Today the border situation intensified

"Why no return fire?"

Click to expand...

Gotta say, I'd be pretty embarrased having to say that I shot a guy because he downed my helicopter with a rock. In that situation I'd much rather slink away and hope my name never came to light.

Huh, I wonder if they can take out satellites.

When BP helicopters are working a group, as in this case, they are often much closer to the ground than 100 feet. Tree top height is common, and at times they are only about 10 or so feet off the ground. It’s not out of the ordinary for a pilot to apprehend the group himself from within the helicopter. I have no idea how high this chopper was, but I’m wouldn’t be a bit surprised for it to have been within easy rock chunking distance. I too think that the pilot should have shot at the rock throwers, but chances are pretty strong that he had his hands full just trying to get the chopper safely on the ground.

Fletchette just hit the nail on the head.

+1

There is a coverup here... No way a rock could down a chopper.

Aircraft are a lot more fragile that most people think.

Under the right circumstances a pebble can take out an F-16. I know, I used to have to do FOD (Foriegn Object Damage) walks every other day to pick those suckers up off of the runway.

It doesn't surprise me a bit that a rock could cause trouble with a helicopter.

100 feet is ten stories!! Maybe they used a sling, ala David & Goliath. Then again, it would look awfully bad if the "wetback" shot down a BP chopper; the "Minute Men" would likely be invited back by everyone except Uncle Sam and the Fox.

I'm growing increasingly intolerant.

Stay safe.
Bob

How did this "100 feet" thing get started? The helo was probably a lot lower than that.