Enjoy the view from the cockpit of a U.S. Army CH-47F helicopter as it flies low over the desert and some mountainous areas in Djibouti, Africa last December. The Chinook is from the Army’s 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) which is stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The CH-47 Chinook is a twin engine, tandem rotor helicopter that has been in the Army arsenal since 1962. The Chinook is known for its high speed of 170 knots and the ability to lift heavy loads and can carry between 33 to 55  troops. There were over 1200 built by Boeing at an estimated cost of $38 million each.

The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade deploys around the world to seek out and destroy enemy targets.

From the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade’s Facebook page:

The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade tactical moniker “Pegasus” is a name drawn from the historic June 6th, 1944 Allied invasion of mainland Europe. Specifically, Pegasus Bridge was the single most important piece of key terrain whose control was critical to the protection of thousands of British and Canadian soldiers during their early morning assault on the beaches of Sword and Juno.

Today, the troopers of the 82nd Airborne Division rely on the men and women of Task Force Pegasus and their 122 helicopters — Apaches attack helicopters, Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopters, Blackhawk assault and Medical Evacuation aircraft, and the Chinook cargo aircraft for their protection and support. Whenever paratroopers go into harm’s way, they can rely on the significant lethality, firepower, and flexibility of Task Force Pegasus to ensure decisive victory, regardless of the task.

Sometimes people forget or don’t even know that the US Army is in the aviation business in a big way. The Army has fixed wing aircraft in addition to the rotary wing aircraft like the Apache and Chinook helicopters that most people think about. While the 339 Army fixed wing aircraft are not for combat purposes, they perform transport, conduct intelligence and electronic warfare roles.

Featured image of The 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division participated in Molly Pitcher Day on Sicily Drop Zone. “Molly Pitcher,” who’s real name was Mary Hayes, was the wife of an artilleryman during the Revolutionary War. When the Soldiers were thirsty they would yell “Molly, pitcher,” to have a drink brought to them. However, when her husband was injured, Hayes left her pitcher behind, took control of the cannon and continued firing at the British. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew G. Ryan.