darryl kimball

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Two San Diego Sheriff Air Crew Members Receive Governor's Medal Of Valor Award

darryl kimball posted an article on - Sep 16, 2011, 10:54 am
Deputies Scott Bligh and Gary Kneeshaw were among 13 California Public Safety Members to be awarded the Governor's Public Safety Medal of Valor on Wednesday September 14th, 2011.  Bligh and Kneeshaw earned the recognition from Governor Brown for one of the most daring law enforcement helicopter res...
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Agusta Westland To Sell Three AW139 Twin Helicopters To Japan National Police

darryl kimball posted an article on - Sep 8, 2011, 12:35 pm
14:35 GMT, September 8, 2011 AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace are pleased to announce that the Japan National Police Agency (JNPA) has signed contracts for three AW139 medium twin helicopters. These helicopters will be used by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Nagaon...
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South Yorkshire (UK) Police Losing Police Helicopter

darryl kimball posted an article on - Sep 7, 2011, 4:09 pm
South Yorkshire's MD902 Explorer Helicopter. The South Yorkshire Police will be losing their own dedicated police helicopter after entering an agreement to become part of a larger Police Air Support Unit.  The move, set to take place in January of 2013, is being made to reduce and share cost, whil...
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Newark NJ Launches Police Aviation Unit

darryl kimball posted an article on - Aug 20, 2011, 10:45 pm
We often assume that every large city in America has a police aviation unit of some type, but that assumption is not always correct.  Who knew that Newark New Jersey has been without a Police Air Ops unit, at least for the past 5 years or so.  In all honesty I haven't had time to research whether ...
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Man Who Shot At Escondido Police Officers and ASTREA Helicopter Sentenced To 34 Years

darryl kimball posted an article on - Aug 20, 2011, 1:30 pm
A man driving a stolen car, and in possession of stolen guns, who shot at Escondido Ca. Police Officers and the San Diego Sheriff's ASTREA Helicopter was recently sentenced to 34 years in State Prison.  While no officers or deputies were injured in the pursuit and shooting, Escondido Police Officer...
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AS350 Corporate Helicopter Does Rescue "Toe In" At 12000' In Colorado

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 22, 2011, 12:25 pm
AS350 performing a Toe In at 12,300' in the Colorado Rockies, Photo Via KVAL.comA privately owned Eurocopter AS350 was called upon by a local Sheriff's Commander to assist in a rescue in the Colorado Rockies last week.  What makes this story amazing is the photo of the Astar Helicopter Pilot perfor...
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American Eurocopter Showcases Accomplishments At ALEA New Orleans

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 15, 2011, 7:33 pm
The AStar family of helicopters has become the standard in airborne law enforcement. It is a reliable, high performance platform that has been proven throughout the U.S. law enforcement community. In service with agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Los Angeles Police Department, Los An...
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Robber Convicted In 2009 Jewelry Store Heist: Sheriff's Helicopter Assisted On Call

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 13, 2011, 1:44 pm
I remember this call well.  I was the TFO on board the helicopter but I can't seem to remember who was flying on this day, perhaps Scott Sterner.  It was a sunny October morning in 2009 when we were called to assist Carlsbad Police Department with a jewelry store robbery.   Carlsbad is a coastal...
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How One Small Sheriff's Department In New Mexico Keeps It's Helicopters Flying

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 13, 2011, 1:12 pm
AZTEC, N.M. — What remains of four helicopters is stored in a hangar behind the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. Two of the helicopters no longer work and are saved for their parts. A retired U.S. Army helicopter is hardly used but........ Read more about the San Juan County Sheriff's Aviation U...
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San Diego Police Helicopters Slash Flying Time

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 13, 2011, 11:55 am
SAN DIEGO — San Diego’s police helicopters that patrol the city’s skies for missing people and criminals on the run have cut their flying hours this month after losing at least $1.5 million.....Read More about San Diego Police Helicopters. 
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Tulsa Police Helicopter Pursuit FLIR Video

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 8, 2011, 9:01 pm
Nice FLIR video of a vehicle pursuit from the Tulsa Police Helicopter.  This was recorded in March of 2011. The City of Tulsa grounded it's police helicotper a short time back due to budget cuts.  It's good to see it back in the air catching criminals.  
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One Year Ago Today

