Helicopter - plane circling above

[Nolena]

That was clarified above.

[KW]

And so it begins.... I had seen the post BEFORE it was edited, and someone asked what was up with the helicopter circling and I said someone named Bridget might have been arrested. Bridget, whoever you are, I'm sorry!!

[Wrightwood]

The original post was a direct copy and paste from Facebook.

[RennMan]

A couple of Firefighting helicopters heading west earlier this morning.  A smaller one, similar to the 40King units from SBDCo sheriff, and a larger Sky Crane just now.  I think they are relocating to Fox Field in Lancaster, but it was interesting watching them fly overhead.

[Wrightwood]

[SkierBob]

A couple of Firefighting helicopters heading west earlier this morning.  A smaller one, similar to the 40King units from SBDCo sheriff, and a larger Sky Crane just now.  I think they are relocating to Fox Field in Lancaster, but it was interesting watching them fly overhead.

It didn't go to Fox.  We were golfing at Rancho Sierra 'G & 60th East'. It flew right over us and headed in the direction of Bakersfield. 

[Wrightwood]

[AvocadoFlyer]

Any idea why the sheriff helo was overhead around upper LPC? 

[Wrightwood]

Don't know why this helicopter was circling this afternoon - first near the top of Lone Pine Canyon then the West end of town.

[Jim Wilkins]

Looking for Clowns........

[RennMan]

New paint/livery scheme for the Sheriff department.  It used to be red stripes...

[Jim Wilkins]

This is only a WAG but since it is expensive to repaint those birds, I am guessing that maybe the fact that CALFIRE helicopters now have the same paint scheme as the SBSD aviation assets.  Perhaps, it was something totally different like when a new ship comes on line, it will be painted in the new scheme.  I'll ask around Monday.  He orbited my place and I thought it might be an LASD ship.

[Cheapskate]

WAG = wild ass guess, I guess.  SBCS logo looks pretty clear in the photo.  How do you get Cal Fire?

[Jim Wilkins]

"This is only a WAG but since it is expensive to repaint those birds, I am guessing that maybe the fact that CALFIRE helicopters now have the same paint scheme as the SBSD aviation assets.  Perhaps, it was something totally different like when a new ship comes on line, it will be painted in the new scheme.  I'll ask around Monday.  He orbited my place and I thought it might be an LASD ship."

I don't get Calfire.  I knew whose bird it was when he made a pass directly over me.

Cal Fire ships have a red and white color scheme.  The County had a similar theme.  There was a dispute over a contract or providing a service.  A ship that was primarily used here in this county would be leased to the state in fire season and they would use it to fight fire and do rescues.  That helo was owned by both CalFire (airframe and other parts) and the county(Engine and other parts) When CALFIRE stripped the parts that the county owned and left them on the hanger floor .Calfire took their parts and made a new ship that flies out of Prado and is piloted by Desiree Horton.  We did the same.

As I speculated the new color scheme using Green could be in response that Calfire ships are colored in Red and White    or it could be simply that new ships put in service are coming from the factory that way.  They all fly just fine no matter what they are painted like.  Looks very nice in either case

[RennMan]

Link to CalFire air assets:

http://calfire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_air_program

Link to picture of SBDCo Helicopter:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardino_County_Sheriff%27s_Department
(scroll to the bottom of the entry)

We can easily see that the paint scheme between CalFire and SBDCo Sheriff is very similar.  Wrightwood's image is of N632SB, the Wikipedia image is of N631SB, a sister ship.  I'm betting that any new asset will be painted in the new scheme.

Hope this helps.  Peace.

[RobertW]

It could be the new color scheme, from the factory is cheaper.  Our USFS trucks no longer come in that custom Forest Service green but are now standard factory white and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are getting rid of their custom dark green color and going to the standard factory black.  It save money not ordering a customized paint job and the resale of the vehicles will bring in more money.

[EQC]

Does anybody know what is going on today above Wrightwood. As I got home from work around 5:35, noticed the circling helicopter with spotlight, and saw some siren lights on the 2. Over an hour later, still hear the helicopter.

Hunt for missing/lost person? Something else?  Anything the community can help with, or more of a "stay out of the way" situation?

[Wrightwood]

LA County and Calfire have helicopters in the Wrightwood area today doing training exercises.

[Jim Wilkins]

Does anybody know what is going on today above Wrightwood. As I got home from work around 5:35, noticed the circling helicopter with spotlight, and saw some siren lights on the 2. Over an hour later, still hear the helicopter.

Hunt for missing/lost person? Something else?  Anything the community can help with, or more of a "stay out of the way" situation?

Pretty much always a good bet on these deals to stay out of the way.  As Wrightwood said, agencies frequently use our area for helicopter training for rescues or insertions.  Law enforcement uses them as an eye in the sky backup for the their ground units.  90% of EMS helos use Stater's lot or old Caltrans yard in LA County for landings.