Jamaica Defence Force: Behind the Scenes

We visited and flew with the Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing, which operates a fleet of Bell 429 helicopters. Watch for the story in the Summer 2020 issue of Vertical Valor. Video by Lloyd Horgan

[@Bacano115]

My team. Miss working with ya'll. Respect from the USAF. 🇯🇲 🇺🇸

[@karlhenry9031]

Love this! Small country but still doing our thing! Salute to all personnel involved with flying and maintaining these valuable assets of the country. Keep spreading your wings mate.

[@user-un9lt3em6o]

I'm from Jamaica the water here is clear and nlue

[@gloriatoomer860]

God blessed the JDF Jamaica I pray for you. 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏🙏

[@sypronfrancis8477]

Need an Apache in the mix for air support. Big up the maintainers!! I can tell those birds are well maintained just based on how clean they are on the outward appearance.

[@waynemcfarlane1233]

The country don't have the money to purchase a Apache?

[@toshawebster6523]

😀😊👍🏽I'm so fascinated about this like I keep repeating the conversation great job 🎉🎉🎉🎉❤️❤️❤️❤️I love it lol 😊it's my passion a few evening I was manifest about it to my surprise a few hours I saw one 🚁 flew over my house really low I run outside looking it's the most beautiful feeling I had seems it was heading in sav real fast I also had an experience taking pics leaning on one at new castle training ground 20 yrs ago it's a blessing 😇 to see it's still growing 👍🏽🙏🏾

[@mitsysimkelle2325]

Keep up the good work Jamaican! Thanks for sharing

[@LeJaDo0]

This is very good motivation for my passion of rotary wing aircraft.

[@tristonwolliston5241]

I went on a trip a school trip in that helicopter and it was so fun

[@glendobson8764]

Big up JDF god continue guide and protect you all soldier life is not boy life a big man thing training you have to endure and things like that in the sun every day doing your job see you on the ratty driving through mobay me affi say jah know how them manage the sun everyday god bless you all peace 🇯🇲🐊

[@alecjohnson2359]

Go Jamaica go

[@shann_official]

JDFAW i love you... need some C17 Globemaster's and C5 Galaxy's

[@notapplicable4567]

Yah, so plp can get mi type rating faster after them lef

[@regregan5755]

You serious?

[@waynemcfarlane1233]

I'm telling you about these Jamaican who live in the USA? Jamaica can't afford a C-17 or a C-5? The Aircrafts that the Air Wing purchase Beechcraft King Air 350 ER did you know how much the u.s. charge the government of Jamaica for that aircraft ? A lot $$$

[@johnstarr2326]

For what....?!

[@roshanewilliams2013]

Brian Lundy

[@colinnembhard1036]

Big respect to the JDF

[@pranto8028]

The primeminser and the govenor general should have there own helicopters why using the DJ F helicopters?

[@johnstarr2326]

Great job. Well done!

[@Gazaflash]

🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@normanferguson5801]

Very good commentary it pleasing to hear what their operations entails. They do have a chinook, but would like to see the air wing expanded more to be patrolling our borders where the illegal firearms are entering our waters this should see an increase of more helicopters. Still, with such limited resources they are doing a good job.

[@regregan5755]

JDF has a Chinook??

[@waynemcfarlane1233]

JDF don't have a chinook?

[@almandobrown3430]

Nice guys 👌 👍 we need some new jet & chappa now Ware in 2020 better aircraft

[@waynemcfarlane1233]

Give them the money to purchase the jet fighter

[@россия-ж4м]

We need the MI 25 helicopter at least 5 of them I believe the MI 35 is much better than the ones we have now. it's durable and reliability

[@GieCampbel-ug9jl]

Best to keep on hand the old school aircrafts and not just computerized ones because you don't want to be caught helpless if there is an emp strike

[@россия-ж4м]

@UJMX I understand that but the Russian government can set up a payment plan for us because I have seen it in many other countries.just imagine that plane that violated and crash in Jamaican water on the coast line couldn't happen if we the MI 24 . But keep this in mind just imagine how much plane have been landing in our waters and dropping off guns and drugs to smuggles just think all those plane we have not seen the government of Jamaica can sit in their own house and people from outside come in and do as they please

[@россия-ж4м]

@UJMX I'm going to be honest with you that's one of the biggest problem to our future generations destiny development to live with dignity and pride we shouldn't compromise their future to make the Americans feel good I have one thing to show you look at the vaccine .our children have not been to school for year and counting some of our elderly people have passed away you see sometimes if we can do better I think we should do better it's not about us but the future generations we are just repeating history like our four fathers we can be slaves why live like that . I have one more question have you ever seen that picture of our planet that the satellite took we all share it so why must we live like this who said that are not worthy of the life we live

[@россия-ж4м]

@UJMX but look at this their new jet fighter have so much problems billions of dollars have been spent on it and it still have multiple problems

[@россия-ж4м]

@UJMX that's totally off track the point I'm trying to make is that no country in the world should have the right to tell what or who I must not talk to do business with Russia have more that just weapons they have gas that we would like to have .and I must tell you this the good good united States purchase Russian gas and Russian oil to benefit their economy it's not about purchasing guns and bombs self determination self reliance self rule

[@image6653]

🇯🇲🐊🙏

[@image6653]

🇯🇲🙏🐊

[@SimeonTurney-i5z]

Government of Jamaica need to buy 3 fighter jets now

[@donovancameron2867]

Yeah two attack helicopter, and four fighter jet

[@nightwing.3378]

And only 7,5 million usd.

[@primrose3523]

Any subject required ?