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 6, 2011, 8:52 pm
Bolitha "Rocky" Laws standing by a Marine Cobra Helicopter similar to the one he flew in the Marine Corps. 2007 on the ASTREA ramp. One year ago today we lost our co-worker, friend, mentor, former Marine Cobra Pilot, Veteran of the evacuation of Saigon, and all around good guy, Rocky Laws.  Rest ...
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17 Year Old Boy Fires Flare Gun At San Diego Sheriff's Helicopter

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 1, 2011, 11:04 am
A 17 year old El Cajon boy was being held in Juvenile Hall Thursday night after firing a flare gun at a San Diego Sheriff's Helicopter on approach to the ASTREA base at Gillespie Field.  The helicopter crew reported seeing the flare explode about 30' below the helicopter about 2:30 PM.  The incide...
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Final Report On 2009 New Mexico State Police Helicopter Crash Is Published

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jun 30, 2011, 4:14 pm
The long awaited report on the New Mexico State Police- fatal helicopter crash (June 9th, 2009) was released late last month by the NTSB.  In many ways there are no real surprises in it.  It was expected that the NTSB would find fault with the pilot's decision to take off from the remote mountain ...
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Visa Black Helicopter Commercial- Way Cool!

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jun 8, 2011, 2:03 pm
I am not sure why this commercial is only now coming to my attention; perhaps I have been under a rock for the past year or maybe it was the combination of night shift and three different writing projects.  Either way, I only recently caught my first glimpse of the Visa Black Card commercial that s...
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Seal Teams, Helicopters, And A Late Night Call

darryl kimball posted an article on - May 18, 2011, 6:22 pm
Since the death of Osama Bin Laden and the heroic rise of Seal Team 6 to well deserved superstar status, there has been a whole new interest in the U.S. Navy Seals and even super secret helicopters for that matter.  Who the hell knew we had super secret stealth helicopters anyway?  I like to think...
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THANKS!

darryl kimball posted an article on - May 5, 2011, 2:08 pm
S.T.6
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Feds Don't Take Kindly To Messing With Aircraft

darryl kimball posted an article on - Apr 29, 2011, 5:23 pm
I am not sure what the atmosphere was like prior to September 11th 2001, but I can tell you that post 9/11 the Federal Bureau of Investigation takes any incidents of assaults on aircraft seriously.  Whether that is shooting at an aircraft, or pointing a laser at an aircraft. Now to be honest...
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LAPD Helicopter Struck by Gunfire Over Van Nuys

darryl kimball posted an article on - Apr 25, 2011, 4:02 pm
Glen Grossman photo: LAPD Patrol HelicopterAn 18 year old Van Nuys resident was in custody just after 6:00 am on Easter Sunday morning after police received a call of the subject firing a gun into the air from his front lawn.  As police officers arrived on scene, along with the Los Angeles Police H...
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Police Helicopter Crews "Tweeting" From All Across The UK

darryl kimball posted an article on - Apr 21, 2011, 1:39 pm
South Yorkshire Police Helicopter: Photo- BBC NewsLaw Enforcement helicopter units have often sought ways to improve public relations, particularly when it comes to budget crunch time.  In fact many units no longer in existence wish they would have done a better job at garnering public support whil...
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Enstrom Helicopters Meeting The Helicopter Demand Worldwide

darryl kimball posted an article on - Mar 31, 2011, 12:02 pm
Enstrom helicoptershave always struck me as the ugly duckling of the helicopter world.  But I have always liked the rugged simplistic look of the Enstrom as well, and who doesn't like an ugly duckling story anyway?  It really makes you think that upon initial design the engineers said "scre...
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NTSB Updates Factual Report On Fatal CHP Air Crash

darryl kimball posted an article on - Mar 2, 2011, 6:25 pm
 CHP Officer Dan Benivides Pictured with his Cessna T206. On February 23, 2011 the NTSB updated it's Factual Report on the fatal crash of a CHP Fixed Wing Cessna aircraft that crashed on May the 7th 2010 while on patrol in the area of Borrego Springs California.   The pilot and sole...
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NTSB Releases Preliminary Report On Pima County Sheriff Helicopter Crash

