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  • Maria Langermlanger@mastodon.world
    Aug 5, 2026, 3:40 PM

    The smoke is so bad that a #firefighting #helicopter just flew past the side of my house, maybe 1000 yards away. I remember flying my helicopter from Wenatchee Heights about 6 miles down to the airport in bad smoke back in 2012. The airport AWOS claimed visibility 10 miles, but it was barely a quarter mile where I was. I took off and flu low level, staying within sight of the ground. (1/2)

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  • Maria Langermlanger@mastodon.world
    Aug 5, 2026, 3:40 PM

    I navigatied to a canyon that I followed down, maintaining sight of the canyon wall until I could see the ground at the bottom. Then I headed inbound toward the airport, breaking through a wall of smoke into perfectly clear air.

    It's flights like this that a pilot remembers for their entire life.

    I would never have attempted anything like this in an airplane. But in a helicopter, things are different. Slowing down and stopping in midair are all possibilities. #AvGeek #flying (2/2)

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