Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Helicopters

  • 18-07-2008 03:02PM
    #1
    dsmythy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,591 ✭✭✭✭


    A French man came up with the word for helicopter based on the Greek "helicos" meaning helix and "pteron" meaning wing. He arrived at the French name Helicoptere. The last 'e' was removed from the English version of the word.

    My question is what are peoples' obsession with helicopters? In these forums and many others, especially more local based forums, whenever a helicopter flies somewhere low or hangs around for more than a few seconds people are in wondering "Anybody else see the helicopter?" or "What was the helicopter doing last night?". If it's the garda helicopter even better!

    I don't get it. Who cares?


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Krsnik87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 292 ✭✭Krsnik87


    o_0


  • #3
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,060 ✭✭✭✭biko


    I don't.
    The curiosity of people astounds me sometimes.


  • #4
    source
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,375 ✭✭✭source


    People tend to be nosey buggers who like to know things they either shouldn't know nor need to know.


  • #5
    javaboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,094 ✭✭✭✭javaboy


    Did anyone see that helicopter that crashed to the ground last night in Dublin. I took a picture:

    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2390/2216697893_c278987b06.jpg?v=0


  • #6
    Steve_o
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,432 ✭✭✭Steve_o


    They always seems to be watching something or someone, maybe you... or me?? :eek:... there's something dodgy about them.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    FunkZ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,179 ✭✭✭FunkZ


    Errr. I couldn't give a ripped off monkeys arse tbh.

    I remember drinking when I was 16 in the park in Swords and a 'copter flew over and we all really thought they were looking for us!


  • #8
    myself69
    Closed Accounts Posts: 40 ✭myself69


    http://youtube.com/watch?v=zA1hyqA6UTY


  • #9
    dsmythy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,591 ✭✭✭✭dsmythy


    Helicopter threads on boards.ie.

    Nowhere's immune...

    Balbriggan
    Cork City
    Rush
    Sligo Bay
    Raheny
    Dublin City
    Southside Dublin
    After Hours
    Cork City again
    Dublin Bay
    Northside Dublin
    Waterford

    No more nosy helicopter threads please. Unless you're in dire need of one or have an interest in them in general.


  • #10
    Sherifu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,727 ✭✭✭✭Sherifu


    I saw three army helicopters at lunch on Wednesday, I was looking up. And i'd do it again.


  • #11
    ejmaztec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,369 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    It's to do with the natives and "Look - silver bird in sky." (points with alarm):eek:


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,060 ✭✭✭✭biko


    dsmythy wrote: »
    Southside Dublin
    Snapshot from chopper here


  • #13
    javaboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,094 ✭✭✭✭javaboy


    biko wrote: »
    Snapshot from chopper here

    Well the ones on the bottom right and top left certainly have enough orange fake tan on to be from South Dublin but the spears and lack of blonde highlights make me sceptical.


  • #14
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,060 ✭✭✭✭biko


    A tribe member identified here
    Maybe not SoDub after all?


  • #15
    BaconZombie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,814 ✭✭✭BaconZombie


    I know somebody who is terrified of Helicopters, she screams and hides whenever one flies over. It quite funny to watch.... One weird phobia.


  • #16
    dsmythy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,591 ✭✭✭✭dsmythy


    BOFH_139 wrote: »
    I know somebody who is terrified of Helicopters, she screams and hides whenever one flies over. It quite funny to watch.... One weird phobia.

    Memories of 'nam live on for some.


  • #17
    Mimikyu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,050 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • #18
    javaboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,094 ✭✭✭✭javaboy


    Solitaryman666 wrote: »
    This post has been deleted.

    People go out to the old airport road and watch airplanes take off. The guy in the house behind mine stands in his garden with a pair of binoculars everytime one goes overhead and he usually looks bewildered.

    Besides helicopters are way more interesting than planes. They can hover and go backwards and they make a cool chiva-chiva-chiva sound whereas planes make a more boring nyaommmmmmm sound.


  • #19
    dave.omeara
    Closed Accounts Posts: 139 ✭✭dave.omeara


    Maybe it's to do with when we were all younger and things in the sky were amazing and magical (or whatever) and we all stood there wondering how it stayed up there.
    Now, thanks to the wonder that is the Discovery Channel and physics in school, we all know how they work (don't ask me though as I failed physics), but there is still the youthful amazement in peoples subconscious that this thing is able to stay in the sky.

    Heres something to do though when your bored someday and want to see how nosy people are. Stand in your workplace or on the street and look up at a building/wall/ something and see how many people either stop and ask you what you're looking at or see how many people start looking at the same thing as you.

