Last Saturday while I was at a pool party at my Regional Vice President's house, we all heard this unusual thwumping (yes, I meant to spell it that way) helicopter sound in the distance. As it got closer, none of us could identify whether it sounded more like a helicopter or an airplane. Finally it came into view and we realized it was the magnificent melding of both worlds!
Is it a plane? Is it a helicopter? Is it both? Is it neither? The answer is yes! It is classified as a tilt-rotor. The engines/props can rotate so the blades are horizontal for a vertical takeoff and then change position in mid air for airplane style flying. Callie and I got to see it up close and personal today over at the airport. My understanding is that they were doing some upgrades on some of the electrical/ computer systems in order to make more efficient, etc. They chose Cache Valley specifically because of the ideal conditions here; the high altitude, clear air, and some other technical flying terms. Plus did you see that sky today? Talk about blue...
"Bunzie" said she wanted to be in the pictures too!
The ideal flying conditions also brought in a regional/ national glider competition this weekend. They said that the natural updrafts from all the mountains made it a perfect area for them to do their thing in as well. I'd hate to see what one of those propeller blades would do to one of those glider planes. Here's one getting towed up into the air.
2 comments:
Wow! That is awesome!! I'll be showing these pictures to Joel - I'm sure he'll get a kick out of 'em! How fun. :)
This Osprey is the same type of vehicle they show in the beginning of Transformers. It's pretty cool to see a whole squandron of them flying together.
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