Some of us got to take a ride with the LAPD last week. The morning weather wasn't the greatest, but it got better as the day wore on. Our chariot was a Eurocopter AS350 A-Star that picked us up on the ramp at Atlantic Aviation and ferried us to the LAPD downtown heliport.
 |
| Our ride awaits |
 |
| They have a nice moving map display with a little helicopter icon to mark their location. That said, what's wrong with this picture? |
 |
| I have no idea why this American is parked on the cargo ramp |
 |
| The southeast corner of LAX: A2 and ICC |
 |
| Terminals 6 & 7 |
 |
| Delta and United maintenance ramps |
 |
| Mid-field crossing ~ 1000'. These are the 25s, looking to the east |
 |
| Wonderful airborne visibility: The ATIS was reporting 4 miles |
 |
| See if you can find the airplane in this shot! |
 |
| Destination: LAPD's downtown heliport |
 |
| Instrument
panel of an LAPD helicopter on display. The moving map display on the
left has been switched to show the camera in the hose. There's a guy
standing right in front of the helicopter - nice knees! |
 |
| LA County Fire Department |
 |
| LA County Sheriff Department |
 |
| This is a brand new Robinson R66, flown by the Fontana PD. Robinson helicopters are built in a factory in Torrance, California; less than ten miles south of LAX. Fontana is about fifty miles east of LAX |
 |
| MD 500E flown by Pomona PD. Pomona is about thirty miles east of LAX |
 |
| This is one of four US Coast Guard helicopters based out of LAX; I worked it out on a rescue mission later that same day |
 |
| Time to go! |
 |
| This shot was taken an hour or so after the earlier shot of the train station. Notice the much-improved visibility |
 |
| The visibility may be better, but where's the airport? |
 |
| Follow that plane! |
 |
| There's an airport around here somewhere . . . |
 |
| Not THAT airport! |
 |
| Another view of the southeast corner of the airfield. In the foreground is the 105-405 interchange |
 |
| That's the same Southwest that appeared in the air-to-air shot above; you can't outrun the LAPD! |
 |
| Parting shot. Thanks guys! |
 |
| We landed on the Atlantic Aviation ramp next to a Delta Airbus that was awaiting its outbound charter passengers |
 |
| The early-morning visibility was yucky, but the payoff came that evening: Gratuitous sunset photo! |
