Photo: Michael Yon
Reporter and former Green Beret Michael Yon took a series of intriguing photos of glowing rotor blades as a helicopter lands in a military base in Afghanistan. The eerie "halo" is caused by static electricity generated as the titanium/nickel blades move through a field of dust (which is kicked up from the ground as the heli lands).
The phenomenon, striking as it is, has no name - and Michael decided to name it the Kopp-Etchells Effect, as a tribute, after Corporal Benjamin Kopp and Corporal Joseph Etchells, who died in battle.
I think that's a pretty cool tribute to the 2 soldiers.
I'm a helicopter;mechanic, so I dig this type of stuff.
thanks for posting it.
and yes, static discharge is a major thing to watch out for. when a helicopter does sling loads it builds up a lot of static charge. I've heard stories of ppl having fingertips blow off during dust or rain storms when grabbing the hook.
and plonk, I'm assuming you're NOT an american? because IF you are, soldiers have given you the right to be able to say what you just said. it's called freedom. there are countries in the world, that if you said that about THEIR army, you'd already have your head chopped off. ya douche canoe.
Now just where did Oz put their Bill of Rights? Must go and have a looksee.
Most soldiers would agree after they and their buddies were shot at some deadly times that war sucks multiple colours sh*t in their pants at some point. But that at the same time you can call them any time someone tries to do harm to them or their loved ones.
So if Plonk has better solutions than war and soldiers in Iraq and The Stan - Let him bring tham on...! :-)
Plonk: you're a troll, and not a very intelligent one.
what allowed us to be able to write the constitution and the bill of rights??? hmmmmm. war. Had we not gone to war with the british, we'd probably have the queen on our money.
I agree with Dave D. here.. I am not a supporter of the current war in Iraq. but I will ALWAYS support our troops. I'm not a "pro war" person. but it makes me sad that people have all of these freedoms, but hate the people who die every day to keep them.
I have lost 4 friends in Iraq/afghanistan, and I believe they died defending something that they believed in. don't take that away from them.
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
Whose coffin is draped by the flag,
And who allows the protester to burn the flag.
-Unknown
I also know this as tip arch. it looks amazing under NVG's (night vision goggles)! It is pretty awkward while riding in a Chinook or blackhawk though and seeing this and a bit eerie, but interesting.
Though many of us feel that the Iraq war was the wrong turn for the war on terrorism, as it most definitely was and as an Iraq Veteran against the War.. One thing is for certain in wars like these...
Soldiers don't fight and die for the 'cause' but for the Soldiers to the left and right of them.
I've lost over 15 that I've known personally through out friends, and the within the military. Lookup: Staff Sergeant Leroy Alexander and realize that he had a wife Marissa with two kids, twins that he never got to see or hold. And I am sorry for your loss as well Helimx.
As well as the over 600,000 Iraqi civilians that should never have gotten to know American Foreign Policy in that manner...
The sad truth is we should have finished OBL and the Taliban in Trashcanistan before going or doing anything else. Bombing Iceland would have made about as much sense as Iraq after 9/11...What the fuck was Bush thinkin?? And from him on down the line to Cheney, Rumsfield, etc. should be tried for War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity to show the world that America can uphold justice. But it probably won't happen. Read the Peoples History of the United States by Zinn.
Seefish
The Bill of Rights and the entirety of the Constitution and all of its amendments are as good as what we call 'Shit-tickets' with out the means to enforce and uphold them.
As for Plonk:
If you're some dumbass, spoiled, suburban, new-age piece of shit, that never worked a hard day in your pathetic little life, with your bars-tool and coffee-shop philosphy and no real fuckin experience to back it up "American." Why don't you post your address and I'll give you a reason to think Soldiers suck.
Courtesy of my fallen comrades and the US Army.
RIP Corporal Benjamin Kopp and Corporal Joseph Etchells
If I cant stand anything its those american military types that expect everybody to kiss their feet, for whatever reason. Nobody made you go into the military, dont act like your a better breed of person.
Western democracy is NOT ensured by soldiers alone, or even for the most part. Its upheld by thousands and thousands ordinary citizens, *all* civilians, every day.
In any case, and in my mind, soldiers are regular people too, they dont magically become a better or even good person because they join the service. Dont shut off your brain because people argue against fighting and killing - you should praise them, since most likely their motivation is to not have *anyone*, including *you* needlessly dying.
For those particular military types that deem all peaceoriented civilians as "liberal scum" or worse, please step to the frontline. You will not be missed.
The visual may not be TOTALLY electrical, but try grabbing the hook before it hits the ground. You'll only do that once!!!!!! Possibly it'll help you "be convinced" if you're not totally overwhelmed by your own life-experiences (or lack thereof). Try putting a Stokes litter with a Wounded Warrior on that hook too soon and the needles which may be imbedded with life-saving serum or saline could be the conduits for instantaneous termination!!
HM2 (UW), VietNam, FMF Corpsman