Does the presence of a helicopter ever mean anything good? - Page 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Does the presence of a helicopter ever mean anything good? (Page 1 of 3)

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:12:33 PM EDT

I love airplanes. I grew up just north of DFW, and have nothing but fond memories of watching planes, even Concorde, passing overhead as I rode my bike around the 'hood.

I find the contant presence of helicopters at my current place disconcerting, though. It has dawned on me that it rarely means that something bad hasn't happened.

When the 'bola hit a few years ago, they hovered for days over Dallas Presby. Hour after hour the din of their rotors served as a reminder that people were losing their minds (remember what was said in this very forum).

If it isn't some shitty piece of news, it's Careflight transporting the gravely wounded. It's the police tracking a loose criminal. It's traffic. Hearing them now can mean a sinking feeling that borders on distress, depending in the situation.

When I was kid, a kid from my town went missing. We woke up one night to the noise of helicopters searching the area. Their lights swept through our windows over and over. The eventually found the kid, dead.

I understand that they are invaluable pieces of aircraft, and that their pilots often perform extraordinary services. I am just curious about the gut response that they're capable of generating.

This guy is circling my house right now. Yeah I'm frazzled

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Posted: 10/23/2019 2:15:59 PM EDT

[#1]

To me it does, I enjoy seeing them. I like helicopters though.

I enjoy watching them, riding in them, flying them when possible. Hell I've volunteered to wash them just to crawl all over them. They fascinate me.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:19:39 PM EDT

[#2]

Yes. Yes it does.

WKRP "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" Thanksgiving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf3mgmEdfwg

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:21:04 PM EDT

[#3]

To answer your question they frequently fairy people offshore.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:21:15 PM EDT

[#4]

In the case of a Lifeflight, hearing that Bell engine is literally music.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:21:21 PM EDT

[#5]

There are helicopter tours of things.

And I guess if you were affluent you could use them as an uber around a big city to really flex on the poors.

But yeah for the most part its something not great happening. Cops, bad traffic, medical emergency. Though, at least sometimes the heli is there to help the emergency.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:23:26 PM EDT

[#6]

In the Monadnock Region of NH a helicopter overhead is typically a life flight or (more rarely) a news helicopter. They are rarely flying around for good news.

In the seacoast region of NH, other kinds of helicopters are far more common. Standing outside in Hudson NH a couple of years ago a pair of Huey Cobras passed overhead. Had no idea they were so freaking loud for a modestly sized helicopter

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:23:30 PM EDT

[#7]

It can mean that you're getting the emergency rescue or medical care that you really need.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:23:33 PM EDT

[#8]

Sound of Apaches overhead is a sweet sound to an Infantryman,MEDVAC is a good thing for the wounded.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:24:14 PM EDT

[#9]

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:25:22 PM EDT

[#10]

It means I am about to embark on a vacation.

Driving to the private airfield is for the poors

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:25:57 PM EDT

[#11]

Bit dramatic?

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:26:31 PM EDT

[#12]

I live watching the heavy lift helicopters fly by the house. Damn amazing they can keep those old birds flying.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:26:53 PM EDT

[#13]

I've had good experiences with helicopters but I think you might be right. Almost every professional encounter I've had with them meant that something was going very bad for someone. When I lived in the LA area, the presence of a ghetto bird usually meant someone was showing their ass in a bad way. This was especially true if the orbiting ghetto bird was accompanied by a flock of high hovering news birds. Then it was time to turn on the TV to learn if it was worth watching the street in front of the house.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:27:13 PM EDT

[#14]

Used to mean I get to go home from work so there is that.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:27:46 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Bit dramatic?

View Quote

Yes. Yes I am.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:27:50 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Sound of Apaches overhead is a sweet sound to an Infantryman,MEDVAC is a good thing for the wounded.

View Quote

But it still means someone is having a really bad day.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:28:45 PM EDT

[#17]

Bill Burr - Helicopter Story (Subtitle Indonesia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqk77fvXUI0

“Sir, put your seatbelt back on...”

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:30:06 PM EDT

[#18]

Big mountain ski trip

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:33:46 PM EDT

[#19]

OP that looks like a news chopper.

iPotato pic through a spotting scope. This guy was hovering for like 5 minutes by my former house in IL. If you look closely, he has a camera and is inspecting the nearby ComEd power lines.

Must just be easier to fly whole lines than drive and do it on foot.

ComEd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BtcMUYQ0Kk

Quoted:
To answer your question they frequently fairy people offshore.

View Quote

Do they ferry regular people in addition to queers/fairys (fairies)?

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:34:23 PM EDT

[#20]

When you and 3 of your best buds have toted a 250 pound lesbian in a stokes basket across a rocky cliff face because she thought she was a gold class hiker. Hearing the helicopter incoming to snatch fat ass off the mountain is music to my ears

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:36:42 PM EDT

[#21]

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:37:04 PM EDT

[#22]

Often times in this area hearing a Huey means they are logging and pulling timber out. Helicopters are a everyday part of a lot of things in our area, not all bad.

I have watched quite a few of these in different configurations set up remote camps for logging operations.

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Posted: 10/23/2019 2:39:08 PM EDT

[#23]

Do you even Apache, bro?

