Mystery Survailence Heli Hovers over OC California neighborhood

Yesterday (October 13 2009) I heard a loud helicopter coming from the West like usual in my Anaheim California neighborhood being somewhat close to the Los Alamitos Base we see all kinds of things "training" in the area not to mention the presence of our well funded police department. I didn't think much of it at 1st but it was taking a long time to pass on the usual military route, still didn't give it much thought. About 10 minutes or so went by and I went out side and noticed this large helicopter almost hovering over the neighborhood here. It was a a Bell 204/205 of some kind and I know those are used by everyone (save the military for the most part), so I thought it might even be a commercial heli but I noticed it had a camera or light mounted on the side and I knew it wasn't one of the local PD or Sheriff's vehicles. So I decided to get my cameras out and take a closer look.

Using a DSLR and a 300MM lens I was able to get pretty up close and personal, especially since it was moving very slowly. So slow in fact I had time to take many pics and even video tape it at two different times. I noticed that it seemed to be combing this area very slowly in an controlled pattern. It actually stayed in the area doing it's thing for almost an entire hour making linear passes slowly around a fairly tight parameter. Below are the pictures of the helicopter, it appears to have some kind of equipment mounted to it's side, and no distinguishable markings (IE, NAVY, ARMY, Air Force, Police, etc). It appears there might be ID numbers on the tail like most helis but unfortunately I was unable to get a good enough picture to make out any characters.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/d2a1576aa00b.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/1891652873c2.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/45b885d0b7e2.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/5bda7a4924e5.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/132fe203e0f6.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4b641ed41c13.jpg[/atsimg]

So any guesses? Including what that equipment might be?

Here is a very short sample of some of the usual suspects around here, as you can see, it's not any of them:

The old Anaheim PD helicopter:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/2f95c103c155.jpg[/atsimg]

One of the new Anaheim PD helis:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/e1fbc721db82.jpg[/atsimg]

One of the OC sheriff helis:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b4d01dedb1af.jpg[/atsimg]

Blue Cross:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/1bada4abad7e.jpg[/atsimg]

Coast Guard Dolphins:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/7859a5282b81.jpg[/atsimg]

Ch-47:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/56b64e4a921b.jpg[/atsimg]

Blackhawk:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/95fc1f61bdf5.jpg[/atsimg]

Seahawk:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b519a30c1431.jpg[/atsimg]

Cobra:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/afb223f38415.jpg[/atsimg]

C-17:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/6aeaf7a4f802.jpg[/atsimg]

F-18:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/3845009f2688.jpg[/atsimg]

[edit on 15-10-2009 by Shakesbeer]

reply to post by Shakesbeer

Shakesbeer:
I work in Cypress. I see the traffic all day into Los Al but this is def out of the ordinary. I've never seen or heard of anything like this & I'm very familiar with all the commercial & military flight paths in the area. I did notice one of the Anaheim birds circling around yesterday afternoon at a higher than normal altitude around Knott/Magnolia which I thought was odd. What part of Anaheim are you in?

reply to post by Shakesbeer


Looks to be a USMC UH-1N Iroquois/Twin Huey

Used by Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons, 5 of which are based out of Camp Pendleton, in addition to a training squadron.

They're equipped with FLIR pods, which is what the pod appears to be.

Probably just a pilot taking a flight to keep his hours up.

Great shots Crazy that camera was mounted on the side like that with nothing else mounted on the front. Maybe they were looking for grow operations inside houses, camera could be thermal, checking to see which house were hot.

reply to post by InvisibleObserver


Sort of great shots. I can't make out the markings.

If it were civilian, you could look it up here.

reply to post by don rumsfeld


1st let me say what an honor it is to have you reply to me Mr. Rumsfeld

I'm just West of Disneyland close to Katella. So I see what comes off the end of the run way quite easily and see them loop back from the downtown Anaheim area too. This was different, and at least with the others you can see "NAVY" on the tail for instance too, this had nothing. I'm thinking fed of some kind right now, and if you notice in the shots, the positioning of the side mounting equipment is pivoting too. I'm guessing that means it was in use.

I've seen APD all over this area, I'm guess they assist other departments since they have those two sweet little birds fully loaded with all the goodies. I've seen them doing some interesting things too including the higher altitude runs along with the Sheriff's. That's what made this one even more odd because those guys don't even stay in that small of area or move as slow as this guy did.