    Experiment time. Yippee.


  • #20
    FruitLover
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,534 ✭✭✭FruitLover


    It's pretty simple: helicopters are cool.
    dave.omeara wrote: »
    Heres something to do though when your bored someday and want to see how nosy people are. Stand in your workplace or on the street and look up at a building/wall/ something and see how many people either stop and ask you what you're looking at or see how many people start looking at the same thing as you.

    Then, when a big enough crowd has gathered, open up a stall selling binoculars...


  • #21
    dave.omeara
    Closed Accounts Posts: 139 ✭✭dave.omeara


    Because what you're looking for is a super secret helicopter that can only been seen through these special binoculars.


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    Mimikyu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,050 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • #23
    javaboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,094 ✭✭✭✭javaboy


    dave.omeara wrote: »
    Heres something to do though when your bored someday and want to see how nosy people are. Stand in your workplace or on the street and look up at a building/wall/ something and see how many people either stop and ask you what you're looking at or see how many people start looking at the same thing as you.

    Experiment time. Yippee.

    Make sure you've nothing valuable in your pockets if you try this in a city street. You've got to pick a pocket or two.


  • #24
    Lobster
    Closed Accounts Posts: 302 ✭✭Lobster


    Usually something wrong if you see the coast guard helicopter hovering. Last time I seen one I checked my phone and find out I should have been on a lost diver search, so its not a bad thing to be nosy.


  • #25
    taidghbaby
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭taidghbaby


    i personally blame airwolf for this helicopter obsession!!


  • #26
    Terry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,073 ✭✭✭✭Terry


    biko wrote: »
    A tribe member identified here
    Maybe not SoDub after all?
    Guidos are funny.


  • #27
    dave.omeara
    Closed Accounts Posts: 139 ✭✭dave.omeara


    taidghbaby wrote: »
    i personally blame airwolf for this helicopter obsession!!

    Does anyone else hear the theme music when a helicopter goes over head?


  • #28
    electric69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 794 ✭✭✭electric69


    Solitaryman666 wrote: »
    This post has been deleted.

    LIES! Planks are stupid and boring

    The reason you all love helicopters is cus the pilots are just so cool.like me:p

    If you've never been in a helicopter i would definately recommend taking a trip in one. You will love it.Probably get the flying bug too and want to start flying yourself! There is much more skill involved in flying a helicopter than a fixed wing and they are much more fun to fly in too!


  • #29
    Steyr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,266 ✭✭✭Steyr


    javaboy wrote: »
    People go out to the old airport road and watch airplanes take off. The guy in the house behind mine stands in his garden with a pair of binoculars everytime one goes overhead and he usually looks bewildered.

    Besides helicopters are way more interesting than planes. They can hover and go backwards and they make a cool chiva-chiva-chiva sound whereas planes make a more boring nyaommmmmmm sound.

    You mean Spotters, nothing different to people who go watch car rallying or whatever. Me i like both Rotary ( Helicopters ) and Fixed Wing ( thats Planes to you ), the fascination with both fixed wing and rotary is the fact they are versatile machines and can do amazing things.

    I dont look up if i can hear a Robinson R22 or R44 as they are common as muck in Galway but if its something else il always look up, they are amazing, especially the Sikorsky S61N's of the Irish Coast Guard Fleet they go out in all sorts to save peoples lives.


  • #30
    javaboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,094 ✭✭✭✭javaboy


    Steyr wrote: »
    You mean Spotters, nothing different to people who go watch car rallying or whatever. Me i like both Rotary ( Helicopters ) and Fixed Wing ( thats Planes to you ), the fascination with both fixed wing and rotary is the fact they are versatile machines and can do amazing things.

    I dont look up if i can hear a Robinson R22 or R44 as they are common as muck in Galway but if its something else il always look up, they are amazing, especially the Sikorsky S61N's of the Irish Coast Guard Fleet they go out in all sorts to save peoples lives.

    Yeah spotters and don't worry I know what fixed wing means thanks.

    I wasn't trying to put down spotters like at the airport btw I was just pointing out that there are people fascinated by planes as well as helicopters.

    My neighbour though shouldn't be confused with your regular spotter. He also spots the girls from the local school as they walk by. He actually has built up a platform to stand on so he can watch them over his back wall as they go by.


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    Phlann
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 827 ✭✭✭Phlann


    I don't know why but that first post made me laugh.

    Best helicopter vid ever:

    http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyisg9-Mwjw


    Look at the rotors. Cool.


Advertisement
Advertisement