Black helicopters swoop into Bonners Ferry
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| Dixon Merrifield gets a peek into one of the six Blackhawks that landed for refuel at Boundary County Airport around 10 a.m. Monday ... A great first day of summer vacation treat! |
| Photo courtesy of Robin Merrifield |
A squadron of six black helicopters coming into Boundary County this morning stirred a buzz around town, especially from dogs and livestock as they flew in, low and loud.
While many wondered what was going on, some lucky folks who happened to be at the Boundary County Airport at just the right time this morning received a rare treat.
I asked sheriff's investigator Dave McClelland if he knew anything, he had heard reports, but didn't know what five military Blackhawks were doing in this neck of the woods.
So I called the airport, and Ashley Glaza answered.
"Ashley, I know you'll likely have to kill me if you tell ..." I started.
"What black helicopters?" she replied, completely deadpan.
It turned out, not only could she tell me without breaching national security, but she got some great pictures and will write more about it in her next Northern Air report.
"It as actually pretty cool," she said.
Turns out, these are just the first wave of military aircraft being delivered from an installation near Seattle to a new home at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, a military base near Fairbanks, they stopped at the airport for fuel and they aren't the full complement being delivered.
"There should be another flight next week," she said, "and those might be accompanied by other military aircraft."
It may seem odd that Bonners Ferry would be a stopping point on a route from Seattle to Fairbanks, but it so happens, Ashley said, that there are not that many places in the region where such aircraft can refuel.
"As it happens," she said, "we're one of those few places. They couldn't fly straight up through British Columbia, but have to take a more circuitous through Bonners Ferry, to Calgary, then to Edmonton and Whitehorse before the last leg into Fairbanks.
The first helicopter to land did a complete shutdown prior to refueling, giving the pilot time to show the curious at the airport, including a few kids, around the aircraft. He even had time, Ashley said, to come in for a bit of ice cream.
The remaining aircraft, however, "hot fueled," taking on fuel with the rotors turning, so people could only stand back and watch.
Be sure to stay tuned for Ashley's next article!