Owl Casually Flies Into Helicopter That’s In Flight Over Californian Wildfires
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Even though at times it may not seem like it, our crazy little world can be truly magical. A Disney movie kind of magical. And we’re pretty sure that a helicopter pilot named Dan Alpiner would totally agree with us on this one.
A few days ago, Dan was flying his aircraft and fighting the massive Creek Fire in the state of California when suddenly, he was visited by an unexpected guest.
The pilot was hovering about 200 feet above the ground when this majestic creature landed on the seat next to him
Image credits: Sky Aviation
The pilot was hovering about 200 feet above the ground, getting ready to unleash a bucket of water, when a majestic owl entered his aircraft and casually landed on the seat next to him.
“I saw this flutter out of the corner of my eye. I looked over, a little spooked, and we locked eyes. He just kind of chilled out,” the pilot told The Dodo.
The owl stayed there for two refillings and drops and then flew out the window
Image credits: Sky Aviation
Image credits: Ganslmeier
Dan told The Dodo that the owl rested there for two refillings and drops and then flew out the window not far from the spot the helicopter had been when he entered. “I’m still trying to comprehend it. It was just unreal,” Alpiner told The Dodo. “It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime kind of things.”
“I’m still trying to comprehend it. It was just unreal”
Image credits: Sky Aviation
Sky Aviation page on Facebook posted the photo capturing the majestic owl and wrote this: “It’s unheard of to have it enter while the helo is in flight. It’s an unexplainable and magical miracle for it to stay with you for several water drops, then leave just as it arrived—safe and unannounced.”
Image credits: Sky Aviation
The Creek Fire is a large active wildfire which started at the beginning of September near Shaver Lake, California. The fire has already burned 352,339 acres of land and is about 61% contained. Apparently, the Creek Fire is currently the fifth-largest wildfire and the largest single fire in modern California history.
Image credits: Sky Aviation
Here’s what people on the internet are saying about this incredible encounter
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So was it a Chinook or UH-1?
There are two photos of the yellow UH-1 in the original news story https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/one-in-a-million-shot-owl-lands-inside-helicopter-battling-creek-fire/
One minor correction: The twin-blade helo is some version of an H-46 Seaknight. The Chinook has engines mounted in external pods while the Seaknight's engines are embedded in the rear rotor... "area," I guess you'd call it. Maybe a pylon? Nah, not sure what it's called.
How was the little guy not fazed by the strong breeze of the heli?
How on earth did the little guy get through the rotor wash?
So was it a Chinook or UH-1?
There are two photos of the yellow UH-1 in the original news story https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/one-in-a-million-shot-owl-lands-inside-helicopter-battling-creek-fire/
One minor correction: The twin-blade helo is some version of an H-46 Seaknight. The Chinook has engines mounted in external pods while the Seaknight's engines are embedded in the rear rotor... "area," I guess you'd call it. Maybe a pylon? Nah, not sure what it's called.
How was the little guy not fazed by the strong breeze of the heli?
How on earth did the little guy get through the rotor wash?