darryl kimball posted an article on - Feb 14, 2011, 5:19 pm
While I know it is best to wait for the full report and all of the facts.  It is still human nature to ask what went wrong.  I am asking myself if this was a tail rotor strike....... NTSB Identification: WPR11GA115 14 CFR Public Use Accident occurred Monday, January 31, 2011 in Marana, AZ A...
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San Diego Sheriff's Copter 10 Responds To Riverside County For Hoist Rescue

darryl kimball posted an article on - Feb 7, 2011, 5:49 pm
Rocky Laws photo, San Diego Sheriff Bell 205 Huey hoist ship.On 02-05-11 at 1239 hours, San Diego Sheriff's Copter 10 received a request from Cal Fire in Riverside County for a hoist ship. The request was for mutual aid assistance in the rescue of an injured hiker in the Aguanga area of River...
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Tragedy Strikes Pima County (AZ) Sheriff's Aviation Unit

darryl kimball posted an article on - Feb 2, 2011, 11:51 pm
Pima County Sheriff's MD530F & Helio Courier aircraft. This appears to be the same helicopter involved in the fatal crash on Monday.A Pima County Arizona Sheriff's Department helicopter with four souls on board crashed Monday morning around 1130 am while scouting an area for new communication towers...
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THE SIX CRAZIEST THINGS I EVER SAW FROM THE COCKPIT OF A POLICE HELICOPTER- THAT I CAN PRINT:

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jan 28, 2011, 11:08 pm
#6. The UFO at Flight Altitude: One day about 2 years ago I was on the pilot side of the helicopter flying patrol over the City of Escondido California when I see something go by my door. Always on the lookout for other air traffic, this unknown object sent me into a hyper vigilant state until I cou...
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AvWeb Video Great Overview of Long Beach Police Helicopter Platform

darryl kimball posted an article on - Dec 17, 2010, 1:39 pm
This video is a good overview of Long Beach PD's Eurocopter; with information such as fuel burn, engine horse power, microwave technology, crime fighting equipment, costs, and funding, etc. 
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New Website Launched!

darryl kimball posted an article on - Dec 9, 2010, 10:06 pm
Being a pilot or member of an air crew necessarily means you get to take in million dollar views almost daily.  Sometimes the views are of the surf, snow covered mountains or the desert.  But other times it's of million dollar homes.   While this site will never go away, I have ...
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Sheriff's Helicopter Experiences In Flight Emergency

darryl kimball posted an article on - Nov 24, 2010, 1:06 pm
A View From Above A Guest Article by Scott Bligh It’s All Fun and Games Until… The book says you’re allowed to fly up to 152 knots in ASTREA’s MD-530F helicopter. But can you, really? Well yes you can, if you get up really high, lower the nose, point it at the gr...
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Houston Police Department's Air Support Unit Turns 40

darryl kimball posted an article on - Nov 19, 2010, 4:04 pm
As previously reported on this site Houston PD Air Support is now approximately the third largest municipal police air support unit in the nation, behind only LAPD and LASD.  Houston Police operate primarily MD500 helicopters.  Read about them turning 40 in this article from Shephard Helicopter ...
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Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: And the Helicopter that Built it.

darryl kimball posted an article on - Oct 14, 2010, 2:41 pm
I am 7000' over Palm Springs, looking almost straight down on one of the original desert playgrounds for Southern California's rich and famous. But instead of the sound or rotors whirring overhead, I hear only the sound of light chatter, and the whistle of mountain breezes blowing through the pine t...
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The Helicopter Safety Brief: Not a Time to Sugar Coat Things- Helicopters are Still Crashing!

