminating in what we have here behind me, 8 00:00:31,980 --> 00:00:33,090 the AH-1 Zulu. 9 00:00:33,090 --> 00:00:37,000 So the Whiskey is the SuperCobra of all the aircraft. 10 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,220 The one we're flying today 11 00:00:38,220 --> 00:00:41,290 came from Bell Helicopter in 1994. 12 00:00:41,290 --> 00:00:43,730 And it has been with this unit ever since. 13 00:00:43,730 --> 00:00:47,120 It's been continuously attached to HMLA-773. 14 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,000 It did some time in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2005 15 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:52,730 and it came back and it's been here 16 00:00:52,730 --> 00:00:56,250 with 773 Detachment Alpha for its entire life. 17 00:00:56,250 --> 00:00:58,280 It's had an illustrious career. 18 00:00:58,280 --> 00:00:59,160 It's bittersweet. 19 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,700 The new Zulu is also a phenomenal aircraft 20 00:01:01,700 --> 00:01:03,720 and I've been able to fly it quite a bit too 21 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:05,400 as we've done the conversion. 22 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,210 This final flight is very important for us 23 00:01:07,210 --> 00:01:08,620 to honor the aircraft, 24 00:01:08,620 --> 00:01:10,240 the thousands of guys who have flown it, 25 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:11,610 maintained it before us. 26 00:01:11,610 --> 00:01:15,400 It's an honor to be the last guy to fly one. 27 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,060 I never thought I'd be in this position. 28 00:01:17,060 --> 00:01:18,900 It's an honor and we wanna do it right. 29 00:01:18,900 --> 00:01:22,049 Do it right by all the guys that came before us. 30 00:01:22,049 --> 00:01:25,132 (lighthearted music) 31 00:01:28,070 --> 00:01:29,360 - This aircraft was involved 32 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,780 in Operation Enduring Freedom 33 00:01:30,780 --> 00:01:34,440 from October of 2003 to 2005, 34 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,230 spent a year and a half in theater. 35 00:01:36,230 --> 00:01:38,520 I personally got fly it over there. 36 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:40,490 The Marine Corps has operated the Whiskey 37 00:01:40,490 --> 00:01:42,260 since the early 90s. 38 00:01:42,260 --> 00:01:44,960 Operated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, 39 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:46,690 Operation Enduring Freedom. 40 00:01:46,690 --> 00:01:48,350 It did The Gulf war. 41 00:01:48,350 --> 00:01:49,820 It did Eyes Over Mogadishu. 42 00:01:49,820 --> 00:01:51,823 It operated in News Across The World. 43 00:01:52,980 --> 00:01:55,380 Marine Corps' upgrade to the AH-1 Zulu, 44 00:01:55,380 --> 00:01:56,780 it's gonna be faster. 45 00:01:56,780 --> 00:01:59,030 It should be less workload on the pilots. 46 00:01:59,030 --> 00:02:00,760 All-glass cockpit. 47 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,560 Bring more ordinance to the fight. 48 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,070 Should be able to stand off further from the fight 49 00:02:05,070 --> 00:02:06,833 and operate in safer environments. 50 00:02:07,900 --> 00:02:09,090 The retirement of the Whiskey's 51 00:02:09,090 --> 00:02:10,660 a bittersweet moment in time for me 52 00:02:10,660 --> 00:02:11,890 and marks the end of my career 53 00:02:11,890 --> 00:02:13,690 as well as the Whiskey's career. 54 00:02:13,690 --> 00:02:15,780 I have had a lot of great memories in this aircraft. 55 00:02:15,780 --> 00:02:17,750 It's got me be back safe every time 56 00:02:17,750 --> 00:02:20,400 and done everything I ever asked it to do. 57 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:21,660 Enjoyed every moment of my time 58 00:02:21,660 --> 00:02:23,693 with the Whiskey and the Marines around it.