WEBVTT

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(lighthearted music)

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- The SuperCobra is the AH-1 Whiskey model

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that we're retiring here today.

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The family of Cobras began
back in the Vietnam War.

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So it's over multiple iterations

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in different type model series.

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Culminating in what we
have here behind me,

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the AH-1 Zulu.

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So the Whiskey is the
SuperCobra of all the aircraft.

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The one we're flying today

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came from Bell Helicopter in 1994.

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And it has been with this unit ever since.

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It's been continuously
attached to HMLA-773.

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It did some time in
Afghanistan from 2003 to 2005

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and it came back and it's been here

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with 773 Detachment Alpha
for its entire life.

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It's had an illustrious career.

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It's bittersweet.

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The new Zulu is also a phenomenal aircraft

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and I've been able to
fly it quite a bit too

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as we've done the conversion.

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This final flight is very important for us

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to honor the aircraft,

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the thousands of guys who have flown it,

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maintained it before us.

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It's an honor to be the
last guy to fly one.

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I never thought I'd be in this position.

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It's an honor and we wanna do it right.

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Do it right by all the
guys that came before us.

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(lighthearted music)

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- This aircraft was involved

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in Operation Enduring Freedom

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from October of 2003 to 2005,

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spent a year and a half in theater.

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I personally got fly it over there.

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The Marine Corps has operated the Whiskey

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since the early 90s.

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Operated in Operation Iraqi Freedom,

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Operation Enduring Freedom.

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It did The Gulf war.

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It did Eyes Over Mogadishu.

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It operated in News Across The World.

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Marine Corps' upgrade to the AH-1 Zulu,

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it's gonna be faster.

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It should be less workload on the pilots.

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All-glass cockpit.

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Bring more ordinance to the fight.

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Should be able to stand
off further from the fight

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and operate in safer environments.

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The retirement of the Whiskey's

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a bittersweet moment in time for me

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and marks the end of my career

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as well as the Whiskey's career.

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I have had a lot of great
memories in this aircraft.

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It's got me be back safe every time

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and done everything I ever asked it to do.

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Enjoyed every moment of my time

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with the Whiskey and
the Marines around it.