What if a Navy LHA Landing Helicopter Assault with V-22 tiltrotors aboard was in New York City on 9/11?
"What is it, Lieutenant?"
"Captain, I think I can get water or firefighting foam into those buildings."
"You've got my attention."
"What we do is get a water pump and firefighting hose reel from Damage Control and put them in the cargo area about at the CG then run the hose back to the rear ramp. The input hose runs through the belly hatch down to some kinda bucket we slingload underneath. We can dip the bucket in the river to fill it up. Cut the top off a Dumpster and weld on some pad eyes to lift it with."
"And you think you can do this?"
"Yes Captain. The Osprey's rotors' downwash won't blow the stream from the hose away like a helicopter's will."
"You're willing to do this?"
"Yes, sir. We might not be able to get close enough to the building for the water to reach but I think it's worth a try. The tail sticks out past the rotor blades so if we bump the building we won't lose the aircraft."
The Lieutenant paused a moment.
"What, Lieutenant?"
"If we had some kinda slide-out bridge we could get people off the floors above the fires. Need guys with sledgehammers to break out the windows. Might need them to keep us from getting overloaded, too."
"What is it, Lieutenant?"
"Captain, I think I can get water or firefighting foam into those buildings."
"You've got my attention."
"What we do is get a water pump and firefighting hose reel from Damage Control and put them in the cargo area about at the CG then run the hose back to the rear ramp. The input hose runs through the belly hatch down to some kinda bucket we slingload underneath. We can dip the bucket in the river to fill it up. Cut the top off a Dumpster and weld on some pad eyes to lift it with."
"And you think you can do this?"
"Yes Captain. The Osprey's rotors' downwash won't blow the stream from the hose away like a helicopter's will."
"You're willing to do this?"
"Yes, sir. We might not be able to get close enough to the building for the water to reach but I think it's worth a try. The tail sticks out past the rotor blades so if we bump the building we won't lose the aircraft."
The Lieutenant paused a moment.
"What, Lieutenant?"
"If we had some kinda slide-out bridge we could get people off the floors above the fires. Need guys with sledgehammers to break out the windows. Might need them to keep us from getting overloaded, too."
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