Unmarked Helo

[KW4MW]

I have been hearing helicopters flying low and fast overhead these past few days but never paid much attention to them. #A National Guard base is just to the west of us and a naval station is a few miles to the north so low flying aircraft overhead is fairly common around here. #

Yesterday I was having my lawn treated and was outside talking to the technician when a large grey helo with no visible markings and a single probe expending from the front began flying low over the neighbor and circling over several houses, including my own. #It was low enough that we actually felt the rotor downwash as it passed over head. #

I asked the tech if he knew what was going on and he said he suspected it was the DEA and it had flown the same pattern over another neighborhood earlier that morning.

I have a tomato patch that is now totally wrecked due to the oppressive heat that we are enduring although the plants are still standing. #It is my understanding that tomato plants give off about the same IR signature as marijuana plants. #

I hope I don't get busted for growing Early Boys, Husky Toms and Roma's.

[W3MIV]

The Husky Toms are really hard to light, but once you get one going...

[KC0W]

Here in Minnesota, they use heat sensors to find in-home pot growing opperations.

They (the police, using State Patrol chopers) fly over large amounts of homes & look for a large heat signature coming from homes. When excess heat is given off from your standard home, they suspect that an indoor growing operation is taking place.

The police will then collect your electric bill from the power company (without a warrant) and start to ponder why a "normal" home should have such a large electric bill.

I guess you could plead that is takes a lot of juice to run that pair of 4CX10000 tubes.


Tom kcØw

[KF0RT]

Time to hide the stash, MW. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

73, Rob

[W5MEJ]

How large? Single or double rotor?

Possibly a CH-53 with a refueling probe...

CH-53 Picture (http://www.1000pictures.com/view.htm?caircraft/helos+frefueling-over-lhd-1-wasp-south-end-of-red-sea.jpg+x1024+y768)

I've also seen CH-47s fitted with a fueling probe, but that would be a twin-rotor aircraft. I think I remember seeing a UH-60 fitted that way, also. Anyway, if it is the aircraft in the link, it is probably from the Naval station. If it was a twin-rotor, probably from the National Guard.

Chuck

[KC0W]

Quote[/b] (W5MEJ @ Aug. 04 2006,21:08)]CH-53 Picture (http://www.1000pictures.com/view.htm?caircraft/helos+frefueling-over-lhd-1-wasp-south-end-of-red-sea.jpg+x1024+y768)
Interesting photo.

It looks like the ship is only for the transport of helicopters. Does the Navy have such a ship?

In this day & age of Photoshop, I tend to believe very little of what I see on the Internet.


Tom kcØw

[W5MEJ]

Quote[/b] (KC0W @ Aug. 04 2006,15:26)]Interesting photo.

It looks like the ship is only for the transport of helicopters. Does the Navy have such a ship?

In this day & age of Photoshop, I tend to believe very little of what I see on the Internet.


Tom kcØw
The ship is the USS Wasp (LHD-1). Primary purpose is not the transportation of helicopters, but it is well equipped to handle them. She was actually designed to carry and deploy the Landing Craft, Air Cushion.

Sorry, but here's an internet link about the ship - you can believe it or not, your choice! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

http://www.wasp.navy.mil/lhd1information.htm

Chuck

[al2n]

A bunch of the national guard choppers up here have no markings other than a very small tail number on them.

Most have the refueling arm on the front as well.

If you see men in black jumping out of the choppers above your home you are in trouble.

[NA4BH]

They were using the probe to suck gas out of your vehicle. Buy a locking cap, it takes them longer.

[KI4ITV]

Quote[/b] (al2n @ Aug. 04 2006,10:29)]<snip>
If you see men in black jumping out of the choppers above your home you are in trouble.
Oh, man,
You mean Reno's back in town???

[KW4MW]

W5MEJ was right, it was a CH-53 - didn't want to mention that just to see if anybody else would.

We do get guard 'flyovers' since some of them live in the community and they do orbit the neighborhood occasionally to wave at the wife, kids, neighbors, etc. But this bird was flying kind of erratic, very low and very fast and IMHO making some steep turns at an altitude just to low to recover from if something went wrong.

[NA4BH]

Quote[/b] (KW4MW @ Aug. 04 2006,20:07)]W5MEJ was right, it was a CH-53 - didn't want to mention that just to see if anybody else would.

We do get guard 'flyovers' since some of them live in the community and they do orbit the neighborhood occasionally to wave at the wife, kids, neighbors, etc. #But this bird was flying kind of erratic, very low and very fast and IMHO making some steep turns at an altitude just to low to recover from if something went wrong.
Why did you ask if anyone knew what it was, if you knew the answer? Boy, did you make us look dumb.

That is your first time calling WOLF

I still think they were stealing your gas, "THEY" wanted you to think it was a flyover. Or, "THEY" were dropping alien eggs in your neighborhood.

BE CAREFUL !!!!!!

[KW4MW]

Quote[/b] ]Why did you ask if anyone knew what it was, if you knew the answer?Because I wanted to see if anyone else has seen an unmarked CH53 zipping around.

And as I said Quote[/b] ]But this bird was flying kind of erratic, very low and very fast and IMHO making some steep turns at an altitude just to low to recover from if something went wrong. which is not SOP for guard choppers.

[KI4ITV]

Quote[/b] (KI4IBU @ Aug. 04 2006,15:59)]I still think they were stealing your gas, "THEY" wanted you to think it was a flyover. Or, "THEY" were dropping alien eggs in your neighborhood.

