# Sparks on helicopter rotor blades! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 6, 2009, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sparks-on-helicopter-rotor-blades/516537 "2009-11-06T07:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sparks-on-helicopter-rotor-blades/516537/1 "2009-11-06T07:15:54Z")
Cool pictures of triboelectrically-produced sparks on helicopters. Start on the 4th picture. [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-kopp-etchells-effect.htm](http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-kopp-etchells-effect.htm) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sparks-on-helicopter-rotor-blades/516537/2 "2009-11-06T21:10:37Z")
Wow, great photos, and an interesting story too. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sparks-on-helicopter-rotor-blades/516537/3 "2009-11-06T21:42:16Z")
Night vision video of similar effect [here.](http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/Night_visioin_HH-60H_ldg_Kuwait.mpg) ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sparks-on-helicopter-rotor-blades/516537/4 "2009-11-06T21:46:48Z")
In case those photos don’t make it clear, and should the occasion ever arise, never touch a hovering helicopter or anything attached to it like a rescue sling or cargo hook until it has touched ground. The static generated by those blades deserves a healthy dose of respect. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sparks-on-helicopter-rotor-blades/516537/5 "2009-11-06T23:25:24Z")
I saw that once in the desert of SW Texas and thought it was pretty awesome. I then went to Panama and as a Blackhawk was coming in at night, I told my buddy to keep an eye on the rotors. The static didn’t show up in the damp jungle, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sparks-on-helicopter-rotor-blades/516537/6 "2009-11-07T03:45:38Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > In case those photos don’t make it clear, and should the occasion ever arise, never touch a hovering helicopter or anything attached to it like a rescue sling or cargo hook until it has touched ground. The static generated by those blades deserves a healthy dose of respect. They used that in _The Hunt For Red October_. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sparks-on-helicopter-rotor-blades/516537/7 "2009-11-07T05:17:02Z")
**Joe Frickin Friday** , thanks for the video! I tried looking but I couldn’t find any.