While vacationing near Lake Mead, we saw a helicopter in the air, tethered to the side of a mountain road guardrail. There were no occupants. It seems a mystery.
2006-10-03 07:50:25 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
The helicopter was CLOSE. Perhaps as far away laterally (over the cliff face, not toward the mtn road) from the guardrail as 25 feet, and up in the air (using the road as a marker) as 60 feet. The blades were turning, the skids were clearly visible. This was not something seen from a distance. It was tethered by a rope or cable of some kind to the guardrail directly to the side of us on the road. There were no occupants. Lake Mead does offer helicopter rides to the public. We assumed at the time it probably had some dynamic to do with that. No substances had been ingested whatsoever, although you are all real funny, har har.
2006-10-04 04:01:20 · update #1
Helicopters won't fly themselves. If what you are saying really happened then the tether had to be a remote control cable and the guardrail was the anchor point for the cable. Not a common occurance but maybe something to do with filming a movie??? There is no other possible explanation if your description is accurate. Otherwise, did anyone report the crash???
2006-10-04 04:47:15 · answer #1 · answered by bpflyguy1990 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They tether small planes at the airport to protect them against high winds and sudden gusts. I would imagine that the same safety precautions would apply to a helicopter as well....wherever it's "parked", so it would stay where you put it, while you relieved yourself, stretched your legs or investigated something on the ground.
OK, that was my answer. My husband, who has spent a lifetime in the aerospace industry as a project engineer, says that he knows of no automatic guidance system in helicopters that would allow a helicopter to maintain its position in the air unattended. Were the blades turning? Did you see the skids in the air? I know it seems obvious, but if the blades were not turning, and you did not clearly see the skids above the ground, it was not actually in the air and it was simply an illusion caused by distance and angle of vision. If the blades were turning and you could see the skids, the presence of the tether may also have been an illusion caused by distance.
2006-10-03 08:38:31 · answer #2 · answered by pessimoptimist 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Union rules. The pilot gets a coffee break every 4 hours of flying. He must have just stepped out for a cup of coffee or to use the bathroom.
2006-10-03 07:57:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The pilot had been watching too many western movies and went into the saloon for a beer. What were you drinking at the time?
2006-10-03 11:53:32 · answer #4 · answered by RANDLE W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, that doesn't sound right! A helicopter is unstable as it is, let alone to be left running without a pilot. Weird!
2006-10-03 08:08:04 · answer #5 · answered by Gothic Martha™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now I understand the weedy part of your name... musta been thai stick.
2006-10-03 18:31:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
pass the magic mushrooms.......
2006-10-03 08:10:10 · answer #7 · answered by pecker_head_bill 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