[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The Marine Corps' 'Wings'... Marineon Flight Experience

Report on the Revival of the Marine Corps Aviation Unit After 48 Years
Disbanded After Introducing 23 Aircraft in 1973
Revived with the Introduction of Marineon for Air Mobility Marines

Last month, I visited the Marine 1st Division Aviation Unit located in Ocheon-eup, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk. After a late autumn rain poured down as if piercing the sky, suddenly intense sunlight shone. I truly felt the words of a local resident who said, “The weather in Ocheon-eup changes five times a day.” The runway was the first to welcome me at the aviation unit. This runway is shared by the Navy aviation unit, the US Forces Korea aviation unit, and the Pohang-Gyeongju private airport, where various aircraft continuously took off and landed. Inside the aviation unit, the gray Marineon showed off its dignified posture. The Marineon, which completed its operational deployment in the Marine Corps in June last year, was produced by modifying the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH-1) ‘Surion’ (SURION). The name Marineon is a combination of ‘Marine,’ meaning the Marine Corps, and Surion.

Marine Corps Aviation Unit Revived After 48 Years

The Marine Corps established the 1st Amphibious Division Aviation Observation Unit on March 1, 1958. Its role was to use helicopters to deploy Marines into enemy territory and conduct amphibious operations. This unit introduced 23 aircraft and trained 125 aviation personnel until 1973. The total flight time reached approximately 1,537 hours over about 450 flights. It also undertook the military’s first overseas deployment during the Vietnam War.

However, in 1973, the Marine Corps Headquarters was disbanded and integrated into the Navy. Then, after 48 years, the Marine Corps Aviation Unit was revived last December. With the deployment of the domestically produced amphibious assault helicopter ‘Marineon’ (MARINEON), the unit attempted a transformation toward becoming ‘air-ground maneuvering Marines’ capable of rapidly infiltrating from the air as well as the sea to suppress enemy targets on land.

Marineon Finishes Flight Mission, Receives Large-Scale Foam Shower

The first place I visited to meet the air-ground maneuvering Marines was the maintenance hangar. The mechanics were inspecting the Marineon that had just returned from a flight mission. They check the aircraft daily before flights, inspecting over 200 items. Especially essential is the check to drain an appropriate amount of remaining fuel to see if water has mixed in, as engine issues can occur during flight.

Maintenance Battalion Commander Ji Yeon-geun said, “Unlike helicopters from other branches, there are more things to pay attention to with the Marineon,” and led me to the washing station. This is where the helicopter takes a shower. The washing station was as tall as a five-story building. A mini forklift moved the Marineon, which weighs nearly 24 tons, into the washing station. Since the Marineon flies over the sea, salt deposits inevitably stick to the aircraft and even the engine after flight. Therefore, washing with chemicals is essential. The soldiers blocked all holes on the Marineon’s exterior and washed it as if bathing a child. Then, water sprayed from the ceiling and floor of the washing station to rinse off the chemicals.

I sat in the simulator for a virtual flight. Instructor Kim Yu-young said, “Relax,” and explained the control stick. The left hand holds the collective control stick (for vertical movement), and the right hand holds the cyclic control stick (for directional control). Additionally, pedals that rotate the aircraft left and right must be operated simultaneously. My mind became tangled and confused. The instrument panel was also complicated. It was a 10-inch color multifunction display (MFD), and the screen switched to thermal imaging, electronic maps, and more each time one of six buttons was pressed, but it was easy to get confused.

Following the instructor’s commands, I took off in the Marineon. The final destination was Homigot (Tiger Tail Village), famous in Yeongil Bay. Although the aircraft was fixed, the screen in front of my eyes moved, creating the illusion of actual flight. I felt dizzy. After flying for a while and lowering altitude, I saw the symbol of Homigot, the ‘Hands of Harmony,’ and breathed a sigh of relief.

Dizzying Marineon Virtual Flight... Actual Boarding Experience

I boarded the Marineon on the runway as the engine started. The tail wing bore the number ‘23025’ clearly, meaning it was the 25th aircraft produced in 2023. The interior was large enough to accommodate nine fully armed Marines. The Marineon moved slowly toward the end of the runway, communicated with the control tower, and then soared into the sky as if jumping.

At 1,000 ft (300 m) altitude, the Navy’s P-3 maritime patrol aircraft was clearly visible in the distance. As the altitude increased, Pohang city came into full view, and the apartments shrank to the size of fingernails. Aside from turbulence caused by air currents, the aircraft maintained a stable posture. The flight that day went from Homigot to Sinchang Simple Beach, Pohang IC, and finally to Hwanho Park. The flight distance was 51 km, and the flight time was one hour.

Two Marineons belonging to the aviation unit were absent that day as they participated in the multinational joint exercise ‘Talisman Saber’ conducted in northeastern Australia. This was the first time Marineon participated in overseas training. Since this long-distance expedition training offers an opportunity to test the performance of our amphibious assault helicopters abroad, the Marine Corps Aviation Unit is also looking forward to it. The first step of the air-ground maneuvering Marines has already been taken.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.