Hello All,
Sincere apologies for the long lay off. Just a small post to keep the wheels of thought of my avid readers spinning with regards to a mysterious phenomenon I came across through a fellow military blogger currently based in Afghanistan. I am hoping for some interesting feedback.
Apparently this phenomenon occurs on some nights when a helo browns-out during landing or take-off due to static electricity generated by friction of dust and other debris brushing past rotor blades. However, it is still a mystery as to what governs the intensity of the halos and why it occurs only in some nights.
Quite interestingly British or American pilots had no fitting name to this breathtaking halo effect until MilBlogger Michael Yon who was embedded with the British Afghan forces quite recently came up with a handle after two soldiers who had laid their lives in Helmand province; Corporal Benjamin Kopp (American Ranger) and Corporal Joseph Etchells (British).
More images can be found here.
23 comments:
Awesome!!!! Looks bloody brilliant :)
thanks LR,
At first sight looked like the rotor tip experiment with scram jets. some early helo's, specially small recon types had them tested on - a small jet at the rotor tip!!
Those dust/ sand filters on the chinooks must be used over time!! fitting name for it too.
Hope to hear from you soon.
cheers.
correction, they were ramjets, not scram jets :) my bad.
Welcome back Ranger!
Since this topic is on sort of Afghanistan, why do you think so many of British/Americans die just by IEDs?
Hope to see more of you.
Hi LR
I work in aviation. This is a very common phenomenon for jet engines.. Specially during low Humid(dry air) nights u can see this clearly. It's more significant during engine accelaration to high power... It's mainly due to static discharge between blades and the air.. I never seen this on helicopters.. During take off specially engine uses max power so i guess it's the same reason as jet engines...
cheers
Hi LR
I work in aviation. This is a very common phenomenon for jet engines.. Specially during low Humid(dry air) nights u can see this clearly. It's more significant during engine accelaration to high power... It's mainly due to static discharge between blades and the air.. I never seen this on helicopters.. During take off specially engine uses max power so i guess it's the same reason as jet engines...
cheers
ජනපතිට හා ආරක්ෂක ලේකම්ට මරණය ඉල්ලා ඉන්දියාවේ පූජාවක්
Amazing pictures and cannot give a better illustration for a ‘halo’!
Definitely this is static charges.
Usually aero planes have static discharge wicks to dissipate static charges that build up on the plane
These static charges can be dangerous, especially if the crew try to land before the chopper lands
I found more discussion on the same effect here.
Thanks for sending me to the blog in mention. The article itself is interesting and the writer is very much worth reading... and not only that bit but any number of his blog posts are excellent.
For those who are interested in a well written and finely detailed battlefield account from an imbedded source who is not, like our good Lone Ranger, directly beholden to a chain of military command I can't recommend Michael Yon enough.
{[MI]}
Long Ranger,
When will you write more about the Sri Lankan Army and how they won over the tigers?
the SL newspapers have been quoting your blog in the past.. havent u come across any of those... Ive seen some in Lankadeepa sunday edition ... it said long ranger web adviyen... prolly urs
Dear Long Ranger, I have been an avid reader of your blog and learned so much. I haven't put a single comment in this blog until now. There is a worrysome news item in Dailymirror (7th Monday, December 2009) it says new armed group has been formed and they have links to various external links. Unstable political set up is a good breeding ground for groups like this. So what is your analysis. Hope that you enlighten us on this aspect
Guess Mangala was right, this guy is not suitable to lead even the salvation army!
When people like Jagath Jayasuriya, Shavendra, Prasanna Silva, Jagath Dias, Kamal Gunarathne retire, we will call them true patriots !
General SF, what a lousy loser you are!
Why are you talking about these now, and accusing the Defense Secretary?
You are a shameless, power-hungry, brainless idiot of a man. You would have been good as an army commander, but I will not trust you to run the country. You are as big-mouthed and loose-tongued as Ranil Wickramasinghe. No matter what you proclaim about your great military strategies, you would have achieved nothing without the Rajapakse brother’s giving the political leadership.
I don’t like the corruption done by you during your time as a army commander to support your son in law in arms dealings. I will not cast my vote for you. I will give it to president Rajapkase. You have lost whatever respect I had for you. No matter what happens to you personally, you should not be betraying the members of the team that stood together to defeat the most ruthless group of terrorists in the world.
Nadesan and Pulidevan were a part of that monstrous group, and this was not conventional warfare. They got what they dished out to the innocent civilians during the 3 decades of brutal terrorist activities.
Shame on you General, shame on you.
When You decided to sleep with dogs ! You know what will heppen Next?
I hope that you have a ‘landslide’ loss at the elections and keep your dog close enoigh to protect you.
Idiot – if you do not know what to talk keep your mouth shut!
Take a close serious look at the background of General (retd) Sarath Fonseka.
His credibility as “Mr. Clean” does not exist with, after how he used son-in-law as the “Monkey’s Paw” to collect blood money to fund his luxury lifestyle and Presidential ambitions.
