Comments on: Why yes, you may ask about the stealth helicopters http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 02:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101831 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101831 That's the million dollar question. And that answer will determine if Pakistan (who is that really?) is a friend, or foe. And greed at this point means foe. That’s the million dollar question. And that answer will determine if Pakistan (who is that really?) is a friend, or foe. And greed at this point means foe.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1102344 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1102344 Just be glad they didn't use an Osprey. That thing has taken out more American troops than most terror cells could ever hope for. Just be glad they didn’t use an Osprey. That thing has taken out more American troops than most terror cells could ever hope for.

]]> By: bolamig http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101857 bolamig Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101857 What a letdown to find it's just the tail section. I was imagining SEAL team 6 as a bunch of midget clowns, 20 of which could fit into a VW. Actually midgets would make badass commandos, running through the air vents and climbing down the chimney. What a letdown to find it’s just the tail section. I was imagining SEAL team 6 as a bunch of midget clowns, 20 of which could fit into a VW. Actually midgets would make badass commandos, running through the air vents and climbing down the chimney.

]]> By: DarthVain http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1102120 DarthVain Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1102120 Its probably like a silencer. From what I have heard (pardon pun) they are not at all like the movies. Most guns are freakin' loud. With a silencer they are still loud, just less so, and less localized so hard to figure out which direction it is coming from. This would mean that if you flying around in a stealthy chopper, perhaps your cone of noise isn't so large, and it is harder to tell which direction they are coming from. Likely it also has some radar signature properties as well. Its probably like a silencer. From what I have heard (pardon pun) they are not at all like the movies. Most guns are freakin’ loud. With a silencer they are still loud, just less so, and less localized so hard to figure out which direction it is coming from. This would mean that if you flying around in a stealthy chopper, perhaps your cone of noise isn’t so large, and it is harder to tell which direction they are coming from.

Likely it also has some radar signature properties as well.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101867 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101867 Clearly it's a tail rotor, you can't see the rest, because you're not supposed to. It's a stealth helo. Clearly it’s a tail rotor, you can’t see the rest, because you’re not supposed to. It’s a stealth helo.

]]> By: Coasty http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101873 Coasty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101873 As a veteran Coast Guardsman I am glad we had a positive influence on your childhood. Wish that the dam VIP's would take cars and spend the money on replacement equipment for the USCG. When I was in on active duty we had a little under 87,000 men and women to do the jobs given the Coast Guard world wide. Today that number is down to less than 46,000 and the High Endurance Cutters which were approaching the end of their designed lifespan in the 1970s, are just now being retired. If you are at all involved in politics pleas push for additional funding for the life saving service. We could use the help! Shoot they do not even let us have sonar any more and now the druggies are running subs to bring the drugs in form SA! As a veteran Coast Guardsman I am glad we had a positive influence on your childhood. Wish that the dam VIP’s would take cars and spend the money on replacement equipment for the USCG. When I was in on active duty we had a little under 87,000 men and women to do the jobs given the Coast Guard world wide. Today that number is down to less than 46,000 and the High Endurance Cutters which were approaching the end of their designed lifespan in the 1970s, are just now being retired. If you are at all involved in politics pleas push for additional funding for the life saving service. We could use the help!

Shoot they do not even let us have sonar any more and now the druggies are running subs to bring the drugs in form SA!

]]> By: mccrum http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1102139 mccrum Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1102139 Depends, mostly on the height. After a certain height one can disengage the rotor and autogyrate, tilting the craft forward to start the rotor spinning through air resistance, then flaring back on the stick at the end and pulling up on the collective to gain enough lift at the end to slow the speed. We had a great example here in New York when a tourist copter fell in the river about five years ago and all survived. However: Not enough altitude to speed up the rotor in time: Crash. Flare too soon: Crash. Flare too late: Crash. Not enough flare to limit forward speed: Crash. However, the reports sounded like the copter had trouble on liftoff, which greatly increases survivability, since they weren't in the air at the time. As my brother likes to mention about choppers, they're a thousand parts moving in opposite directions all trying to fail at the same time. Military gear has a lot of redundancies built in but there's a reason they put in the "Situation Normal" section of SNAFU. Depends, mostly on the height. After a certain height one can disengage the rotor and autogyrate, tilting the craft forward to start the rotor spinning through air resistance, then flaring back on the stick at the end and pulling up on the collective to gain enough lift at the end to slow the speed. We had a great example here in New York when a tourist copter fell in the river about five years ago and all survived.

