A Sudden CH-47D Chinook... SAR?
The boss wondered why one of his most valued employee was absent without giving any prior notice. Needing to have an urgent work problem resolved, he dialed the employee’s home phone number and was greeted by a child’s whispered, “Hello.”
“Is your Daddy home?” he asked.
“Yes,” whispered the little voice.
“May I talk with him?”
The child whispered, “No.”
Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your Mommy there?”
“Yes.”
“May I talk with her?”
Again the small voice whispered, “No.”
Hoping there was someone with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, “Is anyone else there?”
“Yes,” whispered the child, “A policeman.”
Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, “May I speak with the policeman?”
“No, he’s busy,” whispered the child.
“Busy doing what?”
“Talking to Mommy and Daddy and the neighbors,” came the whispered answer.
Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, “What is that noise?”
“A helicopter,” answered the whispering voice.
“What is going on there?” demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive.
Again, whispering, the child answered, “The search team just landed a helicopter.”
Alarmed, confused, and a little frustrated, the boss asked, “What are they searching for?”
Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle, “Me!”
I can't stop myself from thinking about this joke whenever I see aircraft flying low for seemingly no good reason.
Today's odd aircraft was a military Chinook. It was almost kissing 1000 feet as it came into view. The craft dipped to a respectable 500 feet as it continued its path along the Ohio River. This looked to me like a search and rescue run.
I have plenty of these missions and training missions under my belt, though my craft was fixed wing and I wasn't a pilot. We lacked the ability to make the same slow passes of a helicopter, of course. I absolutely love the versatility helicopters are capable of.
They paused forward movement and hung in the air close to the high school sports stadium directly across from our house (we're a stone's throw from it). There they hovered on the Ohio side of the river. Moments passed. They moved on while climbing to avoid the power plant a few miles north in Empire.
There might be an airshow locally. I can't be certain. However, flying that low requires permission.
I'll keep an eye on the local news. If it is a SAR mission, I hope they find what they seek.
Would you like to help on search and rescue missions? Join your local Civil Air Patrol squadron. They are always in need of aircrew and pilots. You can also volunteer for boots on the ground. CAP covers your training.
Civil Air Patrol is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and occupations. Please visit their site for information and inquiries: https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/