# Can you shoot down a helicopter with a hand gun? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-shoot-down-a-helicopter-with-a-hand-gun/194858 "2003-08-13T07:46:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Race\_Bannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Race\_Bannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Bannon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-shoot-down-a-helicopter-with-a-hand-gun/194858/41 "2003-08-14T23:08:54Z")
C’mon folks, the SDMB is supposed to fight ignorance. I’m seeing a bunch of half baked ideas here. Maybe this belongs in Cafe Society. I do know a few things about how helicopters are built to survive small arms hits. Large diameter driveshafts, self sealing oil & fuel cells, blade spars with multiple load paths, etc. As for how to bring one down - I think I’ll keep that to myself. I have friends that go work in these things. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-shoot-down-a-helicopter-with-a-hand-gun/194858/42 "2003-08-14T23:33:48Z")
I found what I was remembering last night [here](http://prop1.org/park/pave/rev9.htm). I’m not sure if it counts. > [@](#): > > Robert K. Preston (February 1974). On February 17, 1974, Robert Preston, a private in the Army, stole an Army helicopter from Fort Meade, Maryland, and flew It to the White House Complex. He passed over the Executive Mansion and then returned to the south grounds, where he hovered for about 6 minutes and touched down briefly approximately 150 feet from the West Wing. Members of the EPS did not know who was piloting the aircraft and were not aware that it had been stolen from Fort Meade. They made no attempt to shoot down the helicopter. > Preston left the area of the White House and flew the helicopter back toward Fort Meade. He was chased by two Maryland State Police helicopters, one of which he forced down through his erratic maneuvers. Preston then returned to the White House Complex. As he lowered himself to bout 30 feet above the south grounds, EPS officers barraged the helicopter with shotgun and submachine gunfire. Preston immediately set the riddled aircraft down. He was injured slightly. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-shoot-down-a-helicopter-with-a-hand-gun/194858/43 "2003-08-15T07:09:25Z")
If you _insist_ on doing it with a pistol, I’d suggest one of [_these_](http://www.birdman.org/products/Nuke50.htm) suckers… Sure, a twenty one pound, single-shot, pistol chambered for a .50 **rifle** round might be a _little_ hard to use… Then again…anyone remember the Joker’s pistol from Burton’s first “Batman” movie? 😃 …but of course, the real question is: Is the chopper _shooting back?_ ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-shoot-down-a-helicopter-with-a-hand-gun/194858/44 "2003-08-15T07:36:55Z")
Amen **Race Bannon**. Oh and Ringo, good to see the cite, since I thought you were simply barking mad;) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-shoot-down-a-helicopter-with-a-hand-gun/194858.md?page=2)