However:
Not enough altitude to speed up the rotor in time: Crash.
Flare too soon: Crash.
Flare too late: Crash.
Not enough flare to limit forward speed: Crash.

However, the reports sounded like the copter had trouble on liftoff, which greatly increases survivability, since they weren’t in the air at the time.

As my brother likes to mention about choppers, they’re a thousand parts moving in opposite directions all trying to fail at the same time. Military gear has a lot of redundancies built in but there’s a reason they put in the “Situation Normal” section of SNAFU.

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1102141 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1102141 <blockquote>Is it normal for helicopters to crash, and the occupants to just walk off without injury?</blockquote> The helicopter didn’t crash. It landed. It could not take off for some reason. So they abandoned it and blew it up.

Is it normal for helicopters to crash, and the occupants to just walk off without injury?

The helicopter didn’t crash. It landed. It could not take off for some reason. So they abandoned it and blew it up.

]]> By: Lobster http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1102161 Lobster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1102161 There's a guy named Tom Scocca over on Slate who says this accident is proof that Black Hawks (all of them) are unreliable, unsafe, should never be used, and are a huge waste of money. Apparently we should only buy aircraft that are impossible to crash. Maybe we should also only hire soldiers who are impossible to shoot. There’s a guy named Tom Scocca over on Slate who says this accident is proof that Black Hawks (all of them) are unreliable, unsafe, should never be used, and are a huge waste of money.

Apparently we should only buy aircraft that are impossible to crash. Maybe we should also only hire soldiers who are impossible to shoot.

]]> By: foobar http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101913 foobar Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101913 <blockquote>To him, the paint on the wrecked chopper appeared to be a “variation on the Invisible Loach — a light-emitting appliqué film which, coupled to directional cameras, will exactly reproduce the light and color patterns on the opposite side of the aircraft. Think of the aircraft as being made of glass.”</blockquote> Wonder Woman killed Bin Laden?

To him, the paint on the wrecked chopper appeared to be a “variation on the Invisible Loach — a light-emitting appliqué film which, coupled to directional cameras, will exactly reproduce the light and color patterns on the opposite side of the aircraft. Think of the aircraft as being made of glass.”

Wonder Woman killed Bin Laden?

]]> By: Woopski http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101918 Woopski Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101918 Stealth helicopters, Pakistan playing a double-game, meh... The real fun'll be what's in the laptop(s) - I'd wager Saudi intelligence agencies'll be outed as co-conspirators, & right in the middle of the 'Arab Spring' too. Stealth helicopters, Pakistan playing a double-game, meh…

The real fun’ll be what’s in the laptop(s) – I’d wager Saudi intelligence agencies’ll be outed as co-conspirators, & right in the middle of the ‘Arab Spring’ too.

]]> By: mccrum http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1102433 mccrum Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1102433 The Osprey: A bad idea followed by worse execution. I mean, when Dick Cheney tries to kill your overfunded military program you have a problem. I mean, the Marines decided it didn't need any autorotation capabilities because it kept failing. That will bite a lot of people in their flaming asses by the end of this. The Osprey: A bad idea followed by worse execution. I mean, when Dick Cheney tries to kill your overfunded military program you have a problem. I mean, the Marines decided it didn’t need any autorotation capabilities because it kept failing. That will bite a lot of people in their flaming asses by the end of this.

