[Ramius]

Another interesting little info-tidbit: Notice when you see one the helicopters, either CG or National Guard or whoever... when they drop a basket or some other pickup device, they always drop it into the water or onto the ground or onto a rooftop *before* anybody touches it.

This is because a helicopter, and of course anything metal attached to it, has a tendency to develop ONE MOTHER of a static electricity charge, what with that rotating air-static-collector thingy they fly with, and all.

If somebody were to just *grab* the basket that comes down from a helo they'd get a static shock like nobuddy's bidness. If it has been hanging there for a while (some minutes), the built up static charge could even be life-threatening.

That's why before lowering it into a boat or onto something, they always try to dip it in the water first, or let it touch ground, to dissipate the static charge.

[2Jedismom]

You know, I'd dearly love to ride in one of those choppers...but I'd just soon not get in one that way.

[SuziQ]

when they drop a basket or some other pickup device, they always drop it into the water or onto the ground or onto a rooftop *before* anybody touches it.

I noticed that, but thought they had just overshot the guy on the roof because of the wind. But now that you mention it, I have heard of that before. I remember that scene in Hunt for Red October when they're lowering Jack Ryan to the Dallas, and they're yelling not to touch him.