Anyone happen to notice 5 of these in the air over PDX today? 5/29

[AOTAC]

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[t.huynh]

I think we're going to need bigger guns.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[Mark W.]

You do know there is an Air National Guard base in Portland right? As well as Camp Withycombe south of Portland.

 

[jblake00]

Four of these flew over the Hillsborro airport around 4:15 this afternoon. Seemed to be in a formation, looked kinda weird though

 

[AOTAC]

You do know there is an Air National Guard base in Portland right? As well as Camp Withycombe south of Portland.

No, I did not but I will keep it in my files in the event I need something when SHTF.

 

[One-Eyed Ross]

Living in an area where the helicopters from Ft Lewis fly all the time, it's no big deal. The pilots have to get in their flight time, and the only way to do that is fly. Sometimes that means they fly where they can be seen ("oh, my!").

 

[AOTAC]

Living in an area where the helicopters from Ft Lewis fly all the time, it's no big deal. The pilots have to get in their flight time, and the only way to do that is fly. Sometimes that means they fly where they can be seen ("oh, my!").

I work in Portland and it's not a typical sight for Johns Landing. Coast Guard, yes. Lifeflight, yes. News, yes. R-22 trainers, yes. 5 Kiowas in formation, no. So I noticed. What's the big deal?

 

[speeddemon94]

Kiowas are not usually the problem, not a very stout bird. It's the 2-3 Apaches that are lurking nearby that will get you.

 

[Don H]

What is that pod located above the blades? Cameras?

 

[AOTAC]

TeleVision System, a Thermal Imaging System, and a Laser Range Finder/Designator. These features give the aircraft the additional mission capability of target acquisition and laser designation in both day or night, and in limited-visibility and adverse weather.

 

[AOTAC]

Kiowas are not usually the problem, not a very stout bird. It's the 2-3 Apaches that are lurking nearby that will get you.

I'll teach you a trick that the Government doesn't want you to know about. If you need to kill Kiowas or Apaches use a blanket. Problem solved.

 

[jimwsea]

Have to wonder where Quantitative Easing funds really go.

 

[One-Eyed Ross]

I'll teach you a trick that the Government doesn't want you to know about. If you need to kill Kiowas or Apaches use a blanket. Problem solved.

Have to agree with this. They used to send blankets from small pox patients to the reservations as "gifts" for the tribes....

 

[3MTA3]

Frankly, I'm not worried about a formation of helos unless they are hovering over my house at 3 AM... Like Mark W. says, we have an Air National Guard Base in Portland, one that has been nationally recognized and frequently gets better equipment than most because of that. When I was in tech school in the early '90s I got to fly their (then) brand new F-15 simulator as part of a field trip. We see fighters in formation all the time, why shouldn't the chopper pilots train? If they were up to no good, they wouldn't be in plain sight.

Years before that I participated in a drill to simulate an airliner crash as a live victim. The dreaded National Guard black helicopters came in and picked us up and delivered us to nearby Medical Centers that were participating. All, except me that is. I was the very last "victim" to be picked up, and since I had laid on the ground so long, instead of riding in a stretcher I got a seat and a great aerial tour.

I work with many people who are veterans, some retired, some reserves, many that have been activated and spent time in the "Stan" over the last few years. I have zero fear of our military and reserves. The culture is still one of honor and dedication. The PC lefties are doing their best to break it down, but its still holding.

DHS is different, and has the potential for misuse because of their disconnect from that culture. So far, though, the only aggression I have had from DHS employees are bossy TSA agents.

 

[Kevinkris]

i see them every time im at PDX as well as the fighters there. ive only seen them fly a few times though.

 

[Stomper]

Just OH58's kitted up as aerial scouts that generally attach to a flight of AH64's and AH1's (if still in the inventory). The AH64 Apache "Longbow" has the same mast on them and can be an AH and/or an OH.

 

[Jamie6.5]

Kiowas are not usually the problem, not a very stout bird. It's the 2-3 Apaches that are lurking nearby that will get you.

You mean the 2 that flew over my house the other day?
The ones with the ordnance hardpoints full?

Yeah, I wondered about them too. 11 years here, and have never seen them before. Went over kinda low too!
Awesome bird, but I just thought it was kinda odd to see Apaches here. One with the mast, and one without.

 

[PBinWA]

We get helicopters in formation flying up and down the Gorge all the time. Apaches and Kiowas. Fighters taking off all the time too.

 

[Old as Dirt]

rotorcraft flying through the neighborhood @ 2:30 am last night.. sheesh

 

[Diamondback]

Just OH58's kitted up as aerial scouts that generally attach to a flight of AH64's and AH1's (if still in the inventory). The AH64 Apache "Longbow" has the same mast on them and can be an AH and/or an OH.

Not quite, amigo... Longbow's mast is a millimetric-wave radar (similar to Reichsfurher Napolitano's pornoscan machines, but more powerful and longer range) that looks kinda like a jumbo-size clay pigeon, Kiowa's "eyeball" last I knew was entirely optical sensors (TV, IR) and lasers.

More worrisome is seeing Special Ops MH-47E's (regular CH-47 trash-hauler generally doesn't fly with IFR boom fitted and open and manned door-gun positions) buzzing around local civil airstrips...

AFAIK, The Army's Cobras are all gone, but there might be some in Guard/Reserve service and the Marines are IIRC are still taking delivery of new ones... seems Uncle Sam's Misguided Children (*hand salute* to them) LUUUURVE them some Snake for amphib work.