Welcome to Episode 120 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

In this three-part series, host Jon Gray sits down with two outstanding Americans, Calvin Dockery and Dave Ritchie.

Both Dockery and Ritchie are U.S. Army veterans who flew MH-47 helicopters in the world-renowned 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment’s mission is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and combatant commanders.

Known as “Night Stalkers,” these soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations. They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with unparalleled precision.

They employ highly modified MH-47 Chinook and MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and the assault and attack configurations of A/MH-6 Little Bird helicopters.

Soldiers of the 160th have been actively and continuously engaged in combat operations since October 2001. Today, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment continues a sustained and active forward presence in the U.S. Central Command area of operations at multiple locations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 160th also provides support to U.S. Southern, Pacific, Africa, and European commands.

Dockery is a now a pilot for Alaska Airlines, flying the Boeing 737 as a first officer.

Ritchie is now the chief of air operations for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

In this episode, Ritchie recounts his involvement as an Army Ranger in Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia. Many know of this operation from the movie Black Hawk Down. 

Ritchie and Dockery both speak about the 160th selection process and provide some detail on the ship they flew, the MH-47 Chinook.

The Hangar Z Podcast would like to thank sponsors Metro Aviation, SHOTOVER, and CNC Technologies.