Helicopter caught on a landing approach to S4

Although I intend to use these images as part of a larger reveal this month, I need some help identifying what type of helicopter this is and whether or not it could be used to transport a handful of S4's employees.


files.abovetopsecret.com...


files.abovetopsecret.com...


files.abovetopsecret.com...


files.abovetopsecret.com...

Aircraft usually don't produce a shadow at a certain elevation, and given how close this shadow is, they are on a very low approach. Directly toward S4, taking into account mountains. Any measurement specialists here able to give me an idea of its altitude based on either the shadow or known information?

Although they may be used for transportation, its also possible they are conducting a security sweep by air to make sure the bus can roll to Papoose lake, over the variety of "Good dirt roads" that head directly to S4.

Just to give you an idea of the helicopter's location compared to the roads leading that way, here is another USGS map/resource:


files.abovetopsecret.com...

^I've also included the location of the "wide double tracks" leading into the "tear drop"


files.abovetopsecret.com...

a reply to: JBurns

I agree, from looking at the shadow and it's size and sharpness, the helicopter would have to be very low over the ground, but still high enough for the dust on the ground not being blown up.

The dust road nearby looks single lane, compared to the size of the helicopter, it has to be flying very low. But why? If it was a transportation flight, sure they would fly higher to not risk anything.

Maybe training low level flights?

It's a Blackhawk variant. They probably wouldn't use them to transport employees on routine movements, but might use them to transport military personnel to remote areas. Employees would go on one of the Janet flights.

a reply to: ThatDamnDuckAgain

Fascinating analysis!! Thank you!

I knew there was a few things (OK...a bucket heap of things) I would miss

Maybe training low level flights?

You are probably right. Just struck me how close/low it was compared to where Bob Lazar claimed the S4 location was. Of course this could have nothing to do with that, or maybe even the USAF guys operating that lovely vehicle have a sense of humor....or curiosity

a reply to: Zaphod58

Thank you! I knew somebody would be able to just say "Oh its such and such"

The aviation knowledge here never ceases to amaze me. Do you think they would be flying toward the Area 6 strip (I envision them entering through the NTS/Indian Springs area or using their own built in airstrip) or does their altitude indicate their target is closer? Or did the pilot simply see something interesting and decide to come down to take a look?

a reply to: Zaphod58

I would hazard a guess that it might be on range security patrol; flying the fence line looking for intruders, etc.

a reply to: JBurns


I was about to write that we could calculate the approx. height from the difference in shadow length from the rotor tips and the original ones plus taking the sun's angle (offset of shadow) into consideration.

But then I noticed the helicopter isn't flying level and the ground isn't flat, it's actually kind of looking like it's banking right over the slope on the right of the road.

No idea about it's mission, but it was fun to look at it and get an idea.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
It's a Blackhawk variant. They probably wouldn't use them to transport employees on routine movements, but might use them to transport military personnel to remote areas. Employees would go on one of the Janet flights.

Those are the "Tylenol" planes out of McCarran, right?

a reply to: putnam6

Yes. They fly 737-600s into Groom, Tonopah, and Plant 42, and use Beechcraft 1900, 200, and 300s to go to remote fields, and some of the dirt strips that they use for range work.

a reply to: 1947boomer

That's the most likely explanation for what they're doing.

a reply to: JBurns

Any measurement specialists here able to give me an idea of its altitude based on either the shadow or known information?

Photogrammetric analysis with the given images suggests an altitude of not more than 200 feet AGL, a mean of 100' AGL would be a reasonable estimate.