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:42:08 PM EDT

[#24]

If you need an exfil they are beautiful. CAS is a thing.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:43:12 PM EDT

[#25]

It’s one of my favorite sounds

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:43:56 PM EDT

[#26]

Depends on where you are. Seeing a helicopter in a big city usually means something bad may be going on, where in rural areas they get used for crop dusting, logging, heli-skiing, wildlife surveys, and lots more less ominous uses.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:46:46 PM EDT

[#27]

Helos help commies get their wings.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:47:34 PM EDT

[#28]

There are a handful of wealthy people in my AO that have them. I'd imagine that's a pretty benign reason to see one. My wife and I took one to and from the airport to our resort on our honeymoon. Pilot was a badass nam vet who took up nap of the earth over the mountains in St. Lucia to show us the pot farms.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:48:27 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
I love airplanes. I grew up just north of DFW, and have nothing but fond memories of watching planes, even Concorde, passing overhead as I rode my bike around the 'hood.

I find the contant presence of helicopters at my current place disconcerting, though. It has dawned on me that it rarely means that something bad hasn't happened.

When the 'bola hit a few years ago, they hovered for days over Dallas Presby. Hour after hour the din of their rotors served as a reminder that people were losing their minds (remember what was said in this very forum).

If it isn't some shitty piece of news, it's Careflight transporting the gravely wounded. It's the police tracking a loose criminal. It's traffic. Hearing them now can mean a sinking feeling that borders on distress, depending in the situation.

When I was kid, a kid from my town went missing. We woke up one night to the noise of helicopters searching the area. Their lights swept through our windows over and over. The eventually found the kid, dead.

I understand that they are invaluable pieces of aircraft, and that their pilots often perform extraordinary services. I am just curious about the gut response that they're capable of generating.

This guy is circling my house right now. Yeah I'm frazzled

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/244128/20191023_130817_jpg-1134948.JPG

View Quote

Get out of the shitty part of DFW!

Then you won't have to worry about the evil gyrocopters or 'nadoes... lol

<--- Fellow DFW ARFCommer...

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:51:26 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
In the case of a Lifeflight, hearing that Bell engine is literally music.

View Quote

I think you meant to say cash register.

I'm amazed at how many times air evac takes much longer than the ground evac.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:53:32 PM EDT

[#31]

When you have humped the bush for 10 days, the sound of a Huey coming in to your LZ is a happy sound.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:56:07 PM EDT

[#32]

Well, I fly them and I can guarantee in about three hours it will not bode well for the person I am going to be orbiting. :-)

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:57:53 PM EDT

[#33]

Just your house? That's a pretty small circle.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:58:18 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
When you have humped the bush for 10 days, the sound of a Huey coming in to your LZ is a happy sound.

View Quote

Specially when you gotta di di mao out of the area before your kit carson starts eating nuoc mam and rice from his elephant gut.

Posted: 10/23/2019 2:59:42 PM EDT

[#35]

When we showed up with guns blazing everyone was happy... everyone except the NVA/VC.

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:00:25 PM EDT

[#36]

They are fun for skydiving.

abbreviated helo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df8-b81DhoA

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:00:37 PM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
Depends on where you are. Seeing a helicopter in a big city usually means something bad may be going on, where in rural areas they get used for crop dusting, logging, heli-skiing, wildlife surveys, and lots more less ominous uses.

View Quote

I have seen them being used to work on power lines in the middle of the city, which I think is extremely cool. I'd happily trade paychecks with the guy who hangs out the side

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:12:37 PM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:
To answer your question they frequently fairy people offshore.

View Quote

Why do fairies need helicopters? They have wings AND wear boots. You gotta believe me.

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:16:16 PM EDT

[#39]

Join the army and you will truly appreciate the sound of helicopters.

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:18:34 PM EDT

[#40]

As a resident of Houston and having gone through Hurricane Harvey, I assure you that plenty of folks down here were mighty happy to see Coast Guard Dauphin helicopters working around the clock.

I tip my hat to the Coasties. My tax dollars can go to these men and women ANY TIME.

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:18:42 PM EDT

[#41]

Do you live or work around Hunter Biden... during an interview he said Trump is sending helicopters to watch him!

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:22:49 PM EDT

[#42]

My employers Sikorsky is used for fun....well that and traffic avoidance.

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:26:43 PM EDT

[#43]

Helicopters are always a welcome sight

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:27:47 PM EDT

[#44]

Helicopter rides for those who don't shut up or comply I believe.

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:29:33 PM EDT

[#45]

If they're moving that's pretty good. We have a lot of blackhawks and recently lakotas flying by. On really nice days we see some R22s buzzing around.

If they're hovering, something's wrong. Last couple times we've had a helicopter of some sort in a hover upwards of an hour were for 1. Herd of cows on 285, 2. guy go smoked buy Cobb County PD directly across the street from our apartment or 3. A tractor-trailer bashed out the median on 285. A hovering helicopter above the roof of your shitty 70s-era apartment will really make you long for the quiet of an industrial leaf blower.

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:29:51 PM EDT

[#46]

Sometimes they're trimming trees. You should like that OP.

Trimming trees by power line with helicopter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfz1YrpMbBg

The OP no longer gives an F about trees.

Posted: 10/23/2019 3:30:54 PM EDT

[#47]

If you're laying at the bottom of a ravine with a bone sticking out of your leg, then yes. For all other circumstances I can think of at the moment, no.