]]> By: Lt. Col. w00t http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1102193 Lt. Col. w00t Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1102193 I've heard a lot of Air Cavalry guys refer to helicopters as "Several thousand spare parts flying in close formation' I’ve heard a lot of Air Cavalry guys refer to helicopters as “Several thousand spare parts flying in close formation’

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1102195 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1102195 Maybe the best solution is to get a group of overprotective parents (aka: “Helicopter Parents”) together and ask how they would childproof a gunship. After a few months you’ll get something bulbous, colorful, soft and lame that might have a few pieces of green plastic mixed in “for the environment.” Maybe the best solution is to get a group of overprotective parents (aka: “Helicopter Parents”) together and ask how they would childproof a gunship.

After a few months you’ll get something bulbous, colorful, soft and lame that might have a few pieces of green plastic mixed in “for the environment.”

]]> By: mccrum http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1102199 mccrum Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1102199 Well, it's more about how even for the specialist of missions the Special Forces still don't have a chopper they can trust (the Blackhawk came about out of the failed 1980 hostage mission). But it seems to me that they did plan for at least one to fail, which you'd probably want to do anyway, should they have come under fire. However, he seems to be implying we're not getting our money's worth out of the '60 and I'd like to see actual numbers of flights versus failures instead of taking two highly written about cases and claiming "we need a new better one!" Well, it’s more about how even for the specialist of missions the Special Forces still don’t have a chopper they can trust (the Blackhawk came about out of the failed 1980 hostage mission). But it seems to me that they did plan for at least one to fail, which you’d probably want to do anyway, should they have come under fire.

However, he seems to be implying we’re not getting our money’s worth out of the ’60 and I’d like to see actual numbers of flights versus failures instead of taking two highly written about cases and claiming “we need a new better one!”

]]> By: spriggan http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1102468 spriggan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1102468 Thanks for the free introductory course to helicopter. Most I've learned on here in awhile. But I still vote blackout. Thanks for the free introductory course to helicopter. Most I’ve learned on here in awhile. But I still vote blackout.

]]> By: cycle23 http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101713 cycle23 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101713 Can we please start requiring all helicopters in areas such as Los Angeles county switch to stealth tech? I know, it's my fault living so dang close to the 10/405 interchange.. not sure they'd really be that much quieter, although the article says.. somewhat.. and.. no, I'd rather not foot the bill, and.. .well, I'd rather they just don't fly the helicops at all, but what u gonna do Can we please start requiring all helicopters in areas such as Los Angeles county switch to stealth tech? I know, it’s my fault living so dang close to the 10/405 interchange..

not sure they’d really be that much quieter, although the article says.. somewhat.. and.. no, I’d rather not foot the bill, and.. .well, I’d rather they just don’t fly the helicops at all, but what u gonna do

]]> By: dbarak http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101974 dbarak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101974 Okay, truce. I have a cold and I'm cranky, sorry. Okay, truce. I have a cold and I’m cranky, sorry.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101720 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101720 I get woken up by helicopters in Palm Springs doing mountain rescues. They're really loud, and the mountain just amplifies the noise. I get woken up by helicopters in Palm Springs doing mountain rescues. They’re really loud, and the mountain just amplifies the noise.

]]> By: LeSinge http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101722 LeSinge Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101722 I feel you. I live in Westwood. Medical choppers 24 hours a day. I feel you. I live in Westwood. Medical choppers 24 hours a day.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101980 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101980 I believe information should be free, especially top secret black ops information! The "tail section" is not a tail section at all, it is the entire drone ship. I have acquired detailed diagrams for the drone and a composition analysis for the stealth integument. https://rapidshare.com/files/460729505/copter_Afiel.pdf Judge for yourself! I believe information should be free, especially top secret black ops information!

The “tail section” is not a tail section at all, it is the entire drone ship. I have acquired detailed diagrams for the drone and a composition analysis for the stealth integument.

https://rapidshare.com/files/460729505/copter_Afiel.pdf
Judge for yourself!

