Helicopter circling 40th St/Cholla - anybody know why?

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by azbatman86

Sounds like a Maintenance Test Flight to me. How far from an airfield?

Sounds about right to me. if there are no sirens or flashing lights in the area, i doubt its a criminal. I only say that because there was a black military helicopter flying over my neighborhood and there wasn't any major military activity in the area.

Originally Posted by LocoAZnative

Nothing better then the ghetto bird flying over.

Why does everyone call it that?

[LocoAZnative]

Originally Posted by w1ngzer0

Sounds about right to me. if there are no sirens or flashing lights in the area, i doubt its a criminal. I only say that because there was a black military helicopter flying over my neighborhood and there wasn't any major military activity in the area.



Why does everyone call it that?

a ghetto bird is another name for a police helicopter in the ghetto. because of the high crime rates in slum areas helicopters constantly patrol from the skies. residents frequently hear them fly over their homes and are so used to the sound they names them ghetto birds as they are just like big birds constantly in the air.

[shiphead]

Main Entry:1ghet·to Pronunciation: \ˈge-(ˌ)tō\ Function:noun Inflected Form(s):plural ghettos also ghettoesEtymology:Italian, from Venetian dialect ghèto island where Jews were forced to live, literally, foundry (located on the island), from ghetàr to cast, from Latin jactare to throw — more at jetDate:1611 1: a quarter of a city in which Jews were formerly required to live2: a quarter of a city in which members of a minority group live especially because of social, legal, or economic pressure3 a: an isolated group <a geriatric ghetto> b: a situation that resembles a ghetto especially in conferring inferior status or limiting opportunity <the pink-collar ghetto>

[observer53]

Originally Posted by w1ngzer0

Sounds about right to me. if there are no sirens or flashing lights in the area, i doubt its a criminal. I only say that because there was a black military helicopter flying over my neighborhood and there wasn't any major military activity in the area.

I don't see the need for a test flight going around and around in a circle over an area FAR from any airfield. We didn't hear sirens with the one I experienced, either, but police were present. Military helicopters do fly over, I used to see them when Williams AFB was open. But they don't go fly in a tight circle around a residential area.

[MaxPower123]

I wouldn't worry about it.

[ibarrio]

Tight circles around a residential area is a police unit. Most likely assisting ground officers.

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by observer53

I don't see the need for a test flight going around and around in a circle over an area FAR from any airfield. We didn't hear sirens with the one I experienced, either, but police were present. Military helicopters do fly over, I used to see them when Williams AFB was open. But they don't go fly in a tight circle around a residential area.

Tight circles with F-14's only once and tight circles with black helicopters only twice. No cops to be found any of those times. I should also add this was in central phoenix.

[fcorrales80]

Did you notice any markings on the copter? Could have been anything from Med-evac, police helicopter, film/photo crew, staged training event, etc.

If was a real police event and the copter was hovering and circling that long you would have noticed a lot more police presence in the area.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

Did you notice any markings on the copter? Could have been anything from Med-evac, police helicopter, film/photo crew, staged training event, etc.

If was a real police event and the copter was hovering and circling that long you would have noticed a lot more police presence in the area.

Well, he apparently didn't leave the immediate area of his house, so we don't know what the police presence was. And, it depends on the nature of the problem. It was probably a police helicopter (medevac wouldn't do that) doing some sort of activity, including perhaps training. Event over.