If, by some chance, God Forbid, Fonseka gets elected, corruption might even beat late President Ferdinand Marcos regime, and might plump for a Military Dictatorship. And son-in-law might beat Bill Gates to top the World’s Richest in the Forbes List during one single term of Fonseka office.
His personal character has so many allegations of sordid tales of horror against his own female soldiers! Rumours of children outside wedlock? Is he a Buddhist or a polygamist Mormon?
His political advisors are a “bunch of losers” and “has beens” now trying to capitalise on the military success of combined forces under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Hopefully, Fonseka has some basic intelligence to withdraw before being kicked into a side street in utter disgraceful defeat.
Concurrently, the American judicial machinery is currently conducting investigations into the activity of son-in-law and his cohorts, which might result in American justice being applied to a prospective Green Card applicant.
And other rumours of “Regime Change”! Does Sri Lanka electorate want outside pundits to place their “Trojan Horses” to create a potential Eelam?
Who says, “Sri Lankan politics hath no excitement and Drama?”
In SF's dictionary, there is no word called "WE", So his world of vision has been centered towards himself!
He speaks as he fought against LTTE alone, with no support from other military forces, Defense Secretary, Government or the president (infact now he says that MR and his government not only gave no help, but also disturbed him!!!).
During the war and even soon after the war SF used to mention that MR extended his service just 16days before his retirement, and infact still there are enough youtube videos as evidences for that. But now SF says that there has been nothing like that and he had three more years to retire even at that time (see this weekend newspapers).
Even the most corrupted politicians do not behave like this, and what's more we could expect from a person with these qualities?
This man is trying to portray as he is the moral guardian in Sri Lanka. Recently we heard that the parcel of land he was getting from Sri Lankan government is a gift. The President earlier agreed to offer the 3 service chiefs plots of land to build a house to the extent of 10 perches at Kirimandala Mawatha allocated for a public project. SF is the greedy one who asked for 15 then 25. A perch is estimated to be 3.5 million rupees. That is over 900 million rupees of property he is getting from the government as a gift. Then he did not vacate Army Commanders residence or the quarters at HQ when he took over the office of CDS. He did not even want the guard at Army HQ changed to coincide with the new commander’s regiment. The government has treated him with due respect and regard for assisting in the terrorism war. But he seems to have had his agenda from the beginning to have raised the issues he did on his resignation letter. In his public address he is trying to say that he always do what he says. But he also said that he has no political ambitions and never enter politics saying that he only know to fight. What does he say about that? He is only a power hungry Army man, who will destroy the fabric of democracy in Sri Lanka, and if that happens UNP and JVP should be held accountable.
Mrs B, gave Sepala Attygalle the Weasel the NEVER BEFORE UNPRECEDENTED EXTENSION. So there is precedence even though Sarath Pawnseka's appointment even went further. Mrs B gave Sepala Attygalle the extension because he went behind Anuruddha Ratwatte, carried tales, acted like a bag boy for Anura Bandaranaike even carrying his bag from a aeroplane, ingratiated himself and put fears in Mrs B’s head about General Denis Perera because Denis was CATHOLIC. Mrs B did not listen to the good people in her family who advised against this unfair extension but Anura B and Anuruddha won the debate and deprived Denis. Denis was only appointed AFTER the UNP won in 1977. Sepala the weasel then carried tales for JR Too and betrayed Mrs B. He is the ONLY bastard who avoided saying the official goodbye to Mrs B as tradition has it. All 3 service commanders and the police chief bid the outgoing PM goodbye. Sepala Attygalle was the Sarath Fonseka of his time. Only one who outsmarted this weasel was Chandrika. She got him to give evidence against Ranil and then got rid of the bastard who was made Air Lanka Chairman by JR after he retired as Army commander. Denis Perera will attest to this chain of events. He was an honorable man but because of Mrs B’s fears of the catholic action coup in 1962 and her biases she prevented his rightful appt. of course no one was able to defeat Tigers until Sarath because we had drunkards, yes men, Sai Baba men, born again nutcase Christians and a host of incompetent yes men as commanders during the Eelam wars. We had jokers who along with Anuruddha launched wars with Auspicious times; jokers who wanted to force the Bible on troops; jokers who stopped serving beef etc because they became Sai Baba fans.
My sincere wish is that this hero cum traitor should die from a car accident or lightning or heart attack for giving false statement to Sunday leader newspaper regarding our most distinguished defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered the killing of pilliyan and Nadesan the most ruthless terrorists in the world during the last stage of the war after waving white flags to surrender.
Does any one in my peaceful homeland can believe such rubbish talk from a hero who became a General after the war.Thanks for the President for giving him that position and make this dirty traitor a hero. He got this hero label by doing heroics things during the dirty war as a soldier.
Our President was so greatful for his valuable service and offered him this post but this dirty harry didnt appreciate what he did to him and now standing against the President of our country to get power and wealth to his hands by hook or crook. When someone in his position utters words like that who will take the benefit?