I'm guessing the pod is a light, since the pilot's side window is tinted. I also tend to think it's civilian, since the pod is white instead of flat. Are there any helicopter equipment manufactures in the area? Looks sorta like a test mule to me.

reply to post by digger2381


When they come up from pendalton, generally they'll be in a squad still. Cobras, blackhawks, ch-47s, but never a squad of UH-1's in recent years. I've been in this location for decades and even remember what the traffic was like when El Toro was open and seriously, it's more busy these days then it was then. Not to mention, as demonstrated in the other images(including the one in the wiki link you supplied), you can still see "MARINES" even if vaguely on the tail. I am a photoshop expert and couldn't bring out any markings other then the vague recollection of maybe the tail numbers(these are hi res 10mp images too) using various techniques. This helicopter was going much slower then the others I've photographed and was able to at least see a clear "NAVY" on too.

Curious thread. I would like to know as well!

also: coming from a photographer (me) pretty good snaps of pics. Somewhat hard to keep a steady hand on such a small object lol

reply to post by jawsismyfish


I can see that maybe being the case since there are still a good deal of aerospace companies operating relatively close by (close by air) and that helicopter didn't look like it had much wear or at least a new paint job. I'm hoping someone can identify the equipment on the side as that will give a good indicator as to what it's purpose is I'm sure.

To the OP, Just a head's up ...

That picture you had labeled as AC-130 - isn't. AC-130 is based on the C-130 transport, which is a four turbo-prop (propeller) aircraft, not a "jet" engine type (turbo-jet/turbo-fan). The picture you have there looks more like maybe a C-17 transport.


I live in OC too. I see/hear lots of helo's around here. As you noted, Los Alamitos AFF is in OC, the two OC marine bases are closed (Tustin and El Toro), but Pendleton is not far away. Definitely a "Huey" (UH-1 or some variant - used at one time by every armed service and lots of civilian org's too). I've seen Osprey's around here before also (one around Angles' Stadium in Anaheim - probably for an exhibition, and twice at Pendleton along the 5 freeway).

Since it lacks military markings, my guess is that it is (now) civilian owned - probably operated by a defense contractor in the area. Maybe testing out new communication gear, radars, avionics, etc. There's lots of that type of development going-on in the greater Southern California area.

[edit on 2009-10-15 by EnhancedInterrogator]

Originally posted by EnhancedInterrogator
To the OP, Just a head's up ...

That picture you had labeled as AC-130 - isn't. AC-130 is based on the C-130 transport, which is a four turbo-prop (propeller) aircraft, not a "jet" engine type (turbo-jet/turbo-fan). The picture you have there looks more like maybe a C-17 transport.

You're right. It's definitely a C-17 Globemaster. I've flown (as a passenger) in both airframes mentioned.

reply to post by kaskade


Thanks, I'll have to post the one I have where I managed to get a Cobra and Venus in the same frame during mid day. I actually have many other shots of these craft too I just grab some quick ones for examples. I have some neat pics of a wings of blackhawks or cobras coming in, some even with the action-movie-like sun flare going on too.

Here's a shot I got while taking a picture of the pretty chem-contrail rainbows in the area and something decided to jump into frame...really really high up while going really-really fast (I'm guessing)

This was in the middle shot of 3 taken rapidly in succession.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/f7c5d970fbb2.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/55183262edeb.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/5929ed452e0e.jpg[/atsimg]

reply to post by EnhancedInterrogator


Thanks, I thought I might have gotten that one mixed up as I have some pics of AC-130's too.

Fed or contractor where my guesses at 1st too since I know we have a couple of the large private security companies in the socal area. I was really trying to get the numbers too, oh well. Like I said, hopefully someone will recognize the equipment it had mounted on it. At this point I don't feel like speculating anymore until I can get an idea of what that is.

Well i have had this happen over my little part of the neighborhood. Found out later the drug task force was doing a heat signature test on my friends house from the chopper. The next day him, his wife, and son were all arrested and got sentenced to 15 years in prison. This was on sept. 23 '09

reply to post by Lichter daraus


I wouldn't doubt DEA doing thermal either especially since I know they just did a big pot crack down in LA too. I heard DHS too -shrugs-


reply to post by kaskade


A hand held shot of Venus in frame with a passing helicopter take during the day in February 08:

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/7f033f21dec3.jpg[/atsimg]

Here it is again filtered just because...

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/fd6167348a76.jpg[/atsimg]

reply to post by Shakesbeer


Wow cool pics i didn't know you could see venus during the day.

reply to post by Lichter daraus


Thanks and honestly I didn't either at the time let alone think you could photograph it like that during the day without a tripod in the least. I had to post that a couple of places and someone suggested it's Venus and I verified that with the time the pic was took using an astronomy program. Most didn't believe it was done by hand and I actually got 3 shots with Venus in it. I may make a gif or something of that, it's kind of neat flipping through the images.