Comments on: (Updated) Navy Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing In Molino

By: bengay

bengay — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 13:47:16 +0000

This was an exciting event for our grandchildren. The training pilot and 2 trainees were very cordial. They gave an informational tour of the helicopter and answered many questions. We invited them to sit under the shade of the trees by the pond. They took us up on it , enjoyed the pond, ducks, geese, guineas, peacocks, children (?) and dogs. However the breeze was the most important!
They had planned to be completed by 2 pm and were disappointed by the long
delay. The mechanic that picked up the helicopter and crew said that they were
very lucky that a filter light had come on which required a landing; because they were very near to having a fire. This is the 4th helicopter to land in our field in
the last 25 yrs.
To Candy..Great idea and sure neighbors could get a discount.
To Ben….Bennie doesn’t like heights! lol You know if the county had known about this, we would have had to get a permit!!!!!!!!! ANd now they know……..

By: Astherotorturns

Astherotorturns — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 03:16:52 +0000

The helo weighs 3200 lbs with a full bag of gas. And no, emergency landings are practiced at outlying fields (OLFs) or at Whiting and never to a random field. Long story short if they put in down in the field, it was for darn good reason.

By: Candy

Candy — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:49:27 +0000

Hey Bennie,
Demand they let you keep it since it landed on your property without your permission and then “we” could start a profitable business giving helicopter rides in Molino (closest neighbors get a discount, of course). LOL!!!
All jokes aside, I’m glad the pilot was not injured.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:18:08 +0000

Mr. Bennie, did u get zoning passed for this kinda activity? Ha! Ha! ….. Only in Molino……As I drove by I observed several of you’ll sittin out by that pretty pond “Takin it easy”. I thought……..Mr. Bennie’s gotten his pilot license………

By: hawghead

hawghead — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:14:50 +0000

The helo had a warning light illuminated and the proceedure for that light is to land as soon as possible. Also that particular helo weighs about 3800 lbs….

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:26:13 +0000

When I was growing up, we lived in Pace, just off of Quintette Rd. These helicopters would land in a large cotton field by our house when there was a problem. It usually happened 2-3 times per summer. A few times we even had one land in our backyard! That was a treat.

Sometimes we would walk down the street and chat with the pilot. The problem was always minor, but a problem nonetheless. Never did it happen that a heli crash-landed, lost an engine, caught fire or anything else dramatic.

By: Heloguy

Heloguy — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:22:01 +0000

They are fairly lightweight compared to other, larger helicopters. It’s basically a Bell Jet Ranger, and the maximum allowable (fully loaded with fuel, pilots, etc.) weight is a little over 3,000 pounds.

By: JIM

JIM — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:11:42 +0000

@notagain: It’s clearly a Ford Super Duty: Look at the rims…. 1 ton or better

By: Kay

Kay — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:38:59 +0000

I;m just very glad everyone was ok.

By: LovelyMolino

LovelyMolino — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:36:34 +0000

Great save by our military!! Way to close to home. Thank goodness they didn’t land in the “Last Pirate’s” yard – they may have been shot at. It would be nice if the “lost” pirates would consider moving back to where they just came from because we don’t need pirates in Molino.