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Mysterious helicopters identified
By Polly Keary, Editor
Sultan residents several months ago began to report increased helicopter activity in the area, including incidents in which multiple helicopters flew low over outlying areas late at night.
Police Chief Jeff Brand decided to investigate and began calling any of the agencies he could think of that might be responsible.
The Sheriff’s Department didn’t have any idea who might be flying around the town, nor did the Marine Corps or the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Finally Brand got confirmation that the helicopters are in fact from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Seattle.
The military has been using Sky Harbor, a small, primitive airstrip near Sultan, as a location for practice. The airport has long since been closed, but the airstrip was never decommissioned; although it serves more as an emergency landing strip, said Brand.
Those lack of amenities is actually what makes it a good place for the military to practice, he explained.
“Because it doesn’t have traffic at night, the military doesn’t have to worry about other people coming and going,” he said. “They said, ‘We like to come in there and practice with some of our night ops.’”
Marisue Thomas
October 10, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Nice to know, we were wondering what they were too. They were flying a lot over our fields that are between Monroe and Sultan in the Florence Acres Loop area in August and September, it was obvious they weren’t checking the power lines, but we didn’t know what they were. They were definitely military, and of different sizes and shapes.
Donna Shannon
October 10, 2012 at 8:54 pm
It’s not just outlying areas. They are flying real low over the town as their route takes them right over my cul-de-sac. It’s quite interesting to say the least. It’s too bad they are flying at 10:00 at night or later.
Aaron
October 17, 2012 at 4:18 am
I, for one, welcome our alien overlords!
Michael Moynihan
October 17, 2012 at 6:03 am
I can’t understand why the military wouldn’t notify the local authorities or as even a letter to the mayor, so the community is aware of these “Night Ops training”. I find it very annoying to be trying to sleep near Sultan Basin road and having a helicopter flying low over the trees after 10:30pm….why not fly those test flights 10 miles northeast of sultan…. Out in the wild!
Jennifer
October 17, 2012 at 7:34 am
It’s after midnight; (12:30) and its so so noisy. I just want to sleep, but I find myself desperately seeking a reason for so much low flying helicopter noise. This is why!!! It literally comes and goes about every 15 min. Just when you think it’s gone and begin to nod off; thud, thud, thud… It’s back! Incredible, how inconsiderate they are. I live in town (Monroe) on Hill St. Why here, why not mountains. Far outside populated areas.
Monroe Citizen
October 17, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Night Ops? Are our calls about suspected meth-labs, home invasions, and strange shirtless men walking down the middle of the road finally being attended to?
If not, they best keep practicing cause it seems like they’re lost with all those circles they keep making (i.e., over Florence Acres Loop, Florence Acres Road, and Hand Road). God forbid they practice more northeast of here, like Michael said.
Jaime
October 17, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Last night was horrible. Jennifer, I ditto your comment. Just when I was trying to go to sleep they came back around right over our house on the hill above the race track. It was the most annoying thing. Starting from midnight to 1:30am.
I’m not a happy citizen.
That Guy
October 18, 2012 at 12:56 am
I’ve forwarded the link of this article to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Hopefully they will listen and try to accommodate.
Tyler
October 18, 2012 at 3:15 am
I heard one chopper go by last night, about 120ft above the building, above woods creek rd. A second chopper later on. First was at 11:30pm at night, and it did wake people up who have jobs that others depend on. A few years ago was the last instance that this had happened that I was home to witness. The first incident was completely out of line, it was nearly hitting the tree that was 50ft from the house, and the tree is maybe 60ft in height. Enough to get people outside to figure out the commotion.
Bob
October 18, 2012 at 4:18 am
I live on n high rock rd just south of monroe and at least 2 helicopters woke me up last night {10 16 12).I though they were trying to trim the tree tops in my yard
Resident
October 19, 2012 at 12:22 pm
“And it did wake up people that have jobs that others depend on” ever considered that this is THEIR job, that one day will protect you? I can guarantee you they hate doing it late at night because that means they aren’t at home spending time with their families. Just think of it from a different perspective other than “it’s waking me up when I have to work in the morning” they also all get to go back to work the next day too.
Sounds of Freedom
October 18, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Get over it people. Buy some earplugs or a noise machine.
Just sayin'
October 21, 2012 at 7:15 am
Really? ….so they are allowed to risk their lives to keep all of us safe, but God forbid they pratice around here because its annoying? Are you serious? They can land in my back yard if that would help to keep them safe. It wakes my kids up sometimes, which means I don’t get much sleep either but who cares! Stop whining and be greatful they are there!
Diane Elliott
October 24, 2012 at 1:54 am
The mystery has been solved! I was wondering what was going on. I don’t mind hearing the sound of freedom at all. Of course I do live in Monroe so I’m used to rolling thunder as the trains go by. Oh yes, there are the car races in the summer when I would like to have the windows open. When the races end, just as I’m dropping off to sleep, the fireworks start and suddenly I have 3 dogs burrowing under the covers thinking that I will protect them. And nothing quite equates to three dogs howling at the sound of almost nightly sirens rushing to the latest wreck/fire.