We were making final adjustments with gear on the gravel bar about 300 yards up from the Hwy 240 bridge there, when two Army or Nat. Guard Blackhawks came around the mountain just upstream of us and flew downriver and right overhead. We all waved as they slowly cruised by and disappeared downstream. That was pretty exciting in itself, but just as we pushed off and headed downstream, here they came again from the previous direction, only now it was clear they were slowing and decending on final approach. Now for those not as familiar with this location, Caddo Gap is a 'tight' place, this narrow gorge through the mountains is where the river, a railroad, a highway, and a major east-west powerline all pass through in a very narrow space. As we are floating slowly downstream watching this scene, I am expecting the two helicopters to start drifting off to one side or the other for a pasture landing further away, but no, they kept their trail formation and continued to decend... They both landed in perfect unison, one on a gravel bar a little bigger than my pick-up and four inches above the river level, and within a hundred feet of the Hwy 240 bridge across the Caddo. The other chopper landed landed just on the downstream side of the 240 bridge (and powerline) in a similar but even more wooly spot
.Sure wished I'd shot a picture instead of sitting there with my mouth open... After about a minute, they both lifted straight up seventy-five feet, nosed forward and headed off downstream. I have been around a lot of helicopter operations while living at Ft. Rucker, and later when I was in the Army, but this was a pretty spectacular landing in my book, it was executed very well, but it sure took some nerve in my estimation.I've seen a lot of stuff on my many Caddo trips, been buzzed by fighter jets many times, but this was the most exciting!
Best Regards
Jim Moose
