Helicopters circle the skies over Michigan Stadium
Helicopters were circling the skies over downtown Ann Arbor this afternoon.
Mark Bialek | For AnnArbor.com
Military-type helicopters are circling the skies over downtown Ann Arbor today, presumably in anticipation of President Barack Obama's visit Saturday.
As many as eight helicopters have been spotted in the skies over Ann Arbor and near athletic practice fields off South State Street. Five were flying in close formation at 3:30 p.m.
Ann Arbor police said a portion of State Street was briefly closed, but is now back open.
Obama is set to speak at U-M's commencement ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday in Michigan Stadium.
A United States Marine Corps helicopter lands on the University of Michigan field hockey field off of South State Street.
Jessica Webster | AnnArbor.com
A United States Marine Corps helicopter flies over South State Street between Rose and Granger.
Jessica Webster | AnnArbor.com
A United States Marine Corps helicopter flies over South State Street between Rose and Granger.
Jessica Webster | AnnArbor.com
The following video showing the helicopters was posted on YouTube by tcormie:
Comments
bunnyabbot
Fri, Apr 30, 2010 : 11:24 a.m.
bellhelmet...me at hot mail
charese
Fri, Apr 30, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.
I work for the U of M on South Industrial and the chopers came over our building twice it was so amazing to see something like that it showed me how powerful our country really is I feel so patriotic right now amazing I hope they do another fly by and get it on tape this time so I can show my kids
charese
Fri, Apr 30, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.
I work for the U of M on South Industrial and the chopers came over our building twice it was so amazing to see something like that it showed me how powerful our country really is I feel so patriotic right now amazing I hope they do another fly by and get it on tape this time so I can show my kids
Warren
Fri, Apr 30, 2010 : 10:17 a.m.
A new FDC NOTAM/TFR has been issued for the area surrounding Ann Arbor, MI for Saturday, 5/1, from 9:15a until 1:30p EDT. The TFR is issued for security purposes to cover VIP movement in this area. Manned & Model aircraft operations are prohibited in this area during the specific times of the TFR. Area 1 (5/1, 9:15a - 1:30p EDT) (30nm radius from Latitude: 4214'35"N, Longitude: 8336'40"W) Area 2 (5/1, 9:15a - 10:30a EDT) (10nm radius from Latitude: 4212'59"N, Longitude: 8321'25"W) Area 3 (5/1, 9:30a - 1:00p EDT) (10nm radius from Latitude: 4215'57"N, Longitude: 8344'55"W) Area 4 (5/1, 12:15p - 1:30p EDT) (10nm radius from Latitude: 4212'59"N, Longitude: 8321'25"W) TFR - 0/7827
Claudia
Fri, Apr 30, 2010 : 3:34 a.m.
I commented earlier that the flyover was so low that I heard my ceiling crack and felt my walls shudder. I was ready to slide under the table if the windows shattered. Is there really a need to fly so low during a practice run? What will it be like on Friday and Saturday? Congratulations to all the graduates! May your day be peaceful and joyous.
zags
Fri, Apr 30, 2010 : 12:27 a.m.
The helicopters were 2 VH-3D Sea Kings and 3 VH-46F Sea Knights operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1 "Nighthawks"), based at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico, Virginia.
sav0320
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 8:11 p.m.
I took my daughter to DTW for plane spotting/photos on Wednesday and a C-17 (US Air Force) was sitting by the Big Blue Deck. The cargo ramp was down and we must have just missed the Prez limo or Marine One being off-loaded. That C-17 sure was great to see take off! (PS - media...contact me to purchase photos...)
benc
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 5:23 p.m.
Although nothing will be able to move in Ann Arbor on Saturday, A2 will be the safest place to be in the WORLD!
Gill
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 4:11 p.m.
Not much different than a home football game, except the fighter jets have been replaced with helicopters...
amlive
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 3:50 p.m.
I haven't been close to this event, but with sitting vice-president Gore visited the community center for a campaign speech in 2000, it was madness. The visit wasn't even publicly announced beforehand, but there were guys out running what must have been to miles of communication network lines to phone poles all over the North Main area days in advance. I had no idea what was going on until I went to work that day, only to find that my building was blocked off, and there were men with sniper rifles on the roof two doors down. Though I was eventually able to get in to my building, no customers were allowed access for the better part of the day. What fun. It must cost at least a hundred or two thousand every time a president or vice president shows up to speak in public. With all the cost and hassle to everyone, I think I'd rather they just use video conferencing. Take the money spent on security for this visit, and it could probably go a good way toward fixing the Stadium bridge. Of course now that I've posted this, I suppose I'll be under surveillance for the next few days.
ronaldduck
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 3:26 p.m.
Big deal they've been following me for years!
genericreg
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 3:18 p.m.
I'm not sure I 'get' the video. Is "The End Literally" a political statement? Is it appropriate to say the President is invading a city in his own country?
Mike Hulsebus
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 3:07 p.m.
Way to come through with the photo too
Mike Hulsebus
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 3:06 p.m.
Awesome
tcormie
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 3 p.m.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw5De1SOjpw&feature=youtube_gdata
Mumbambu, Esq.
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 2:56 p.m.
There is a rougue helicopter pilot flying between the house and the magnolia tree. The FAA knows about this, John Walsh knows about this.
sirotan
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 2:52 p.m.
My mom called me to say the helicopters were flying over her office off Plymouth Rd. "Its like Apocalypse Now over here!!" @lgnatz: Ok, I laughed harder at that than I probably should have. Nice job.
genericreg
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 2:50 p.m.
3 x CH-46 or -47
Warbler
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.
There was no doubt that what just flew over my house 15 minutes ago was not a survival flight unit from Michigan or St. Joe. Wow!
Ignatz
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 2:44 p.m.
That was pretty cool/amazing to see. Two Presidential copters followed by three Sikorsky Skycranes. Must have been practice. I hope they didn't practice too long...might be an NCAA violation :-)
ThaKillaBee
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 2:42 p.m.
Sweet.
Old West Sider
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 2:36 p.m.
They are flying very low right over my home and they are quite noisy,what will it be like on Saturday,it's only Thursday