Military Helicopters

[Pheonix7]

Recently I was flying well outside of any NFZ at about 390ft. I had my wife observing with me. We began to hear an approaching bird but couldn't determine its location based on sound. I immediately began a descent, and about the time I reached 200ft a Blackhawk screamed overhead at what looked like no more than 350ft. I continued my descent down to a 4ft hover to allow it to clear the airspace, only to have it orbit around for a second pass, this time almost directly over my location (obviously I immediately landed and suspended flight). I'm nowhere near a military installation and this is not a normal occurrence in my area. The pilot almost seemed to make the second pass over me out of curiosity. Anyone else had a military bird scream over at very low altitude with little to no time to react? I would have been very easy for him to see on the second pass, as we were in a HUGE open field. I could determine no other cause for his second pass other than our flight because he immediately resumed heading after the flight over us.


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[alokbhargava]

You should have waved your hands to greet him in such cases. Things are taken lightly and he will understand you know the rules and not shying away.

 

[Pheonix7]

We definitely waved. I could almost see the pilot through the windshield glare on the cockpit.


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[Morgas Resnak]

They fly NOE ("Nap of the Earth") for most scenarios, and that may have been what they were doing. At Fort Campbell, that is all they fly about 95% of the time. Usually, there is an NOTAM (Notice to Airman) for remote control usage around a base. But it doesn't sound like you are anywhere close to that.

 

[Pheonix7]

Yea based on his heading he may have been on the way to Shaw AFB about 40mi away. Just a guess though.


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[RedHotPoker]

I have an itch to scratch, by flying over an army supply yard and warehouse. There are all these cool green camo' vehicles parked behind the wire... I want to make a short video from that vantage point. ;-)

Yes, I will probably ask for permission first. Stupid not to...

RedHotPoker

 

[Comte de Bleuville]

I live on the Outer Banks of NC and I see military aircraft flying over the beach at altitudes of 100-200ft AGL almost daily. The other day, just about an hour after someone was filming some surfers with a phantom, a group of black hawks flew by extremely low, somewhere around 50-100 feet. I know most of these military aircraft have sophisticated systems that detect other aircraft, but I'm not sure if they can detect a tiny little quad copter.

 

[Morgas Resnak]

I have an itch to scratch, by flying over an army supply yard and warehouse. There are all these cool green camo' vehicles parked behind the wire... I want to make a short video from that vantage point. ;-)

Yes, I will probably ask for permission first. Stupid not to...

RedHotPoker

Don't expect to get approval. All military installations are off limits and should be a restricted area. I know at Offutt AFB, there is a GPS jamming device. It is also an alternate location for Air Force One, but any GPS there doesn't work which is not part of their military software. I would not venture flying over an installation with all the terrorism precautions occurring around military posts.

 

[RedHotPoker]

I live on the Outer Banks of NC and I see military aircraft flying over the beach at altitudes of 100-200ft AGL almost daily. The other day, just about an hour after someone was filming some surfers with a phantom, a group of black hawks flew by extremely low, somewhere around 50-100 feet. I know most of these military aircraft have sophisticated systems that detect other aircraft, but I'm not sure if they can detect a tiny little quad copter.

The thing is...

Did you see a pilot, to wave at? ;-)

RedHotPoker

 

[RedHotPoker]

Don't expect to get approval. All military installations are off limits and should be a restricted area. I know at Offutt AFB, there is a GPS jamming device. It is also an alternate location for Air Force One, but any GPS there doesn't work which is not part of their military software. I would not venture flying over an installation with all the terrorism precautions occurring around military posts.

I am RYding a green and black SpYder, so atleast I'm already flying the right colors. Haha
Heck I may even show up in full camo myself... Blend in all stealthy an' SH!T!! Wearing a huge grin too. As Always anyway.

Funny the best hobby shop in town, is less than a block from that awesome green yard... And and and. . .
It's got to be done.

RedHotPoker