Helicopter Buzzes Wal-Mart

Judah wrote:

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

There are more important things to consider when buying a digital camera --
unless all you take are "birthday party" shots.

George Patterson
He who marries for money earns every penny of it.

"George Patterson" wrote in message
...


Judah wrote:

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

There are more important things to consider when buying a digital
camera --
unless all you take are "birthday party" shots.


Yeah...like "birthday suit" shots.


Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

"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.

In article ,
"C J Campbell" wrote:

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.

I didn't see any accusation. I thought it was a civil
discussion where the OP was asking for information about
something he thought was unsafe. He was somewhat unwilling
to believe that his Mk I eyeball was miscalibrated, but
that doesn't seem to call for namecalling, IMESHO.

Personally, I figure people are spooked about a lot of things,
and at least in public (and this IS a public forum) I try
to be a calming influence. I try to reserve my ire for the
government figures and entities that ought to understand
the issues but instead engage in rabble-rousing and ineffective
restrictions.

Mike Beede

wrote in message
ups.com...
I realize that helicopters have a lot of flight freedom, but it is
still shocking to see one flying directly towards oneself like this.

Why? It is always flying towards somebody.

But not at eye level, which it almost was just a few seconds before
that photo was taken. It was climbing rapidly when I took that shot.

Anyway, if that helicopter is
only 50-70 feet up it is an RC model. I know that you insist that you
were
there and know better, but what did you do, use a tape measure? How
the heck
do you know that it was only 50-70 feet up?

I know it wasn't 1000 feet up, as someone suggested. I might accept 200
feet feet, as an outside stretch. 100 feet does not look like an
unreasonable estimate.

That's home to first base. The downwash would damn near flatten people.

Hell man, the rotors are 26-32 feet in diameter (MD500).

Get a set of dividers and measure the diameter of the rotor and then
translates that to vertical distance.

It's probably 500 UP and 100-1500 yards AWAY.

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
news

wrote in message
oups.com...
I was shopping at a Wal-Mart on December 17, 2004, when I noticed
outside a helicopter flying just over the tops of the parked vehicles
in front of the store. It was flying towards me, about 20 feet above
the ground and climbing. I got a photograph of it when it was about 50
to 70 feet in the air. It quickly flew up past me and over the top of
the building.

I realize that helicopters have a lot of flight freedom, but it is
still shocking to see one flying directly towards oneself like this.

Why? It is always flying towards somebody. Anyway, if that helicopter is
only 50-70 feet up it is an RC model. I know that you insist that you were
there and know better, but what did you do, use a tape measure? How the
heck
do you know that it was only 50-70 feet up?

Well, 60 feet is home plate to the pitchers mound, and 70 feet is less than
home to 1st base.

He's a terrible judge of distance.

Let me tell you about the running shot I made on a deer at 500 yards!
--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

"Matt Barrow" wrote

Let me tell you about the running shot I made on a deer at 500 yards!
--
Matt

That ain't nothin'! First game I ever took, I didn't have time to get the
12 gauge up to the shoulder, before the rabbit would have gone into a briar
patch, so I shot from the hip.

When I cleaned it, I found only about 5 pellets in the head/neck, and
nothing in the body.

Sometimes, better lucky than good!
--
Jim in NC

If the copter in your photo is only 50ft in the air, then it is clearly
just an RC toy. Thus, I think you had nothing to fear.

If it is a full-sized aircraft, then it is clearly more than 50ft
(150-200ft would be my guess) - and you state that it was climbing
rapidly (probably had just taken off from a nearby field/lot). Again,
I don't see the problem.

-Pat

wrote in message

Coincidentally, an assistant manager at that store told me last week
that I was not allowed to bring my camera inside the store. He cited
security risk,

He's most likely full of crap. They don't want you photographing prices,
products, people, etc.

The reason I know this is because I was assigned to film a person purchasing
tools and parts from a hardware for a television project and the assistant
manager threw us out as soon as he saw the camera without letting us
explain. (Told the manager it was too bad...would have been free publicity
for the store, shown across north America. He invited us back but of course
production was finished.)

-c