Casper Platoon Pilot Takes The Controls After 40 Years

AGUA DULCE, CA (Dec 2008) - Casper Pilot Art McBride took control of a vintage TH-55 Hughes "Osage" Helicopter at the Agua Dulce Airport near Santa Clarita, California. Like a duck taken to water, Art maneuvered this aircraft through a near perfect take-off, flight of the area and a 180 degree hover and landing. "It's been nearly 40 years since I flew an aircraft" said Art, while claiming this to be a great time for him to have had this opportunity again!

Art McBride was an "Inferno" OH-6A Cayuse Pilot in Casper Platoon from July 1969 - July 1970. Among his awards and decorations, [then] CW1 McBride was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross by General Cunningham in 1970. He is also the current 2009/2010 CAPO President.

Casper Platoon Pilot Phil Johnson and his brother Martin live in the Castaic and Agua Dulce area. Martin is a pilot with American Airlines. He bought the TH-55 last year from a farmer in Oklahoma. Phil has added the Casper Platoon insignia -- and Casper flies again!

Art McBride: Casper921@BellSouth.net