meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Mike Drop

AH-64 Attack Helicopter Pilot Dan McClinton | Mike Drop Episode 239

Mike Drop

Mike Ritland

Society & Culture, Documentary, Politics, News

4.96.3K Ratings

🗓️ 12 May 2025

⏱️ 198 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

'Danger Pig' CW4 Dan McClinton is a retired U.S. Army AH-64D Apache Helicopter Pilot with 24 years of service. A decorated aviator with three combat tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dan started his career flying UH-1H helicopters in El Salvador before pivoting to the Apache airframe as a Pilot and Battalion Tactical Operations Officer with the 1st Cavalry Division. During his tenure, Dan's unit responded to over 800 troops in combat, clocking over 300 live-fire engagements and saving countless lives. Since retiring from active duty, Dan has authored the book 'Crazyhorse: Flying Apache Attack Helicopters with the 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq, 2006-2007' and '37 Months: Images from Three Combat Tours in Iraq', along with producing a documentary called 'The Longest Month', which covers the deployment of 1-227 AVN, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in 2006-07. Subscribe to the Mike Drop Patreon Page to see Ad-Free Episodes Early + Bonus Content at https://www.patreon.com/mikedrop ---------- Support Dan McClinton - Website - https://dngrpig.com/ Documentary: The Longest Month - https://dngrpig.com/shop/ols/products/the-longest-month-blu-ray Book: Crazy Horse: Flying Apache Attack Helicopters with the 1st Cavalry Division (Autographed Copy) - https://dngrpig.com/shop/ols/products/crazyhorse-flying-apache-attack-helicopters-with-the-1st-cavalry-division-autographed-copy LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-mcclinton-3b83b721/ Twitter/X - https://x.com/DanMcClinton1 ---------- Sponsors: Beam Visit https://shopbeam.com/MIKEDROP and use code MIKEDROP to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off! ---------- C. Crane When the internet goes dark, radio still works! Order Your C. Crane CC Radio 3 today when you call C. Crane's U.S. based Customer Service at 800-522-8863 or visit https://ccrane.com/drop and use code DROP at checkout for 10% off orders over $75! ---------- TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS Be Your Dog’s Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog’s health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise. https://www.teamdog.shop TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike’s bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. https://www.teamdog.pet SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog https://shop.mikeritland.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The first time I actually shot at somebody I had the crosshair is that on,

0:05.0

I was looking through the sites and we had them and I zoomed in

0:10.0

and pulled the trigger on the cannon and it goes,

0:14.0

B.

0:16.0

Six-Y-1 radio check.

0:18.0

He actually hit one of them with a rocket, which is pretty incredible considering it's unguided.

0:25.3

He was shooting an A.G. Warhead, like, hit this dude running.

0:29.1

Wow. Did you get to observe that as it happened? Just dissipated?

0:37.1

No, actually, it wasn't a direct hit.

0:39.3

It wounded him and he was kind of flopping around.

0:43.3

And like I, he was going to shoot him again.

0:46.3

I go, man, he's done.

0:48.3

Like I said, I wanted to be in the Air Force.

0:53.3

I had the grandiose idea that I was going to be a aeronautical engineer

1:00.0

and be a fighter pilot in the Air Force.

1:03.0

You know, I think a lot of people think it's, you've got to be smart,

1:08.0

and I don't think that that's the case, because, you know, I think people of all levels of intelligence can learn how to fly.

1:16.4

So in this actual rocket tube here, we can take up to 19 rockets.

1:19.4

However, we can put up to four of them on the aircraft.

1:21.5

That'd give us a total of 76 rockets.

1:23.4

A hellfire for sure is fucking everybody in this room up, right?

1:26.2

If it came in through the roof of this room, it'd probably wound everybody in the room.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Mike Ritland, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Mike Ritland and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.