Black helicopters swoop into Bonners Ferry
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June 10, 2013 |
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| Dixon
Merrifield gets a peek into one of the
six Blackhawks that landed for refuel at
Boundary County Airport around 10 a.m.
Monday ... A great first day of summer
vacation treat! |
| Photo courtesy
of Robin Merrifield |
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By Mike Weland
A squadron of six black helicopters coming into
Boundary County this morning stirred a buzz
around town, especially from dogs and livestock
as they flew in, low and loud.
While many wondered what was going on, some
lucky folks who happened to be at the Boundary
County Airport at just the right time this
morning received a rare treat.
I asked sheriff's investigator Dave McClelland
if he knew anything, he had heard reports, but
didn't know what five military Blackhawks were
doing in this neck of the woods.
So I called the airport, and Ashley Glaza
answered.
"Ashley, I know you'll likely have to kill me if
you tell ..." I started.
"What black helicopters?" she replied,
completely deadpan.
It turned out, not only could she tell me
without breaching national security, but she got
some great pictures and will write more about it
in her next Northern Air report.
"It as actually pretty cool," she said.
Turns out, these are just the first wave of
military aircraft being delivered from an
installation near Seattle to a new home at Fort
Wainwright, Alaska, a military base near
Fairbanks, they stopped at the airport for fuel
and they aren't the full complement being
delivered.
"There should be another flight next week," she
said, "and those might be accompanied by other
military aircraft."
It may seem odd that Bonners Ferry would be a
stopping point on a route from Seattle to
Fairbanks, but it so happens, Ashley said, that
there are not that many places in the region
where such aircraft can refuel.
"As it happens," she said, "we're one of those
few places. They couldn't fly straight up
through British Columbia, but have to take a
more circuitous through Bonners Ferry, to
Calgary, then to Edmonton and Whitehorse before
the last leg into Fairbanks.
The first helicopter to land did a complete
shutdown prior to refueling, giving the pilot
time to show the curious at the airport,
including a few kids, around the aircraft. He
even had time, Ashley said, to come in for a bit
of ice cream.
The remaining aircraft, however, "hot fueled,"
taking on fuel with the rotors turning, so
people could only stand back and watch.
Be sure to stay tuned for Ashley's next article! |
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