[@dominicpersaud1155]

Ofc 5 subjects including math and English

[@IamINERT]

@@dominicpersaud1155 That is officer requirement. Its Maths and English plus general knowledge

[@marcello5406]

I want to join the airwing

[@jermainelindo6944]

jdf helicopters 🚁 skydiving 🪂

[@moirawilliamson2612]

Jdf is the bes 100000000000000

[@guzulink2545]

Why my country don’t have a fighter jet 🤦🏿‍♂️ we can be invaded anytime

[@johnstarr2326]

Do you understand the purpose of a Fighter Jet?! How about the required maintenance and flight training?! You have been watching too much Tv!😂😂😂

[@ackeinmcintyre1563]

Always wanted to be a pilot in the JDFAW, won't stop until that dream is accomplished

[@onegoverment8pubg864]

Me too

[@onegoverment8pubg864]

I going for it

[@no.5179]

update nuh ute

[@toshawebster6523]

😊yes you can never give up just remember put god first and it will all work out 😇🙏🏾

[@martinezkodak6293]

So where the national flag 🇯🇲 🇯🇲 🇯🇲 on the chopper we need to see that on it as 🇯🇲 jamaicans

[@index4544]

Which army u see have “flag helicopter”?👀

[@regregan6852]

Do you not know they're Jamaican helicopters...in Jamaica?

[@Captain_A340]

There is a vinyl of Our national bird on the nose of the helicopter🦜at 0:31

[@jonbanks5902]

Those initial aircraft he referred to as the "bubble"s" were actually Bel 47G helicopters AND four Cessba 185 which formed the fixed wing section of the Airwing for many years. I used to fly them\

[@donovantaylor3137]

THE BELL 429 IS LIMITED TO 2 PILOTS AND 6 PASSENGERS AND WHILE THE BELL 412 HAS 2 PILOTS AND CAN TAKE 13 PASSENGER PLUS A HEAVIER PAYLOAD INTERNALLY AND EXTERNAL...THE JDF NEEDS MORE AIRLIFT IN MANY WAYS...A LARGER FLEET OF BELL 412 WILL GIVE US MORE BANG FOR OUR LIMITED BUCKS...

[@DJAM87]

We Fly For All !

[@jevonbrown1778]

Awesome, would love to see more on the JDF assets.

[@martinezkodak6293]

Real good investment s love me born land jamaica Jamaica

[@johnathandoe9346]

Great helicopters, But why not just get UH-64 Blackhawks ?The mission range in those would make the investment worth it.

[@waynemcfarlane1233]

The JDF didn't have the money to purchase the bell 412EP in numbers, they settled for the bell 429. Do you think Jamaica have the money to purchase black hawk helicopters 🤔

[@johnathandoe9346]

@@waynemcfarlane1233 There are thousands of them sitting in the boneyard of Davis-Monthan. JDF can get them for cheap like police dept around the world do. Not saying buy a whole Squadron of 12 to 24 of them. But say a conservative amount of four to six used former national guard birds . The payoff from counter-narcotics ops alone would pay for them in a few years. Also not mention the Blackhawks are all-weather/high range and JA is right in the middle of a very active hurricane zone. The life saving aspect alone should overshadow the cost.

[@regregan6852]

@@johnathandoe9346 a Blackhawk will cost a lot more PFH to operate than these would, false economy.

[@dwcproduction7092]

Congratulations JDF, continues your great work, we're depending on you, be strong in the power of the Lord, remember to pray daily.

[@nickylewilson2922]

Get some Apache and black Hawks and 10 jets and a light carrier that's a defence force

[@craigbeckford4060]

For what, who the hell are we fighting?

[@nickylewilson2922]

@@craigbeckford4060 better be safe than sorry and we can't even do good with insurgance like Tivoli

[@craigbeckford4060]

@@nickylewilson2922 Apaches won't have helped in the Tivoli incursion. Tivoli incursion was due to the police bungling the operation due to a overzealous police officer. Secondly there is one country that have that have capability the invade Jamaica, and we all know who that is. A few Apaches couldn't stop them if they wanted to

[@nickylewilson2922]

@@craigbeckford4060 and we should have alot by now but Jamaica is too corrupt in politics all Trinidad is better equipped

[@craigbeckford4060]

@@nickylewilson2922 Up till now you haven't told me which country is a imminent threat to Jamaica, that we need to purchase all this hardware for.

[@pranto8028]

The bell 412 and the 429 is Good to have you guys needs to get back some more of the latest version of the bell 212 or 412

[@regregan6852]

Latest version of the bell 212? What from 1998??

[@martinezkodak6293]

A hope time to come we can buy two shenook helicopter

[@janicetaylor8176]

The JDF really need a Chinook to carry it's troop in numbers to do certain ops.

[@nickylewilson2922]

Yea frl

[@snowflakemelter1172]

When you can spell it you can have one.

[@richardmcgrath7959]

Very proud of our Air Wing. Smart move keeping it at one platform Bell 429. I think they also have some Diamond aircraft as well.

[@Spartanübermensch]

Too bad I cant join JDF because of my health problems.

[@jevaugnbryan]

Good video quality.

[@matthewwong6475]

Black Hawk Down Super 6...1 is down we got a birth down in the city 🚁

[@dawnleonard1982]

Brilliant

[@Rasheens-Story]

I want to do something amazing for my country one day its one of my number goal

[@terrymarsh8094]

Respect keep up the great job you guys are doing! Be safe love 💕 and Blessings to your family!

[@newproduct8107]

So where is the armed helicopters

[@martinezkodak6293]

They have those too Canadian style they buy from Canada

[@GAZAMAN93X]

@@martinezkodak6293 source?

[@IamINERT]

why would we need that?

[@regregan5755]

In the movies

[@regregan5755]

@Jordan so where are Jamaica's armed helicopters then champ?...in the movies

[@theautisticninja14]

Did you know there so good at ambushing

[@kwakukelly8910]

Jarciyur