These are dangerous words and will bring bad name to our country and to its peoples. Did he think of the Armed Forces where he fought for the last thirty five years when he utter those words in front of cameras and the electronic media of their own. Did he not think that our Government will be in question by the so called International community when they hear such rubbish from a citizen of my country who was called a hero sometimes back.
He is doing more damage to us than the LTTE done during past thirty years. He is a dirtiest traitor I have ever seen or heard in my whole life. His statements were shocked and saddened to me. I cannot believe a Sinhala person will betray like this to his own country and to his peoples at this hour of peace. Sinhalayas like him betrayed in the past siding with white masters etc but this betrayal is the worst and I condemn this dirtiest guy in a very strongest way as I am too is a pure sinhala blood.
This is the time we should forget the past and think of the future without reminding the past and talk about your own heroism. If you want the vote of the people you should talk about the issues of the day not rubbish and lies like this and bring shame to our country. You dirty harry stop immediately all this nonsence before you bring disaster to the country and to our leaders.
If you dont know any politics just go home and sleep with your wife and enjoy your retirement.Dont make us angry. Allow our nation to celebrate our famous victory and bring peace and happiness to our peoples. This is the time for progress not for killing and dividing each other. Our nation is a buddhist nation and our leaders trying to make a just society by uniting the people of all faiths,colours,and religion dont spoil it you dirty traitor.
Tell something useful rather than promising utter rubbish like raising salary by ten thousand,opening liquor bars to people to drink as much as they like,abolishing presidential rule, dividing the nation in to pieces etc. You retired army man dont think that you are General Musharaf of Pakistan. He is really a hero and a brave man and loved his country, not like you go against the country and leaders for not giving you enough after the war.
What you need more you retired traitor? You got a house, land,car,body guards,money etc what else you need and the highest position in the Armed Forces What else you need.We know you need the Presidents chair to sit and dream of your fairyland? AH! Are you out of your mind? Do you think our beloevd citizens will make you the king? What is your qualifications? Being friends to the all time traitors like Ranil,Mangalaya,Hakeem,Mano and the red clowns?
Mr.Retired man dont utter rubbish because you are a garbage now in the eyes of our citizens so best thing to do is to shut your dirty mouth and retire for good otherwise mother nature will send you to hell. Tell your dirty friends enough is enough because no one believe your stories and you guys dont have new stories to tell the voters so dont dirty our paradise isle of SRI LANKA any more retirement is the best medicine for you and to your stooges.
Your days are numbered after that you have to check the world map to find a place to live except you go to your white masters in America and live a luxury life with your crooked family. Our wish and prayers to our beloved President Mahinda Rajapaksa always to bring our homeland to the world stage to live in dignity and proud not for a traitor like you NEVER,NEVER,NEVER?
Come on ranger!
Where are you?
On tamilwin they are showing a prabakaran lookalike and saying it was his body. Any idea who it is? Cheers.
Nemesis and Sajith,
Many thank for your input. Personally I have never seen such a halo.
Wildrec,
“Dear Long Ranger, I have been an avid reader of your blog and learned so much. I haven't put a single comment in this blog until now. There is a worrysome news item in Dailymirror (7th Monday, December 2009) it says new armed group has been formed and they have links to various external links.”
Many thanks for reading my portal. With the current set up there can never be another insurgency taking place within SL shores. One of the main reasons why the LTTE insurgency rose to such heights is the simple reason that it exploited the weakness of a largely ceremonial tri-forces. Currently it is not so. However the ideology for any form of insurgency may linger for years to come. Such ideologies can only be arrested by politicians :-)
Hawkeye,
“Since this topic is on sort of Afghanistan, why do you think so many of British/Americans die just by IEDs?”
It’s the diversity.
Diversity – of devices and frequencies being used. IEDs can vary from a soft drink can to a 155mm shell to even dead corpses. Frequencies vary due to the diversity in detonation methods. These can be cell phones, timers, trip wires, car alarm receivers, modified GSM to even 2G radio transceivers.
“On tamilwin they are showing a prabakaran lookalike and saying it was his body. Any idea who it is? Cheers.”
That will be Brig Hatnagoda :-)
LRanger,
What do you think about the latest devolpments taking in place in Sri Lanka with the arrest of Ret Gen Sarath Fonseka?
I was not happy when he entered politics. But damage/division it has done the armed forces seems irreparable.
I am hoping our blogger can help me establish the friendly-fire numbers related to the last 'Eelam' war. I have searched extensively for related facts and figures but none seem available.
If a concrete number is not to be found is there a relatively good estimate the Sri Lankan MOD uses in its Military College?
There are a number of studies on this topic to be found by the Americans and the British and one assumes a competent and professional armed forces would be keenly aware of the problems and solutions.
I ask this after interviewing a disabled soldier from Kandy who says he and others in his unit were hit by a wayward artillary shell in a FF incident.
He also says that his injuries were later re-classified as being due to enemy fire even though his infantry commander assured him this was not the case.
If anyone has a link to reliable information on Sri Lankan FF issues please post them up.
Cheers,
}{MI}{
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