Helicopter Buzzes Wal-Mart

Typical chopper take off from a confined area is straight up vertically
until clear of the obstacles, then a horizontal acceleration to about 50
knots, then a climb out at 50-70 knots. Sounds like the chopper took off
and accelerated over the Wal Mart. The low, horizontal part is what looked
scary to you. Normally we avoid take offs like that for just that reason.

So, there would have to be a reason the chopper took off directly over the
Wal Mart if there was vacant land on three sides of the construction site.
If it was really windy that day, from the direction of the Wal Mart, the
pilot may have decided all things considered that it was safer to depart in
that direction. Downwind take offs are considered dangerous. Or there
might have been wires or other obstacles in the other directions. What I
would do is call the helicopter operation over at Addison, email the owner
the picture, and ask them if they know anything about it. They are the only
really active Schweizer operation around the Dallas area.


wrote in message
ups.com...
"It is well above 70', probably closer to 400-500' AGL. Is there an
airport
or hospital nearby?"

The nearest hospital in the direction from which the helicopter came is
several miles away. I don't know of any airport in that direction.

I had the impression that the helicopter took off from the construction
site across the street, about 500 feet away, though I did not see it
actually take off. The construction is building a road through a vacant
field. In fact, most of the land in that direction for several miles is
farmland or vacant fields.

The Wal-Mart in the photo is near the intersection of Ohio Street and
121 in Plano, Texas. It should not be difficult to find that on a map.

"Sam O'Nella" wrote in message
...

"Also, I take my pda / phone / camera in there all the time. "

I have worn my Olympus C-3040s around my neck for the last 4 years

The difference is mine is in my pocket.

(and had another camera on my hip for a year prior). I try to have it
with me at all times. I've taken it into several Wal-Marts in several
cities in two states. I have never before had a Wal-Mart
representative tell me that I cannot bring my camera inside the
store. Now, though, they tell me I can't shop there if I have my
camera.

Well, now you know. No more wearing the camera in the store.


They do that because they don't want other companies taking photos of
products placement, pricing, etc.

Always been that way far as I have ever heard.

"Judah" wrote in message
. ..

You paid $600 for a camera that takes longer to boot up than Windows and
even longer to process a picture?

You could have gotten one like that for about $150 from... Walmart!

Take a look at the EXIF information for this picture. The Olympus 3040Zoom
used to take this picture was introduced in April 2001. Street price at that
time was $800, so he probably got it used or on clearance when it was
discontinued. It was slow starting even for its day due to the lens design,
but otherwise a fairly decent camera.

Modern digitals don't take nearly as long to boot up. Instant on is the
standard now.

Pooua came into a piloting forum looking for sympathy. First he was
frightened by a helicopter that was simply minding its own business, then
traumatized by a Wal-Mart manager. I mean, this all happened on December 17,
and he is still upset. Sounds like his expectations were a little misplaced
all around.

Listen, Pooua, we pilots are a little weary of being accused of being
terrorists by ignorant, panicky twits like you. Now, people here have all
told you where you were wrong and why you were wrong, but you insist on
arguing with them. Believe it or not, the folks here actually have some idea
of what they are talking about. We also know that you do not. If you want
some sympathy, take it to alt.airporthaters or someplace like that.

"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
...
Matt Barrow wrote:
"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
...

Helos are used to police major power lines in my area. My guess is
they are less than 50 feet above the lines. Everytime I see them fly
by I just give thanks that I don't have that job.


Like these? http://mdhelicopters.com/gallery/MD5...0_SCE_0012.jpg
http://mdhelicopters.com/gallery/MD5...0_SCE_0007.jpg
http://mdhelicopters.com/gallery/MD5...0_SCE_0087.jpg


Great pix! I got a charge out of them.

Oh...how cliché!!

Matt Barrow wrote:

"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
...

Matt Barrow wrote:

"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
...


Helos are used to police major power lines in my area. My guess is
they are less than 50 feet above the lines. Everytime I see them fly
by I just give thanks that I don't have that job.


Like these? http://mdhelicopters.com/gallery/MD5...0_SCE_0012.jpg
http://mdhelicopters.com/gallery/MD5...0_SCE_0007.jpg
http://mdhelicopters.com/gallery/MD5...0_SCE_0087.jpg



Great pix! I got a charge out of them.


Oh...how cliché!!



Bell Ads showing chopper with in 2 or 3 feet of lines

http://makeashorterlink.com/?K1A42526A

Dan,

I didn't say there weren't places that it was doen or even that it was not a
good idea. I was just implying that it was not in the regs.


"Dan Thompson" wrote in message
om...
I have a helicopter rating too. At an uncontrolled airport, the fixed
wingers fly left pattern, pattern altitude 1000' - we helis fly right
pattern, pattern altitude 500', usually land on the ramp or taxiway.



"Gig Giacona" wrote in message
...
Which one are you quoting? I have a helicopter rating and I am absolutly
sure neither of the CFIs or the examiner ever mentioned a thing about it
and you would think the exaimner might mention it when I entered the
pattern on the wrong side of the airport.

They are picky that way.



"Denny" wrote in message
oups.com...
Dan, you are dealing with the FAR's... I'm not guessing, I'm quoting
them


Have a good un...

Denny

wrote in message

I believe the helicopter was within 100 feet of me when I took the
photo. It looks small, so you might think it is farther away.

As a former armature photographer (used to have my own darkroom and all) I
offer the following: The stock lens on that Cheap Olympus camera doesn't
distort perspective unless you are using the zoom function. The chopper is
roughly the same apparent size as the red truck seen waaaaay at the end of
the parking lot - approximately 500 to 700 feet away horizontally. My
trained eye places the chopper between 100 to 200 feet closer to you than
the red truck - 400 to 600 feet away. It's vertical height, then, is
approximately 300 to 400 feet.

If the chopper were in a rapid ascent as you claim, it was many hundreds of
feet above Wal-Mart as it flew over.

Therefore, I am sorry to say that you are simply nutso and possibly
delusional.

--
Jim Fisher

"Jim Fisher" wrote in message
.. .
wrote in message

Therefore, I am sorry to say that you are simply nutso and possibly
delusional.

Too late, Jim. I think the troll became discouraged at the extraordinary
lack of sympathy for his sensitive feelings here and has gone away.

So, there would have to be a reason the chopper took off directly
over the
Wal Mart if there was vacant land on three sides of the construction
site.

Or there might have been wires or other obstacles in the other
directions.

I don't recall that day being very windy, but there are electrical
lines on all the other sides of the property. The pilot was travelling
along the line of greatest distance to an obstacle (other than the
Wal-Mart building).

What I would do is call the helicopter operation over at Addison,
email the owner
the picture, and ask them if they know anything about it. They are
the only
really active Schweizer operation around the Dallas area.

That was a good idea. I just got off the phone with one of the managers
at Summit Helicopters in Addison. He confirmed that is one of his
company's helicopters, and they have frequent operations in the area,
and they are the only operation in the area that flies the Schweizer
300 helicopter. He said that whichever of us bet closest to a height of
125 feet probably won. He also said it was a good picture (I sent him a
full-sized, 2 Meg copy).
He seemed like a really nice man. Maybe I'll take a helicopter flight
with them, sometime ($99 for a half-hour, and they offer Christmas
lights tours).

wrote in message
oups.com...

That was a good idea. I just got off the phone with one of the managers
at Summit Helicopters in Addison. He confirmed that is one of his
company's helicopters, and they have frequent operations in the area,
and they are the only operation in the area that flies the Schweizer
300 helicopter. He said that whichever of us bet closest to a height of
125 feet probably won.

I said it was 150 feet. What do I win?