# Why did an Apache helicopter just circle my house? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 14, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505 "2007-08-14T00:42:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/41 "2007-08-14T21:53:20Z")
There was an APB out for someone by the name of Quick Draw McGraw… Tread lightly, **El Kabong.** ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/42 "2007-08-14T22:12:02Z")
[QUOTE=HumanMonkeyGod] Let’s say this were to happen repeatedly, who could you ask more seriously in order to find out what’s going on? Would there be any chance of getting them to stop? [/QUOTE] Sure there is! Just look at [this guy’s method of redress.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA1hyqA6UTY) This is America, land of the free, where you have a right to eloquently state your opinions, and debate them cognizantly. Tripler God Bless America. ---
**Author:** ![Typo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Typo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/43 "2007-08-14T22:30:52Z")
I live relatively near an Air Force base in ND (which, IIRC from many years ago, Tripler has some acquaintance with). I love seeing the guys bring their toys around (for practice, I presume), even when the low-flying helicopters send the dogs into a frenzy. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/44 "2007-08-15T00:59:14Z")
Wouldn’t it have been hilarious if the pilot would have dropped a string of lit firecrackers on the ground just to fuck with you? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/45 "2007-08-15T02:18:26Z")
Every job has a first day. “What does this red button do?” ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/46 "2007-08-15T02:31:26Z")
My guess is they are serious about enforcing the watering ban. Either that, or the “do not put your trash on the curb before 7:30 PM” rule. I was once followed by a police helicopter as I walked across campus at Kent State in the late 70’s. Didn’t help that there were also snipers on the rooftops. This was during the trials, and there was an “increased security presence” during a tense time. You may ask, “what was kittenblue doing that was so suspicious?” Well, it was a Saturday morning, and I was up early, on my way to the Music Department for marching band practice. I noticed that I seemed to be the only person up and about so early, and then the 'copter started hovering above me, and followed me all the way to the parking lot of the Music building. I think being the only person out walking that early freaked them out…either that, or they were protecting me from the protestors camping out on the hillside across from my dorm. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/47 "2007-08-15T02:53:07Z")
[QUOTE=kittenblue] You may ask, “what was kittenblue doing that was so suspicious?” Well, it was a Saturday morning, and I was up early, on my way to the Music Department for marching band practice. I noticed that I seemed to be the only person up and about so early, and then the 'copter started hovering above me, and followed me all the way to the parking lot of the Music building. I think being the only person out walking that early freaked them out…either that, or they were protecting me from the protestors camping out on the hillside across from my dorm. [/QUOTE] Was it your trombone case maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/48 "2007-08-15T07:08:47Z")
[QUOTE=RandMcnally] I got the chance to fly with them a few months back. [/QUOTE] You, sir are a jammy git! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/49 "2007-08-15T07:55:10Z")
Maybe someone stole a tank and was sighted near your house. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/50 "2007-08-15T11:35:17Z")
30 Minutes or Less Air-to-Table-Via-Your-Roof Pizza Delivery. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/51 "2007-08-15T13:05:49Z")
I looked out and saw the stealth bomber plane fly over my house. They have to get from point A to point B somehow. I think my sighting may have been going to the military airstrip at O’Hare, but who knows?? ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/52 "2007-08-15T14:26:37Z")
Kal, I thought that was closed (the military airstrip at O’Hare) but I could be wrong. But the stealth fighter was probably there for the air and water show this weekend downtown. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/53 "2007-08-15T14:36:24Z")
Don’t worry bout the chopper. I was just checking to see how seriously they take anonymous tips. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/54 "2007-08-16T00:47:05Z")
Thanks to all for the suggestions and for stoking my paranaoia. [QUOTE=Tripler] Sure there is! Just look at [this guy’s method of redress.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA1hyqA6UTY) This is America, land of the free, where you have a right to eloquently state your opinions, and debate them cognizantly. Tripler God Bless America. [/QUOTE] Although my head finds that **DocCathode’s** theory (that the chopper was doing an impromptu flyby for some kids) is indeed the most likely explanation, my heart’s gotta go with **Tripler**. After all, to the paranoid, nothing says ‘you have important, deep knowledge of what’s reeeaaalllly going on’ like a bit of helicopter surveillance. After all, if I wasn’t so important, they’d just put a couple of schlubs in a car down the street to watch me, wouldn’t they? So, in conclusion, wherever you are, Mr. Helicopter Pilot, come out of your hole, because you’re nothing but a chameleon, lemonheaded, cowardly, terrorist PUSSY!!! ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/55 "2007-08-16T00:47:34Z")
Delivering a pizza. [Seriously.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4245723.stm) ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/56 "2007-08-16T01:05:09Z")
[QUOTE=El\_Kabong] So, in conclusion, wherever you are, Mr. Helicopter Pilot, come out of your hole, because you’re nothing but a chameleon, lemonheaded, cowardly, terrorist PUSSY!!! [/QUOTE] I love that guy! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/57 "2007-08-16T03:23:35Z")
Why did an Apache circle your house? mod\_haskell got confused and thought it was the fixed point. mod\_COBOL was in a rounding mode. mod\_lisp executed a metacircular function. mod\_prolog thought it was its own grandpa. mod\_forth followed the wrong thread. mod\_lang wanted you to be a Big Star. August “Holding Patterns of Geekery” Derleth ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/58 "2007-08-16T06:24:24Z")
[QUOTE=RandMcnally] Yeah, but there’s still the ‘stealth’ and ‘whisper’ modes. Sorry, I can’t tell you about those, highly classified. [/QUOTE] That’s the one where they turn the engines off, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/59 "2007-08-16T06:31:35Z")
Shit. I just saw this thread and got really scared for a sec. Are they still there? Tell me if you see them leave, ok? ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505/60 "2007-08-16T07:30:39Z")
[QUOTE=El\_Kabong] So, in conclusion, wherever you are, Mr. Helicopter Pilot, come out of your hole, because you’re nothing but a chameleon, lemonheaded, cowardly, terrorist PUSSY!!! [/QUOTE] Oh! You are SOOO disappeared! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-an-apache-helicopter-just-circle-my-house/415505.md?page=4)