]]> By: egoVirus http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101726 egoVirus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101726 Doh! Wonder what the Chinese will pay for it... Doh! Wonder what the Chinese will pay for it…

]]> By: spill http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101727 spill Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101727 Airwolf? Airwolf?

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101728 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101728 I love helicopters! I grew up near the shore and the sound of Coast Guard helicopters patrolling the beach during the summer were a big part of my childhood. But, when I live in Brooklyn now is right on the flight-path between any government big-wig landing at J.F.K. and then coming into Manhattan. So the sound of Chinooks really rocks things like crazy. Some were buzzing overhead yesterday and was louder than anything I can remember. Heck, after 9/11/2001 the sound of helicopters buzzing back and forth mixed in with the smell of smoke from Manhattan was a daily reminder of what happened for the next few months. I love helicopters! I grew up near the shore and the sound of Coast Guard helicopters patrolling the beach during the summer were a big part of my childhood.

But, when I live in Brooklyn now is right on the flight-path between any government big-wig landing at J.F.K. and then coming into Manhattan. So the sound of Chinooks really rocks things like crazy. Some were buzzing overhead yesterday and was louder than anything I can remember. Heck, after 9/11/2001 the sound of helicopters buzzing back and forth mixed in with the smell of smoke from Manhattan was a daily reminder of what happened for the next few months.

]]> By: Rob Beschizza http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101730 Rob Beschizza Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101730 Hold that thought, Spill! Hold that thought, Spill!

]]> By: randomguy http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101986 randomguy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101986 Even with a missile strike after the raid, the helicopter still would not have been 100% destroyed. There still would have been pieces scattered about that would be large enough for possible reverse-engineering. The main goal of planting demo charges and destroying the helicopter would be to make it as difficult as possible for anyone to reverse-engineer all the really sensitive high-tech components in the nose / cockpit area. Even with a missile strike after the raid, the helicopter still would not have been 100% destroyed. There still would have been pieces scattered about that would be large enough for possible reverse-engineering. The main goal of planting demo charges and destroying the helicopter would be to make it as difficult as possible for anyone to reverse-engineer all the really sensitive high-tech components in the nose / cockpit area.

]]> By: travtastic http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101731 travtastic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101731 When I used to live on the top floor here, I found out very quickly that the medevac approach corridor for the hospital down the street went directly over my roof, and about sixty feet above it. The first time one passed over and I had the skylight open, it actually blew some papers off of my desk. When I used to live on the top floor here, I found out very quickly that the medevac approach corridor for the hospital down the street went directly over my roof, and about sixty feet above it. The first time one passed over and I had the skylight open, it actually blew some papers off of my desk.

]]> By: spill http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101732 spill Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101732 Crosses fingers! Crosses fingers!

]]> By: spriggan http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101733 spriggan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101733 Obviously it's what's left of Blackout... http://www.404secure.com/transformers_wallpaper/blackout1024x768.jpg Obviously it’s what’s left of Blackout…

http://www.404secure.com/transformers_wallpaper/blackout1024x768.jpg

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/05/04/why-yes-you-may-ask.html#comment-1101734 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1101734 In the article; emphasis & all caps mine: <blockquote>According to a source who spoke to our own Spencer Ackerman, the modifications might have taken place with the help of a mysterious Army organization called the “Technology Applications Program Office,” located at Fort Eustis, Virginia. <b>The rumored nickname? AIRWOLF</b>. That’s right, like the cheesy ‘80 TV show.</blockquote> Jan Michael Vincent, your 2011 residual checks are going to be a wee bit fatter. In the article; emphasis & all caps mine:

According to a source who spoke to our own Spencer Ackerman, the modifications might have taken place with the help of a mysterious Army organization called the “Technology Applications Program Office,” located at Fort Eustis, Virginia. The rumored nickname? AIRWOLF. That’s right, like the cheesy ‘80 TV show.

Jan Michael Vincent, your 2011 residual checks are going to be a wee bit fatter.

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