Montgomery Co getting Helos?

md_p97 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-20-2009, 01:43 PM

Eastern Shore helicopter moving to Montgomery Co.

PRINCESS ANNE (AP) — A helicopter that has been stirring up controversy on the lower Eastern Shore has left for a new home in Montgomery County.

Princess Anne Police Chief Scott Keller says police officials from Montgomery County loaded the helicopter onto a flatbed truck Wednesday for a trip across the Chesapeake Bay.

The helicopter was awarded to the Princess Anne police department in 2005 through a program that hands out excess military property to law enforcement agencies. But officials in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties were reluctant to pay for a helicopter program.

In Montgomery County, the county executive and police department are pushing to a program with two helicopters, but councilmembers say the county doesn’t have the money to pay for it.

JoeyC · #2 (**permalink**) 08-20-2009, 02:00 PM

loaded the helicopter on a flatbed truck? wouldn't it have made more sense to FLY it to its destination? duhh...

ScanManQSL · #3 (**permalink**) 08-21-2009, 02:43 PM

What type of helicopters are we talking about? a Dolphin?

ocguard · #4 (**permalink**) 08-21-2009, 10:26 PM

Not a Dolphin. Army surplus OH-58C according to another article I found.

I must agree, I can't see even a collaborative effort among multiple Eastern Shore law enforcement agencies as a justified expense.

2gigch1 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 11:26 AM

Not really a cost effective idea when you can ring up MSP and get Trooper 4 overhead pretty quick.

As far as flatbedding the chopper to Montgomery County, if it hasn't flown or been maintained for four years I personally would not like to be the first guy to try and fly it across the bay...

mlevin · #6 (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 11:53 PM

Isn't an OH-58C the same as a bell jetranger?

Here's a pic from google

Google Image Result for http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/2464765550_1a1c38a2b0.jpg

2gigch1 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 09:07 PM

Yes, that's what they are. Don't even have to look at the picture. They are what Baltimore County was using back in the day when I used to hang in the back seat of Chopper 13. Biggest difference I saw was they didn't have the brake the civillian helicopter has to slow the blades when shutting down.

I used to watch the officers wait bored for a few minutes as the turbine slowly wound down.

Oh, and no air conditioning.

If I'm not mistaken Baltimore County is flying A-Stars now. I'm working in DC now and don't keep up.

ka8ypy · #8 (**permalink**) 08-31-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2gigch1

Not really a cost effective idea when you can ring up MSP and get Trooper 4 overhead pretty quick.

As far as flatbedding the chopper to Montgomery County, if it hasn't flown or been maintained for four years I personally would not like to be the first guy to try and fly it across the bay...

You would think so, but PG has had a helo program for years and has come in handy in MSP has not been local enough. I'm not sure if NPS runs Eagle 1 or 2 into Montgomery County or not, but they also respond to calls from PG as well when available.

As for flatbedding, probably still cheaper to road transport it than to pay for AV Gas to fly it.

Dan
KA8YPY

maus92 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 08:36 AM

Flatbedding is nbd for a helicopter of this size. AACo's Air 1 made a precautionary emergency landing at Bay Bridge Airport last year, and they chose to flatbed it back to Fort Meade. AACo used to operate old Kiowas before they purchased a new Bell 407 helicopter. They may still operate one of the Kiowas as a reserve, the other may be used for parts. Being turbine powered, OH-58's in civilian service use Jet A, not AVGAS for fuel.

Montgomery County used to operate some fixed-wing Cessnas - not sure where that program stands.

USPP Eagles will operate in Montgomery County for medevacs, particularly for, but not limited to river rescues.

A/C is key for summertime ops because it gets HOT with the doors on.