Granulocumulus Interaction Strikes Again

Most likely the President of Iran's helicopter had an encounter with a Granulocumulus cloud.

AP: Iran’s president killed in helicopter crash, election set for next month

Granulocumulus as in mountain hiding in the clouds (Granite+Cumulus).

It's likely this occurrence is what is known as a CFIT, or controlled flight into terrain event. This is where the operator of the craft which is otherwise working fine flies it into the ground. As the helicopter was flying in a mountainous area low visibility in fog, that is the pretty typical scenario for such. Combine it with potential maintenance issues on top of pilot disorientation, and this stuff happens.

On the upside, the "Butcher of Tehran" along with the other members of the Iranian regime onboard the helicopter are those whose deaths should not be mourned by decent folks. Considering they happily killed thousands of their own people, and orchestrated terror campaigns elsewhere including against the USA, the world is far better off without them.

More Helicopter Encounters At Thunder Over Michigan

It was time for some crime-fighting demonstrations and for the Michigan State Police to demonstrate their helicopter and law enforcement skills.

There was a report of a "suspicious vehicle" on the west side of the airport, so an MSP car and helicopter went off to check it out.

Yes, it was a simulation not an actual incident, and they showed how the helicopter could track the "suspect" both in the vehicle and out of it, leading to his "arrest" by the trooper on the ground.

Either during the day or at night with its searchlights and FLIR, if a criminal tries to run from the MSP's chopper, he's just going to be tired when he's arrested.

Then another crime fighter took to the air.

Yes that is the original Batcopter from the original Batman television show.

Adam West sadly did not make a personal appearance, but it was very cool nonetheless.

The Military Helicopter Flying Display

There were a few historic US military helicopters that strutted, or is that rotored?, their stuff at Thnder over Michigan in an impressive display of mobility and maneuverability.

There was a UH-1 Huey helicopter in medevac livery.

There was not one but two AH-1 Cobra gunships:

They were quick dancing around the sky, and both had rocket pods attached that they "fired", creating flame and smoke for effect.

So maneuverable, they could stop on a dime, whip around and give you 9 cents change.

There was a OH-58 OH-6 helicopter that showed how maneuverable a little bird could be.

And there was a UH-1 in troop transport configuration.

It was quite an impressive display, and more helicopters were to grace the show later on.

And Here's To You, Helicopter Robinson

Oakland County International Airport also has a rotary wing flight school in addition to a few fixed-wing schools at the field.

Many helicopters were on display and giving rides at the Open House.

The helicopter of choice for instruction is the Robinson R22. Over 4,600 R22s have been produced making it a very successful and prolific design.

An economical trainer it's a good first craft for those pilots crazy enough to operate a craft that doesn't actually fly. Instead a helicopter achieves altitude and flies due to two operating principles:

1. Lift is first created by beating the air into submission;

2. Even more lift is created due to their being so ugly the earth rejects and repels them from the ground.

A buddy of mine flies helicopters out of KPTK and is currently working on his helicopter instrument rating, in A Robinson helicopter naturally, so we kid each other just a bit.

Helicopters are both more expensive to learn to fly and to operate, so I'll happily stick with learning to fly a fixed wing aircraft.

Robinson also offers the R44 and quite a few operate out of the helicopter flight schools at KPTK, with 4 seats, for a more comfortable ride and larger payload, and some even have air conditioning for comfort.

Here's on of the Robinson R44s doing a flyby of the Tower:

There was also a Robinson R66 offering rides. It's a turbo-shaft powered helicopter with a Rolls Royce engine, and about as close to a Rolls Royce that most people will get.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Helicopter was on display as well. It's not a Robinson but rather a Eurocopter Astar 350 B2 with all the law enforcement goodies attached:

It was quite the flock of flying Robinson helicopters operating that day, and they're fun to watch flitting around and taking off and landing from up close.