We (meaning Minneapolis and St Paul) have been the host of a squadron of Blackhawk helicopters doing urban maneuvers over the past several days. There are some videos on Youtube if you just search Minneapolis Blackhawk.

There were the usual TV news teases about Homeland Security and the secrecy of this training mission ("or was it really JUST a training mission?"), the usual conspiracies and even complaints from people not being told in advance about where and when these training exercises were going to happen. Well, they may have a point, of course. The city governments did come clean and state the nature of the operation over the next several days and the intention to avoid bothering neighborhoods as much as possible. Oh, and by the way, the local police were working in conjunction with this para-military exercise. Some people thought it was too militaristic, especially given what is going on down in Ferguson. Others just don't like the racket. Others thought there should be total transparency, whereas H.S. thought the best strategy was to not say anything at all.

But, as you can see from videos, they flew through downtown like it was Blue Thunder, practicing maneuvers. I live near the Mpls/St Paul airport, where the military reserves have their airport as well. That is where the choppers were staying during this exercise.

While I was reading tonight (about 30 mins ago), I heard this loud rumbling from the front of my house. I rushed out to see the Blackhawks on their way from the airport, flying in formation roughly down Minnehaha Ave just a street away, towards town. Unfortunately, my neighborhood is fairly littered with tall, leafy trees that provide shade in the day time and absolutely abysmal viewing for things in the sky during the day and night. However, they were not flying in stealth mode, so I could easily hear their movements ans they eventually ambled eastward, over the Mississippi. I can still hear them as I type this note, so they are not far away. Maybe I'll get to see them returning. I'm sure they are not armed (well, I think so), but they were toting one or two front-mounted guns, probably a minigun. But I'm no chopper geek, so I'm not sure what type of gun(s) they were. But they were certainly obvious!

Anyway, they was exciting to watch, but made me think how much scarier it could have been in other circumstances, such as if this were Iraq or Afghanistan. I can see how that would really get under your skin after awhile, along with what they would be carrying!

Our political forums seem to have been taken up by Hamas vs Israel, and British parliamentary politics, so I've got to try to give life to something else . . .

In recent years I've seen these big-ass helicopters flying very occasionally here in NYC. I think the only time is when they are shuttling the POTUS from the airport to one of the heliports downtown. They are really impressive and loud! I was walking across the Brooklyn Bridge a few years ago when they were flying in low to land not far from the bridge. It is truly an impressive piece of machinery, especially when seen from the Brooklyn Bridge in front of the downtown Manhattan skyline. Wish I had my camera.

On the intimidation factor, I have no doubt it's huge. But I would also think that when bad guys actually destroy one of those things, they probably feel pretty invincible.

2 threads is hardly a takeover!

Having seen them actually attack targets is pretty cool as well. Quite impressive!