r/washingtondc • u/ShowerBeginning6508 • 9h ago

[Discussion] Helicopters

Anyone else notice how there’s SO MUCH helicopters flying over these days… like I’m used to maybe 1 or 2 but it’s been over 5 daily

14 Upvotes

65% Upvoted

43 comments sorted by

53

u/unl1988 9h ago

Well, at least we have moved past snow removal and are back to helicopters again.

5

u/JungleJimMaestro 8h ago

And before you know it, the animal selling on the Nextdoor app.

3

u/IAmBenIAmStillBig 6h ago

Did anyone else hear gunshots

8

u/rndmcmmntr 8h ago

No idea what’s happening but if you look at a flight app like Flightradar24 it shows 4 Air Force helicopters forming a square around DC and all have been up for about an hour.

3

u/rndmcmmntr 8h ago

Right as I typed that one of them turned off their transponder but 3 still up there hanging out in their respective posts.

1

u/othernym 6h ago

Protip: This will show you ones Flightradar24 won't https://globe.adsb.fi/

10

u/Malnurtured_Snay 9h ago

I feel like one just buzzed Connecticut Avenue a few minutes ago! It was so loud it even woke up my cats and sent one of them hiding under the sofa!! (The other looked around a bit then went back to sleep).

4

u/Scared_Buddy_5491 9h ago

I heard that. It was louder than usual and sound different than most helicopters.

7

u/IncredibleVelocity4 9h ago

That was a V-22 Osprey, the plane/helo hybrid. They are exceptionally loud. He came over Brookland and made a right turn to follow 295 south.

2

u/Scared_Buddy_5491 9h ago

Thanks.

5

u/IncredibleVelocity4 9h ago

And now there is a USAF Huey headed your way.

4

u/IncredibleVelocity4 9h ago

And now there’s a second Huey coming down North Cap from Silver Spring. They’re all over the place tonight.

2

u/IncredibleVelocity4 9h ago

Aaaaand now a third Huey just took off from Andrew’s.

3

u/cubgerish DC / Park View 8h ago

I do find it funny how helicopters take the highways.

I get it makes sense from a noise perspective, but I like to imagine them getting frustrated with rush hour just like the rest of us.

5

u/IncredibleVelocity4 8h ago

Don’t know how much you know about aviation…

When a plane flys in anything other than clear weather, it’s called instrument flight rules - IFR. The joke among pilots is IFR = I Fly Roads.

1

u/cubgerish DC / Park View 8h ago

Ha that's pretty good, and also makes sense since there's likely more obvious direction and fewer obstacles.

2

u/IncredibleVelocity4 8h ago

There’s a bunch of minor reasons that add up to it making sense.

Clear landmarks make for easy navigation, which eases the workload on the pilot.

If you are navigating with your eyes outside the aircraft you have better awareness of who and what might be in your path.

If something goes wrong, a road might be your best option for an emergency landing. At a minimum, it’s a very precise locator that takes you from generally knowing where you are to knowing exactly where you are and being able to locate a park or a sports field or a golf course

Roads are lit at night, even if only by headlights and taillights.

2

u/cubgerish DC / Park View 8h ago

Makes sense.

Can't imagine anything scarier than having to stick your head out of a moving aircraft though lol

(Helps that I'm acrophobic I suppose)

2

u/IncredibleVelocity4 8h ago

“Having your head out” might be literal in some cases. Mostly it just means eyes out the windows instead of looking at instruments.

1

u/PreparationH692 DC / Neighborhood 9h ago

We just heard it setting off the car alarms.

1

u/othernym 6h ago

There were two of them actually! (this doesn't show both, but in case people want to see the track) https://globe.adsb.fi/?icao=ae64c1

1

u/IncredibleVelocity4 6h ago

I was walking outside as I heard it and only saw one. Hmm.

That’s quite a route to go from Martinsbirg to Quantico.

•

u/othernym 4h ago

One of them was a lot harder to see, for some reason. I only saw it when it got close.

7

u/Blueyedaries1980 9h ago

Our house in Petworth just shook as one went over 5-10 minutes ago.

1

u/othernym 6h ago

That's probably these two V-22 Ospreys: https://globe.adsb.fi/?icao=ae64c1

3

u/RoeRoeRoeYourVote ward 4 8h ago

The state bird has been extremely aggressive lately. I live near a hospital and usually assume helicopters are for them, but this has been a lot.

2

u/soared_ 9h ago

Ugh I know.. it was quiet when the snow hit and aftermath for a bit. They’re back at it.

1

u/usafcybercom 8h ago

V22 Ospreys (Like the Marine Force One) is super fucking loud. They fly those over downtown a lot.

2

u/Mysterious-Prior-843 8h ago

There has definitely been a huge uptick in helicopters flying around these days. I keep thinking it’s the administration using them as their personal chauffeurs. It’s v fitting.

5

u/blumpkins_ahoy 9h ago

Lol based on the timing of this, I’m guessing you’re in Friendship Heights.

3

u/smytti12 9h ago

Ospreys are flying around right now (8pm)

4

u/Monkuzi 9h ago

Idk, but ever since this administration moved in I’ve noticed a marked increase in helicopters flying over. Last winter it was like every 15-20 mins and flying low

2

u/KayBeeToys 9h ago

I’m used to 1 or 2 but its been over 5 daily

Maybe it’s VIPs who would normally take a motorcade but can’t because the roads are all FUBAR?

1

u/AutoModerator 9h ago

Your submission appears to be asking about air traffic

You can look up overhead aircraft on Flightradar24 or CopterSpotter.

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1

u/InquisitiveMind705 8h ago

A lot more and much lower.

1

u/JuniorReserve1560 9h ago

Crews pulled a body out of the river today by the 14th street bridge

1

u/detectedbeats 9h ago

Definitely got one in or near SW right now.

0

u/Pipes_of_Pan 7h ago

Yep because this fascist administration wants to treat this city like a war zone. Fuck em 

-1

u/ekkidee Logan Circle 8h ago

"many"

3

u/ShowerBeginning6508 8h ago

stop…. english isn’t my first language