Posts Tagged ‘helicopter’
Monday, January 25th, 2010
Well there’s a whole lot I don’t know about this incident involving a purported cocaine smuggler killed on January 19th, 2010 somewhere in the “Eastern Pacific Ocean.” But, apparently, this smuggler and his boat weren’t too far away from Guatemala City because that’s where he ended up dying after the Coast Guard shot at his engine with a massive rifle mounted on a helicopter.
Feel free to read the account below – it was just released from the 11th District HQ in Alameda, They’re looking into the theory that the purported smuggler died due to “engine fragment or shrapnel injuries.”
Did this shooting get any coverage in Guatemala? No se. Did this shooting get much coverage in any English language publication? Not that I can see. Do the Coasties have video of all this? Oh yes, I’m sure. Does the Coast Guard even know this guy’s name? Maybe not, they haven’t released it, anyway.
Here’s your 21st century Coast Guard – a machine gun for warning shots…
…and when you ignore that, a massive rifle to take out your engine block, presumably a Barrett M82 .50 cal.
I don’t have a photo of one of those helicopter-mounted rifles, but how would you like .50 caliber rifle bullets like these sailing by your head from a chopper one at time?
Click to see the ammo - it’s the most powerful commonly available cartridge not considered a destructive device under the National Firearms Act. So don’t be surprised when the unarmored engine block of your “go-fast” boat blows up after you pretend not to hear all the warnings you’ve just been given:
Last year, the Alameda-based “maritime security cutter” USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750), which is like a destroyer, basically, bigger and badder than anything else the Coast Guard has ever had in warm waters, was on a maritime security mission in the same area. So I suppose this is how the smallest branch of the military is spending part of its time these days, just hanging out near Central America looking for drug boats and submarines. It’s like Miami Vice, West Coast or something.
And that’s it.
Maybe the Coasties will issue a more-detailed report sometime.
Read all about it, after the jump
(more…)
Tags: 11th, 50, 750, Alameda, amercia, barrett, Bertholf, boat, caliber, california, central, chopper, City, Coast Guard, cocaine, colombia, dead, district, dolphin, drugs, guatemala, helicopter, killed, m82, machine gun, maritime security cutter, ocean, pacific, rifle, ship, smuggler, south, United States, USCGC, WMSL
Posted in vessels | 2 Comments »
Thursday, November 19th, 2009
It would have been hard to miss a giant twirlypopper like this twin-engine, tandem rotor, heavy-lift Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook (I’ll say it’s a CH-47D, just because) over Civic Center’s United Nations Plaza yesterday. Mmmm. And, it’s not alone up there – there are other military birds above us as well these days.
What does the military need to lift in San Francisco? Are there any bases around here anymore?
Click to expand
Or maybe it’s just another military joyride above the 415?
Hard to say.
Tags: above, army, boeing, CH-47, CH-47 Chinook, ch-47d, Chinook, choppers, civic center, engine, helicopter, helo, helos, military, over, rotor, San Francisco, twin, United Nations, United Nations Plaza, Vertol
Posted in aircraft, military | 8 Comments »
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
Yes, there was that fatal accident that attracted attention and yes, they’re filming Trauma again, and there are some little Robinsons buzzing about as well.
Click to expand:
As seen above Haight Ashbury this afternoon, low, loud and slow, just the way San Francisco NIMBYs like it.
Tags: 7, accident, helicopter, kgo, San Francisco, trauma
Posted in aircraft | Comments Off
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
This was the scene in the Financial District yesterday as a woodburning stove at the historic Tadich Grill went all haywire and started a smoky fire at 11:00 AM. (Mas o menos, you know it was about a minute either way from 11:00 AM when people started calling 911, certainly not “11:21 AM,” but oh well.)
Check it at news outlet SFist. But, what’s this? The Tadich is re-opening today at 11:00 AM? Well toute le monde will probably show up for lunch based upon the free advertising the fire provided. (Just like at the R&G Lounge after St. Anthony Bourdain’s recent visit. It pays to get free advertising, non?)
It was hard to tell at first how big this fire would get:
Here’s a close-up through some tinted windows showing the flue fire looking more like a smokeless Olympic Flame:
And here the interior après le feu. Not bad, huh?
After a brief closure…
…the Tadich should be open for business again soon.
Good luck Tadich Grill!
Tags: 1849, 240, alarm, battery, calfiornia, department, dept., district, financial, fire, fire department, firefighter, front, helicopter, helicoptor, lunch, pine, restaurant, sacramento, San Francisco, sansome, sffd, smoke, street, tadich grill, water
Posted in food and drink | Comments Off
Thursday, April 9th, 2009
Saigon. I can’t believe I’m still in Saigon. That’s what San Franciscans thought to themselves today during the filming of NBC pilot and possible E.R. replacement Trauma. Why? Because it was just like the movie Apocalypse Now today what with all the thumping helicopters flying over Union Square and SoMA.
What’s this massive twirly-popper with room for 15? It’s a UH-1N Iroquois Twin Huey, just like in ‘Nam. Seen above Market Street today. Click to expand:
What’s this -”Angel Rescue”? Right, like San Francsico NIMBYs would ever allow a helipad for our quasi-Level One trauma center, or allow aptly-named, life-saving Life Flights within the City limits. Get real, Hollywood. Sure, some people are condemned to die, but Potrero Hill property values uber alles, right?
Good-bye Bell 212 #N911VR. Have a nice trip back to Fresno.
Helipad now!
Hell, helipad yesterday!
Tags: 21.2, bell, camera, CH-135, choppers, commission, engine, film, general hospital, helicopter, helicoptor, helipad, hospital, Iroquois, level one, life flight, location, monk, movie, n911vr, nbc, nimby, nimbys, noise, not in my back yard, not in my backyard, pilot, San Francisco, scout, sfgh, tape, television, trauma, trauma center, turbine, TV, twin, Twin Huey, Twin Two-Twelve, UC, ucsf, UH-1N
Posted in aircraft | 2 Comments »
Saturday, February 7th, 2009
When the U.S. Coast Guard is trying to use appropriate force to interdict vessels from the air, it’s always nice to have a little firepower. Read all about the changes coming to the skies above San Francisco area.
Welcome machine gun, the M240. Click to expand:
And how about throwing in the Barrett M82 / M107 .50 caliber rifle as well. It’s a real attitude adjuster. All part of the program when you upgrade all your Dolphin twirly-poppers.
Tags: bay area, Coast Guard, cutter, helicopter, machine gun, machingun, multi-mission, rifle, San Francisco
Posted in aircraft | Comments Off
