The Kopp-Etchells Effect

If you've never seen this phenomenon, it is mesmerizing; the interaction of helicopter blades with particulate matter in the air that creates a halo of light.  As if helicopters needed one more thing to make them even cooler.  See more here.

Helicopter Breakout!

The picture to the right is the Prison de la Sante, where a prisoner successfully broke out of jail via his wife, who landed a helicopter on the roof.  How did he manage to get up on the roof?  In part by painting tangerines to look like grenades.  


I'm still trying to pinpoint where she landed exactly.  


Wikipedia has compiled a list of all helicopter prison breakouts, and what I find amazing is that so many were successful.  What I find equally as disturbing is that so many were accomplished through hijackings; while a helicopter pilot faces many nightmarish scenarios, getting hijacked--particularly after 9/11--ranks right up near the top for me.  Link is here.

Random Photo

N549SA, one of the workhorses of the Corporate Helicopters' fleet.  I have spent many hours flying her around SoCal and Mexico.  

The EC135 helicopter I fly out of El Cajon, CA.  Elf shoes on the front, fenestron on the back, and all German in between.  

360 Degree Helicopters

This is a great website that provides 360 degree interactive views of just about everything, but in particular helicopters:  check it out here.

Me in the EC135, scene call out in the hills of East San Diego County.  

Everyone Knows It's Windy

You would think that Paul Allen would have the most qualified helicopter pilots in the world, and you would think that having two pilots would eliminate many of the bonehead decisions that often get made just before an accident.  Like deciding to take off of a pitching, rolling ship in high winds in a new helicopter that perhaps you're not entirely familiar with.  Mr. Allen was not on board, and if I had to guess his two pilots won't be anytime soon, either.  


See video of the wreckage being hauled away here.