3 April 2006

Mystery Chopper

| paperboy
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Can anyone shed some light on the helicopter that’s been in Canberra’s skies for the last few days.

It appears to be mostly white in colour, so it probably isn’t a defence chopper, and has been seen since late last week, generally in the North Canberra area.

Tonight, it was doing some ‘after dark’ work around Dickson.

After all the Canberra Times aerial shots in Sunday’s paper I thought the mystery had been sold, but it’s still buzzing around!!!!

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geoffco, what did the funny looking antenna look like ?

Yes couldn’t help but notice the chopper. I assumed it was to do with traffic monitoring or aerial photography. The traffic thing makes sense as roadwork on Commonwealth Ave bridge had just started. I doubt it was related to Chinese Premier’s visit.
Also, the 21 gun salute at Parly House was a welcome for the Dutch Prime Minister, who had arrived that morning.

Absent Diane10:23 am 05 Apr 06

Yup they drop the chicken from the chopper to determine the weather… it all depends on the pitch of the chook noises and the rate at which it falls

Chickens in choppers, AD?

It’s on account of the Chinese guy. I have that on good authority – can’t say more without risking a 14 day ‘absence’ at Her Majesty’s leisure.

Absent Diane5:36 pm 04 Apr 06

They use a weather chicken???

Ahh 2CC, about as helpful as Stevie Wonder in a landmine field

I suspect 2CC’s ‘traffic helicopter’ is just a bit of background noise which sounds like a helicopter, and some tweaking to make the bloke’s voice sound like its coming through a cockpit headset.

If they’ve got a chopper buzzing around Canberra, why the fark do they ask people to call in if they come across something on the roads?????

the chopper was looking for people who had broken their pledge not to drop cigarette filters on the ground.

a team of shock troops would be despatched for reeducation and contact counselling if one was observed.

Shauno, it’s not about necessity; it’s about being seen, having a local presence.

Hiring a helicopter for this reason is much cheaper than employing more journalists to actually cover the territory. (They have 1 per shift, ie:2, right now).

So it’s not a waste of money. 2CC would have to spend it in the first place anyhow to qualify for that category.

Speaking of 2cc traffic reports. What a total waste of money having a plane flying around Canberra for traffic reports. The traffic in Canberra is so predictable and only on a few main roads that it’s totally unnecessary.

Absent Diane12:28 pm 04 Apr 06

the chopper was investigating crop circle sitings near lake george…

Maybe the 21 gun salute was for Pro Hart?

Firing paint at the NGA hehehe

Growling Ferret11:50 am 04 Apr 06

Someone will know – and it may be related to the chopper flying around – who was the (21?) gun salute for at 10:30 this morning?

2CC’s ‘traffic helicopter’.

I, too, was suprised by the unexpected Hudson on Friday.

I reckon it’s great to live in a town where such rare planes are a common sight.

i saw that unmarked police car in civic too, but it was parked at the loading zone near the afp headquarters.

and in terms of the ones last week, there was a silver one early in the week (possibly to do with blair) and then a smaller white one (probably the canberra times) later on.

Well the Pilot car is the lead car in a VIP convoy, this week the Chinese Premier. Perhaps the helicopter has something to do with the visit????????????????????????????????

I saw an unmarked (apart from the lightbar & numberplate) AFP car with a funny looking arial and the numberplate “PILOT” cruise through the civic bus interchange about 3 minutes after I saw the chopper hovering over the anu area… Would be interesting to know if they were related…

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