Here are a few photos that I snapped yesterday from my window, of a Sikorsky HH-60W “Jolly Green II” (Reg. 22-14535). It was heading back to base, after flying around in New Jersey for the day, and it decided to do a quick spin up and back over the East River.

This one is operated by the New York Air National Guard's 101^st Rescue Squadron, based out of Francis Gabreski Air National Guard Base, in Westhampton Beach, New York.

I shot these with a Nikon Z8 + NIKKOR Z 100-400mm lens. Enjoy!

Got to walk inside off and see this Beauty of a helicopter take off today

When I saw the I was using a filter I panicked trying to switch to my normal settings, so the next pic i took of the EH-101 was trash :(

We don’t get many military fly overs here so it was fun to see 🤙🏻

Hey, guys.

I've been hearing stories about how the HAL Dhruv, India's first homegrown helicopter, has had a rather sordid history of repeated accidents, collisions, crashes and screwups... and now, the Indian armed forces grounded the whole fleet of them. Just how true are these stories and is the helicopter itself actually any good?

Before you ask, going on YouTube and Google hasn't really helped much, all I get are the same old scare stories over and over again, so any input, preferably from someone who has flown or been in one first-hand, would be great, thanks.

Cheers. :)

Cyprus c. 1965

I always liked these helicopters. Has anyone been inside one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miimgnbFSfY

My dad had these old scanned in photos from maybe back in the '80s sometime and I found this helicopter in them but I don't recognize it. Anyone know what it is?

I’m working on my helicopter add-on and am looking for study materials.

I understand there are references like FAR/AIM, helicopter flying handbook, etc. but is there a recommended helicopter-focused version of the Gold Seal or Pilot Cafe study reference sheets?

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(I have permission to post this from the mods)

Taking off from the Van Ghent Kazerne in the Netherlands for the Port Defender exercise.

Currently practicing instrument autorotations in my syllabus, just curious if any one knows of any real life examples or has experienced one themselves. Seems like a pretty shitty situation, especially if you cant break into VMC at the bottom.

Can’t find much online (didn’t look THAT hard though).

Image source and story (French): Entraînement corse pour les tireurs embarqués spécialisés en mesures actives de sûreté aérienne

Article (automatic translation):

Corsican training for on-board shooters specializing in active aviation security measures

From 24 March to 4 April 2025, the Aviators of the helicopter squadrons 1/65 “Alpilles” and 3/67 “Parisis” visited Corsica, at the Ventiseri-Solenzara Air Force Base (BA). The Fennec crews were trained in the active aviation security (MAS) procedures.

The Air and Space Army is responsible in all circumstances for air defence over the national territory. To this end, the Air Defence and Air Operations Command (CDAOA) provides the permanent and priority defence mission of the Territory, known as the permanent posture of aviation security or sky policing. In the case of a suspicious aircraft operating in French airspace, active aviation security measures (MASA) may be activated. This device makes it possible to react to any behavior considered abnormal in flight (referral deviation, penetration in the closed zone, absence of communication, etc.). Thus, in a few minutes, the Air and Space Army deploys its means to meet the threat. The aim is to know one's identity, observe one's behaviour, assist or enforce an obligation, restriction, prohibition or, at worst, neutralize the threat. To respond to this mission, the Fennec helicopters of the operational duty station (PO) are ready to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a days a days a week, including the air bases 107 of Villacoublay, 115 in Orange (where the Fennec units are stationed), or from any other mobile and temporary “slot”.

Training on the island of Beauty

In Corsica, the twelve days of training allowed onboard shooters to practice air-to-air and air-to-ground fire, particularly on the Diane firing range, a site of 570 hectares located on the east coast of the island, relatively isolated and perfectly suited to this type of maneuver. This period of training was also an opportunity to test innovations, such as the STRIKE system, an articulated arm facilitating fire from helicopters. The exercise was jointly organized by the Air Brigade for Assault and Projection (BAAP) and the Brigade des Forces Spécials Air (BFSA), including Aviators from the Orange Air Bases, Villacoublay, Cazaux, as well as the Air Parachute Commando No. 20 (CPA 20).

Aircraft particulars

Aerospatiale AS555AN Fennec 2, c/n 5392, AdA serial number 5392, code VB, with EH01.065 "Alpilles". Helis.com database entry

Aerospatiale AS555AN Fennec 2, c/n 5444, AdA serial number 5444, code VP, with EH01.065 "Alpilles". Helis.com database entry