Free Republic

Its safe to say that the helicopter changed the way that we move passengers, cargo, soldiers and more. The ability for the helicopter to take off and land vertically has always hampered its ability to reach a faster top speed. But that’s all about to change with a new generation of helicopter that can travel as fast as a plane, but still perform all the tasks characteristic of a copter. The origins of the Sikorsky X2 dates back to the S-69 Advanced Blade Concept in 1973. In 2008, this experimental copter made its first flight. Unlike traditional helicopters that use...

After a firestorm of criticism, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie agreed Thursday to reimburse the state for his personal use of a state police helicopter, despite imposing on the state no immediate marginal costs, because he said the story had become a distraction. Remaining unapologetic about his use of the helicopter to attend two of his son’s baseball games and a political dinner with Republican campaign contributors from Iowa, Mr. Christie said that he has reimbursed the state about $2,100 and asked the state Republican Party to pay about $1,200 for his trip to see the donors. Mr. Christie said...

This modded Bergen Gasser EB remote-controlled helicopter has a handgun on its nose. Yes. A handgun. And as you can see in the video, it can also be fired remotely.On its own, the Gasser EB is a mean, noisy machine. At 54 inches long, it's equipped with a 34.5-inch (800-millimeter) blade, and a gasoline engine powerful enough to resist the drag of a hefty handgun. Which is precisely what the owner of this beast, Jim Simmons, added to it: A Springfield 1911-A .45 caliber weapon.Simmons also added a remote-controlled firing system. And if you think that's pretty stupid because...

5 minutes ago WASHINGTON (AP) — A helicopter carrying three senior U.S. senators has made an emergency landing in Afghanistan. Sens. John Kerry, Joseph Biden and Chuck Hagel were aboard the aircraft., according to Jon Summers, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The lawmakers are on a trip this week that includes stops in India, Turkey and Pakistan. Kerry and Biden are Democrats from Massachusetts and Delaware, respectively, and the Republican Hagel is from Nebraska.

WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. military's chief medical officer for Iraq was among a group of 12 high-ranking soldiers killed on Saturday in a helicopter crash outside Baghdad, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. Col. Brian Allgood, 46, was an orthopedic surgeon serving as command surgeon in Iraq. He and 11 other officers, mostly combat support personnel, were on what defense officials said was likely an "orientation flight" ahead of the arrival of other soldiers. Defense officials, however, declined discuss the group's specific mission at the time of the crash. Army officials also declined to say why a dozen...

After a helicopter tour of the U.S.-Mexico border here, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched a broadside yesterday against House Republican leaders for threatening to scuttle a sweeping overhaul of immigration laws. “It would be totally inexcusable for them to say, 'This year we couldn't do it,'” Schwarzenegger said at a news conference minutes after landing near the border fence, yards away from Tijuana, on a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter. The Republican governor had just completed a 23-minute aerial tour that took him from Brown Field east nearly to Otay Mountain and then west to seaside Border Field State Park. After landing...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. helicopter crashed southwest of Baghdad on Saturday, but the status of the crew was unknown, the U.S. military said. A U.S. statement said the helicopter had been conducting a "combat air patrol" but did not give the type of aircraft, the number of crew members or the precise area where it went down.

VIENNA, Austria - A man plummeted 130 feet from a helicopter Monday but escaped injury because deep snow cushioned his fall. The 42-year-old was suspended from the helicopter by a rope to make repairs when the knot came undone and he slipped free, police in the Upper Austria town of Hallstatt said in a statement. Although a fall from that height normally would result in death or serious injury, the deep snow drifts broke the man's fall, officials said. He was taken by rescue helicopter to a nearby hospital for a medical checkup as a precaution but appeared to have...

U.S., Iraqi Copter Crews Share Airspace, Mission The U.S. Army's 101st Combat Aviation Brigade and Iraqi Air Force's 3rd Squadron are tasked to protect a northern Iraqi oil pipeline, as well as ensure electrical power systems are not destroyed by insurgents. By U.S. Army Spc. Lee Elder 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment TIKRIT, Iraq, Jan. 5, 2006 — The 101st Combat Aviation Brigade hosted members of the fledgling Iraqi Air Force's 3rd Squadron on Dec. 21. The purpose of the meeting was to share information and view each unit's aircraft. "We can leverage both the capabilities of my brigade...

Sen.Ted Kennedy (D-MA)took a helicopter at the taxpayers expense from New Bedford to Hyannis Massachusetts so he could get home fast. Should the Senator reimburse the taxpayers for his copter ride? Yes No 

Copter Crashes in River; 2 Die Craft Hit Something, Survivor Tells Rescuers Authorities resumed their search this morning for one of two crew members who police said died when a medical evacuation helicopter crashed into the Potomac River late last night near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Firefighters and police rescued one man from the water and recovered a single body just after the helicopter went down shortly after 11 p.m. several hundred yards off the National Harbor development in Prince George's County. Authorities said they believed a third crew member, whose body has not been recovered, was dead. The...

Lost pilot lands copter at Air Force One base January 19 2003 at 11:43AM Washington - An unidentified Swiss national on Saturday landed his helicopter at Andrews Air Force Base, the home of the presidential Air Force One jet outside Washington, after becoming lost, the Air Force said. The pilot, who had a Swiss passport and identification with him, apparently became lost while trying to land at Indian Head airport, which is several kilometres from Andrews, according to the 89th Airlift Wing of the Air Force. It said the FBI and Air Force Office of Special Investigations were called in...