tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939619747304945835.post3015592807230743824..comments2023-06-09T06:03:21.625-04:00Comments on Carolina Cogitation: Wierdness in the air last night....Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13583096053655162834noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939619747304945835.post-16170411890750173252009-11-08T21:37:00.145-05:002009-11-08T21:37:00.145-05:00Thanks for the response Crucis. I did remember th...Thanks for the response Crucis. I did remember the light sequence for fixed wings correctly, but didn't want to assume anything for the rotary wing. <br /><br />Also, I didn't realize the thump was from the rotor tips going supersonic, that's definitely interesting to know.<br /><br />There was no smoke or clouds in the air last night, and being out of the city and up on a mountain top, I think I'm fairly clear of the majority of pollution.<br /><br />That's why the whole thing struck me as odd. I definitely saw steady red on the nose, and an amber/orange blinker underneath. I watched it on approach for several minutes before it hooked West the first time around, and the colors changed. Then they maintained that same coloring for the rest of the maneuver, including loops that should have exposed all side of the aircraft.<br /><br />That's one of the reasons I found it odd. A red light on an aircraft isn't unusual, except when it's the only light, then it goes away and is replaced by a green light.<br /><br />The whole experience is just a bit peculiar....<br /><br />CaseyCaseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13583096053655162834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939619747304945835.post-18032172039978554862009-11-08T16:13:16.809-05:002009-11-08T16:13:16.809-05:00The "thump" comes from the rotor tips be...The "thump" comes from the rotor tips being supersonic. If the rotor speed dropped, you could hear the engine but not the rotors. Fixed wing A/C have a white light on the nose and a red light on the tail visible from the rear (think anti-collision lights. They also have a red light on the right wing, a green light on the left wing to visually indicate direction. Newer aircraft also have a strobe mounted. There is also a white landing light on the underside. Usually the landing light is on only for takeoff and landing.<br /><br />Air pollution and.or smoke can make these colors, mostly often the red, change color.Crucishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15441911110953212619noreply@blogger.com