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ok, there’s a sikorsky s58 flying around rn for construction purposes, & as a helicopter pilot’s kid, that’s a nice sound bc i grew up around them. but let’s take a sec & look at the use of helicopters on DC protesters.
read this from the @washingtonpost: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2020/06/23/helicopter-protests-washington-dc-national-guard/?p9w22b2p=b2p22p9w00098&tid=a_classic-iphone&no_nav=true
read this from the @washingtonpost: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2020/06/23/helicopter-protests-washington-dc-national-guard/?p9w22b2p=b2p22p9w00098&tid=a_classic-iphone&no_nav=true
1st, the UH-60 Blackhawk & UH-72 Lakota in question are for national guard medevac purposes. they were used in a mission TOTALLY unrelated to anything medical at all. not even folding in the psychological stuff (yet), that was a gross misuse of military assets.
2nd, the manner in which they were used reflect specific wartime military tactics... & this was a civilian situation. it’s a very clear message of “we have the resources to massacre you if necessary.”
(credit: @washingtonpost, highlights mine)
(credit: @washingtonpost, highlights mine)
you might never personally have been around helos close-up, but i have, & i can tell you that they are BIG, LOUD, & POWERFUL. in flight, it seems moreso. & when in concert w/other helos, holy fuck. they are extremely loud, & unlike jets flying together,
: my dad, Vietnam 1971
: my dad, Vietnam 1971
helos can fly as fast or [relatively] as they want & pretty damn low, which gives of a definite feeling of an imposing force coming at you. the Blackhawk & Lakota weren’t in formation, but still. there were one, & that’s enough to inspire a giant HOLY SHIT, WE’RE IN DANGER.
these helos were also hovering below a safe altitude, which has multiple consequences.
a) rotor wash is dangerous, & unless you’re pilot or crew, you ALWAYS are kept at a distance. in this case, the helos were close, like maybe a school bus on its nose & a half overhead. rotor
a) rotor wash is dangerous, & unless you’re pilot or crew, you ALWAYS are kept at a distance. in this case, the helos were close, like maybe a school bus on its nose & a half overhead. rotor
wash can throw you down if you don’t know how to hold your body in it.
b) if something goes wrong, at that altitude, helo pilots will barely have time to react, which can/probably will be deadly for ppl close by. helo crashes often result in fatalities bc there is ZERO room for
b) if something goes wrong, at that altitude, helo pilots will barely have time to react, which can/probably will be deadly for ppl close by. helo crashes often result in fatalities bc there is ZERO room for
error in flight, & due to the way they’re designed, the physics of the beast guarantee shit will get real bad, real fast.
like, if the tail rotor goes out, good fucking luck, you’re going to go into a massive fucking spin & go down unless you’re a master pilot.
like, if the tail rotor goes out, good fucking luck, you’re going to go into a massive fucking spin & go down unless you’re a master pilot.
the FAA has rules about flight altitude for the safety of those in the air AND on the ground, & these flights were in violation of those rules.
using the helos was a strong-arming tactic that was intensely dangerous on multiple counts & the fact that they were military assets gives off a storm trooper vibe. this is 1000% not ok. massive 
to @SenDuckworth for calling this out.
(credit: @washingtonpost, highlights mine)
to @SenDuckworth for calling this out.(credit: @washingtonpost, highlights mine)
i know what helos are about. i climbed all over them as a kid. i’ve sat in the pilot seat. i’ve been to so many air shows, & know all about flight simulators & night-vision tech.
i also know how powerful & deadly they can be. when used for force, helos are precision instruments.
i also know how powerful & deadly they can be. when used for force, helos are precision instruments.
the pic below is of explosions caused by US helos unleashing a cluster of ammunition in a close area. this is during a war, but it shows the precision power of helicopters. & this was from Hueys, which are much smaller than Blackhawks.
: my dad, Vietnam 1971
: my dad, Vietnam 1971
so i guess my point is this: we should be outraged at the use of helicopters against protesters, & on the surface, it seems pretty obvious why. but when you know a little more about the military & the utility of helos, the act is even more heinous bc you realize the intensity
of the physical AND psychological dangers presented.
y’all need to thank the universe for lawmakers like @SenDuckworth & other pilots & leaders who are demanding accountability for this egregious act. they will find the person(s) responsible & let them have it.
y’all need to thank the universe for lawmakers like @SenDuckworth & other pilots & leaders who are demanding accountability for this egregious act. they will find the person(s) responsible & let them have it.
just understand this: helicopters are meant for legitimate defense, protection, & rescue, not for heavy-handed aggression.
