Military Aircraft Videos

Extreme Helo

UH-60 Blackhawk during Manter fire, August 2000. I have never covered a hurricane before, but I can't imagine it being much worse than the rotor wash from a Blackhawk. While crossing the south fork of the Kern river in Kennedy Meadows, I paused to get this shot of the Blackhawk dipping in a beaver pond. Big mistake. When he hit the collective for departure, the wind got a little strong and I took an unexpected dip in the river. No, the camera didn't get wet (other than by the rotor wash), but everything else (the wallet, cell phone, pager, tripod and new shoes all took a bath that day. I'm sure the pilot and his crew got a good laugh out of it. I did.