darryl kimball posted an article on - Sep 22, 2010, 11:43 am
Both the FAA and Unit Policy requires that you give a safety brief to any passengers you place in your aircraft.  In the helicopter unit, the part of the brief I focused on most was the potential for items to depart a person's body, or depart the cockpit of the helicopter and go into the tail roto...
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On a Rotor-Wing and a Prayer; The Final Flight of Rocky Laws

darryl kimball posted an article on - Sep 7, 2010, 2:41 pm
Rocky around 2007 at ASTREA Base next to a Cobra helicopter of the type he once flew in the USMC.Much has been written and said about Deputy Rocky Laws since he unexpectedly passed from this world on July 6th 2010 leaving a gigantic void in the hearts and lives of those who knew him. But perhaps no ...
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Rescue of Rock Climbers Trapped by Fire- Tests Limits of San Diego Sheriff Helicopter Crew,

darryl kimball posted an article on - Aug 24, 2010, 12:03 am
  The phone has been ringing off the hook at ASTREA base since Sunday morning, with news reporters from around the county trying to get their hands, or their cameras, on any breathing deputy involved in the dramatic rescue of two rock climbers on Saturday afternoon.  In reali...
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Rocky Laws

darryl kimball posted an article on - Aug 16, 2010, 9:35 pm
  Interred on this day at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetary, Point Loma (San Diego) California. In a previous post I promised an article on the "Final Flight of Rocky Laws."  I can assure you I have not forgotten.  Everything in it's own time.  Rest in Pea...
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Rescues By San Diego Sheriff's ASTREA Unit Highlighted In 10 News Report

darryl kimball posted an article on - Aug 6, 2010, 1:44 pm
Unfortunately 10 News does not allow me to imbed the video here, but it is worth clicking on the below link and watching.  The report focuses primarily on Cedar Creek Falls in Eastern San Diego County, which accounts for a large portion of the rescues we do.  Also featured in the video report is S...
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Outlaw Country Music Singers, Marijuana & Helicopters

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 16, 2010, 12:21 pm
Net full of marijuana being hauled away by helicopter. Tony Webber photo.I have often said that there is nothing better than a great Country & Western song, and there is nothing worse than a bad Country & Western song.  Whether you are a big fan of county music or not, Jamey Johnson's first single ...
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Tactical Pants.com Interviews the Host of Police Helicopter Pilot.com

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 15, 2010, 9:39 pm
A while back I was contacted by a lady who writes the blog for www.tacticalpants.com  asking if I would be interested in doing a small interview.  Of course I said yes right away.  Any publicity is good publicity right?  What caught me by surprise was just how well the blog was written.  Who wo...
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Change Is In The Air At Police Helicopter Pilot.com: A Message From The Host

darryl kimball posted an article on - Jul 12, 2010, 12:06 am
This post will be a bit of a departure from the norm here at Police Helicopter Pilot.com.  July 6th 2010 will be remembered as the day that our dear friend and fellow ASTREA pilot Rocky Laws, departed this world for a place in the heavens above.  It is a day we will not soon forget.  Losi...
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Sheriff's Helicopter Crew Finds Luckiest Man Alive- Guest Article

darryl kimball posted an article on - Apr 15, 2010, 12:00 pm
This article was submitted by Deputy/Pilot S. Bligh of the San Diego Sheriff's Department.  It originally appeared in the San Diego Deputy Sheriff's Association- Silver Star magazine.    The canyon in San Diego's vast east county where this rescue took place, now referred to as "Luc...
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What's The Best Kind Of Mistake To Make In Helicopter Aviation?

darryl kimball posted an article on - Apr 9, 2010, 5:56 pm
My first solo in a Civic Helicopters Schweizer 300 I was asked by someone recently what one of my worst decisions, or worst mistakes was during flight school.  Well it certainly wasn’t a conscious decision but there was this thing with the oil dipstick one day.  It went something like this.   W...
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Massive Midnight Power Outage Proves Eerie Experience For Sheriff's Helicopter Crew.

darryl kimball posted an article on - Apr 1, 2010, 2:00 pm
Night flying whether in a civilian or law enforcement aircraft is often very enjoyable.  The air is smooth, there is generally less air traffic, many control towers are closed, and the city lights can almost appear as diamonds spilled onto a carpet of black velvet for the eyes to behold.&n...
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Police Helicopter Pilot.com Enters The Helicopter T-Shirt Field

darryl kimball posted an article on - Mar 19, 2010, 2:41 pm
Island Patrol classic design.Combining the fun and beauty of a warm tropical Island with the awe and excitement of flying helicopters, Police Helicopter Pilot.com has created it's first full custom, professional helicopter T-Shirt graphic.  Well make that two graphics.  What started of...
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About Me

Father, husband, pilot, blogger, part time fitness guru, red wine connesuer, part time author.

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