BE CAREFUL !!!!!!
IBU,
I've been trying to count your fingers for a week now. It's time to come clean...You're one of them Hemingway cats aren't you??
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[NA4BH]

Quote[/b] (KI4ITV @ Aug. 04 2006,21:16)]Quote[/b] (KI4IBU @ Aug. 04 2006,15:59)]I still think they were stealing your gas, "THEY" wanted you to think it was a flyover. Or, "THEY" were dropping alien eggs in your neighborhood.

BE CAREFUL !!!!!!
IBU,
I've been trying to count your fingers for a week now. #It's time to come clean...You're one of them Hemingway cats aren't you??
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
YES. You caught me.

It is real funny you say that, I will be in Key West next week.

73,

Bob

[2E0DTO]

Quote[/b] (KI4ITV @ Aug. 04 2006,18:47)]Quote[/b] (al2n @ Aug. 04 2006,10:29)]<snip>
If you see men in black jumping out of the choppers above your home you are in trouble.
Oh, man,
You mean Reno's back in town???
If Sly, Arnie, or Steven Seagal are amongst them, leave home now. There's no point in staying around while they destroy the place!

[k9kxq]

Don't get paranoid Mike, it's the neo libs looking for a candidate for 2008... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

kxq

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (KC0W @ Aug. 04 2006,15:10)]The police will then collect your electric bill from the power company (without a warrant) and start to ponder why a "normal" home should have such a large electric bill.
Some of the recently busted weed growing operations here were using stolen electricity as well. (i.e. bypass the meter).

[G0GQK]

These hello's are everywhere ! People are assaulted by them every time every time they walk down the street and see people.

PS. here's a tip, just grow lettuce and the problem will go away.

G0GQK

[w7lpn]

Quote[/b] (W5MEJ @ Aug. 04 2006,14:08)]How large? #Single or double rotor?

Possibly a CH-53 with a refueling probe...

CH-53 Picture (http://www.1000pictures.com/view.htm?caircraft/helos+frefueling-over-lhd-1-wasp-south-end-of-red-sea.jpg+x1024+y768)

I've also seen CH-47s fitted with a fueling probe, but that would be a twin-rotor aircraft. #I think I remember seeing a UH-60 fitted that way, also. #Anyway, if it is the aircraft in the link, it is probably from the Naval station. #If it was a twin-rotor, probably from the National Guard.

Chuck
Took a ride with some marines during war games here in Idaho. We went "Hell bent for leather" down Hell's Canyon. WOW! It was sphincterific!

[W5HTW]

Quote[/b] (KW4MW @ Aug. 04 2006,21:08)]Quote[/b] ]Why did you ask if anyone knew what it was, if you knew the answer?Because I wanted to see if anyone else has seen an unmarked CH53 zipping around.

And as I said Quote[/b] ]But this bird was flying kind of erratic, very low and very fast and IMHO making some steep turns at an altitude just to low to recover from if something went wrong. which is not SOP for guard choppers.
You mean (hic) Sipping Old Pernod? (hic) Yep, them thar choppers can get awfully erratic after a few brews in the pilot. (hic)

Maybe they weren't waving at their own wives? Or was there a gal, nude, in a nearby swimming pool? Or in her back yard?

Maybe the pilot saw that and grabbed the wrong collective.

[W0LPQ]

Typically large choppers, such as the -53, -46 do not make rapid course changes (aka flying erratic). Too hard on blades.

Stuff like the -58 Scout do ... they are designed for that kind of stress. Same for the Huey ..

Ed brings up an interesting mention of the collective.

What are the controls in a helicopter, whast does each do and when flying, where does the PIC set, left seat or right seat?

One of our Collins pilots had to auto-rotate an Aerospatial Twin Star years ago when the tail rotor shaft broke. Interesting ...

Bill, W0LPQ

[ve2nsm]

WOW!
Never saw those, kind of a cross between a plane and a helicopter (http://www.1000pictures.com/view.htm?caircraft/helos+fcv22_formation.jpg+x1024+y768)

[W0LPQ]

NSM that is the XV-22 Tilt-rotor. Cockpit avionics is Collins. Also it is called the Osprey.

Bill, W0LPQ

[ve2nsm]

Quote[/b] (W0LPQ @ Aug. 06 2006,22:34)]NSM that is the XV-22 Tilt-rotor. Cockpit avionics is Collins. Also it is called the Osprey.

Bill, W0LPQ
Just read a lot about it (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/v-22.htm).

Seems to be they had problems and were grounded in 2000 because of too many accidents, are they back in service yet?

[KI4PEQ]

Mike, they fly over here all of the time. Air Force Special Operations uses them. They practice on the Eglin range. The Army aviators from Fort Rucker, Alabama and the Navy aviators from Pensacola do the same. And yes, the AFSOC helos have subdued gray markings and a refueling probe to get fuel from the C-130 aircraft that refuel them. The helos you saw may have been flying out of MacDill enroute.

My last job before retirement was working in the public affairs shop for the 16th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field. You are not the first to think these helos are similar to the "black helicopters" that are the stuff of internet lore.

[AC0H]

Quote[/b] ]What are the controls in a helicopter, whast does each do and when flying, where does the PIC set, left seat or right seat?

The collective varies the pitch of the individual blades and also has a twist grip throttle. The stick varies the "tilt" of the main rotor disk, and the rudder pedals vary the pitch and thus "bite" of the tail rotor to move the nose either left or right.

In helicopters the PIC sits on the right side.

I can't believe the DEA was snooping around for weed in a CH-53. It's big enough to carry a platoon of Marines and all their gear. Huge waste of Jet A for the job at hand.

[W0LPQ]

0H ... yep, collective and cyclic.

I doubt if they were looking for any drugs.

Bill, W0LPQ